EU to discuss fish ban lift, GSP plus trade benefits

EU to discuss fish ban lift, GSP plus trade benefits
Hiran H. Senewiratne hsenewiratne@gmail.com

The European Union (EU) ban on fish exports lifting,GSP plus trade agreement and bilateral trade with the EU region will soon be a reality under the new government,European Union Niranjan Deva Aditya said.

“The new government’s good governance, rule of law and proper foreign policies will propel to remove the EU fishing ban against Sri Lanka, and to obtain the GSP plus trade arrangement provided Sri Lanka adheres to EU requirements properly and swiftly ,” Deva Aditiya told the Daily News business yesterday.

He said Sri Lanka lost the GSP Plus status in fishing exports to EU following a resolution alleging failure on the part of the previous regime.

It will not be a problem because the new government is committed to adhere to EU requirements and standards, he said.

“We will be discuss issues related to promoting bilateral trade and investment. In particular the process that may lead to the re-admission of Sri Lanka to the status of GSP Plus under the European Union’s new GSP regulation was started. Bilateral matters relating to investment facilities, import duties and fishery exports were also discussed.”

The two sides had also reviewed progress in the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations and expressed hope that the Trade Facilitation Agreement would enter into force at the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2015.

Sri Lanka’s total trade with EU in 2014 stood at US$ 5.07 billion, up 3.6 percent from 2013 with the island’s three biggest exports being apparel, tyres and frozen fish. The EU Parliament will assess how to help Sri Lanka on removing the ban on fishery exports and resuming the GSP plus export scheme which the island lost owing to human rights issues, Aditya said.

Deva Aditiya said he will also personally take interest with his personal contacts all over the world to promote bilateral trade and investments in Sri Lanka .

Sri Lanka has to develop more bilateral trade and investments not only in SAARC region but also in the ASEAN region, which consist of major economies like Singapore and Malaysia, he said.

“Once progress reports are sent to the European Commission I could try to put this on the agenda as a special point and can help solve this issue as soon as possible, perhaps it will not take too long,” he said.

Thanks Back