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[Winning GSP+ extension not a political issue but a necessity
By A. K. Azeez ======================== The European Union (EU) is today Sri Lanka`s largest trading partner. The EU is also Sri Lanka`s number one export destination, with products and services worth approximately 1.7 billion euros, being exported to the EU, which is 29 percent of Sri Lanka`s total exports. Garments and textiles account for over 55 percent of the value of our exports to the EU, amounting to more than 1 billion euros. The key factor behind the recent increase in Sri Lanka`s exports to the EU is the GSP+ status, granted to Sri Lanka in 2005. Under this facility, Sri Lanka can export more than 7,200 product categories to the EU. Sri Lanka is one of the 15 countries in the world, that enjoys this trade concession and the only country in Asia. The GSP + scheme is to be reviewed by the end of this year. . The review which is a technical procedure will only take place in the 4th quarter of 2008 and the list of countries, that qualify for the GSP+ scheme from 2009 to 2011, will be announced by mid-December, 2008. Regarding this review, the European Union (EU) maintains that, no decision has been reached over the GSP + scheme, as far as Sri Lanka is concerned and that, there is no reason to assume that, Sri Lanka would be disqualified from the preferential trade scheme, by the end of 2008. At a recent Business Seminar organised by the Sri Lanka-Poland Business Council, the representative of the Delegation of the European Commission (EC) to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Peter Maher emphasised that, no decision has yet been made in this regard and therefore, the impression created that Sri Lanka will not qualify, is erroneous. In a recent message on Europe Day, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Julian Wilson, also sought to clarify the impression that, the concession is all but lost to Sri Lanka, stating that the EU wanted Sri Lanka to get the GSP + for the next three years, and Sri Lanka had to meet certain eligibility criteria, that applies to all beneficiaries of the scheme, to guarantee the GSP + renewal. Sri Lanka was granted GSP+ preferential trade concession, on the basis of ratifying 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights and environmental standards. The labour standard in Sri Lanka was a driving force in making Sri Lanka, a beneficiary of the GSP + concession. Sri Lanka will have to submit a fresh application for the GSP+ by end October 2008, giving comprehensive information on the ratification of these 27 conventions. Since these conventions are directly under the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the findings of these international bodies will also be taken into account, when reviewing performance] |
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