Indo-Lanka and JVP-India relations come full circle

The Trump trade shock announced last week has unnerved the world. Sri Lanka can have a severe impact with about US$ 3 billion in exports to the US. If these exports are priced out of the US market with the 44% tariff on Sri Lanka, then a major shortfall in foreign earnings can even undermine the import of essential goods. Furthermore, the bulk of these exports to the US are from the garment sector, which directly employs close to three hundred thousand women and hundreds of thousands more who are indirectly dependent on it for employment and livelihoods.

- By Ahilan Kadirgamar

Today, the boot is on the other foot, Lanka needs India’s help, especially regarding meeting its international debt repayments. Our chief concern is the state of the economy. US President Trump’s imposition of a huge tariffs on Lankan exports to the US will make it impossible to achieve targets within the framework of the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the stipulated timeframe.