ECONOMYNEXT – US President Donald Trump has issued a letter to Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, setting a 30 p.c tariff, down from an authentic 44 p.c .
“We now have had years to debate our buying and selling relationship with Sri Lanka, and have concluded that we should transfer away from these very persistent, Commerce Deficits, engendered by Sri Lanka’s Tariff and Non Tariff, Insurance policies and Commerce Obstacles,” Trump mentioned.
“Our relationship has been, sadly, removed from reciprocal.
“Ranging from August 01, 2025, we are going to cost Sri Lanka a tariff of solely 30 p.c on any and all Sri Lankan merchandise despatched to the USA, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs.”
The letter to Sri Lanka got here together with a number of different nations, together with US ally Philippines, who was charged 20 p.c, up from 17 p.c in April, which is without doubt one of the lowest seen this week.
Sri Lanka’s 30 p.c is without doubt one of the steepest falls seen from the unique 44 p.c, is decrease than 32 p.c for Indonesia and 36 p.c for Thailand, a long-time US ally and competitor for Sri Lanka’s rubber exports.
Malaysia additionally a competitor for rubber was charged 25 p.c, up one p.c. Laos is at 40 p.c.
Bangladesh, a competitor for attire was set a 35 p.c tariff. India’s tariff is awaited.
Philippines, a competitor for Sri Lanka’s coconut and activated carbon exports was charged 20 p.c, indicating a spot of 10 p.c.
Vietnam is anticipated to get 20 p.c, after the nation slashed import duties for US items, Trump ha mentioned, regardless of having a really massive commerce hole with the US.
Sri Lanka has negotiated to scale back the hole between opponents.
The letter got here with a number of others issued on the identical day together with a 50 p.c charge to Brazil, ostensibly as a result of former President Bolsanaro was being tried by courts, which he claimed was “illegal” and a “witchhunt”. The charges was up from 10 p.c in April.
The tariff charges thus far is as follows.
Laos 40 p.c from Laos down from 48 p.c.
Myanmar 40 p.c down from 44 p.c.
Cambodia 36 p.c down from 49 p.c.
Thailand 36 p.c, no change.
Serbia 35 p.c, down from 37 p.c.
Indonesia 32 p.c, no change.
Libya was charged 30 p.c, down from 31 p.c.
Iraq was charged 30 p.c, down from 39 p.c.
Algeria was charged 30 p.c, no change.
Bosnia-Herzegovina 30 p.c, down 35 p.c.
South Africa 30 p.c, no change.
Brunei was charged 25 p.c up from 24 p.c.
Japan 25 p.c, up from 24 p.c.
Kazachstan 25 p.c, down 2 p.c.
Malaysia 25 p.c up 1 p.c.
Maldova, a small European state was charged 25 p.c, down from 31 p.c.
South Korea 25 p.c, no change.
Tunisia 25 p.c, down from 28 p.c
The Philippines was charged 20 p.c, up from 17 p.c.
(Colombo/July09/2025)
