GSP+ continues

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

A spokesman for the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said that the extension of the GSP Plus scheme will depend on the outcome of the investigations on the country’s Human Rights record, good governance and environmental concerns.

“Sri Lanka will continue to enjoy the preferential trade concessions for the next three years provided the investigations are favourable. The extension could be withheld if the conventions are not observed”, he said.

Sri Lanka is included with other countries for the GSP Plus facility but subject to the investigations which commenced in October. Developing countries were given preferential trade access to the EU markets as an incentive to ratify and implement well defined international conventions.

A six-month period will be given to a country that has been listed for the concessions following the investigations until a final confirmation on the findings has been made.

The GSP Plus scheme offers over 170 developing countries preferential access to the EU region depending on torture, environment and Child rights record.

The garment industry, a major export earner and many vital export sectors benefited from the trade concessions since 2005.