Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-11-20 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Negotiations on the Proposed Sri Lanka - Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA)

- It is expected to complete the negotiations conducted pertaining to the proposed Sri Lanka - Thailand Free Trade Agreement by December 2023 and sign the relevant Agreement on 2024‑02‑03. The Hon. President presented the prepared Tariff Liberalization Programme of Sri Lanka prepared, enabling to liberalize 80% of the HS Codes within a period of 15 years and to partially liberalize 5% of HS Codes during the period of 15-18 years and include the remaining 15% of HS Codes in the Negative Schedule, based on the HS Codes 2022 version, as per the concurrences reached at 06th and 07th rounds of said negotiations and the Cabinet decided to grant its approval for the same.