So now we know the truth about eu gsp plus

This week, the Government of Sri Lanka admitted for the first time, the financial losses that the country has been subjected to as a result of losing the European Union (EU) GSP Plus facility in 2010. At the time that we bartered away this facility, what was told to us was quite a different story. Shrugging off prophecies of severe impact on the apparel industry, ministerial spokesmen boasted that Sri Lanka did not actually need this facility and that its removal would not cause major financial impact.

Implement LLRC proposals- urge garment exporters: Sri Lanka should reapply for GSP Plus concessions

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, struggling against an economic crisis that has hit its main buyer – Europe -, is urging the government to implement recommendations of Sri Lanka’s post-war reconciliation commission in a bid to regain GSP concessions from the European Union (EU).
This comes in the wake of a leadership change within the apparel exporters’ body that took place last Monday during its AGM.

Sri Lanka's garment industry feels GSP+ loss

 Dilshani Samaraweera

Sri Lanka's apparel exports are suffering from the loss of the EU's GSP+ scheme

Two years after it was formally removed from the GSP+ scheme that allowed duty-free exports to the EU, Sri Lanka's apparel industry says it is feeling the loss of the preferential tariff system.

Sri Lanka's removal from the EU's GSP+ scheme in August 2010 came six months after the country was withdrawn from the preferential tariff initiative following allegations of non-compliance with the qualification criteria.

Now, two years later, Sri Lanka's apparel industry, the biggest user of the GSP+ when it was available, says exports are feeling the loss of GSP+ and wants it back. But the dilemma facing the sector is how to achieve this.