Cabinet subcommittee appointed to review new application for GSP Plus concession
18-Aug-2026.
A Cabinet subcommittee has been appointed to review Sri Lanka’s new application to regain the European Union’s GSP Plus trade concession.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives will jointly head the committee.
To qualify for the concession, Sri Lanka was previously required to comply with 27 international conventions under four key areas: human rights, labour standards, environmental and climate protection, and good governance.
However, five new conventions have been added for the next cycle. Sri Lanka will be required to comply with additional conditions relating to the conventions on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, the prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, among others.
Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe submitted a Cabinet paper on the GSP Plus application this week. The Cabinet subcommittee has been appointed to examine whether Sri Lanka is complying with all the conditions stipulated by the European Union and to facilitate the continuation of the concession.
Representatives from eight other ministries will also serve on the subcommittee.
As the current GSP Plus scheme is due to expire on December 31, Sri Lanka is required to submit its new application by December this year.
Although the GSP Plus concession provides eligible developing countries with preferential access to the European Union market, the benefits depend on the continued and effective implementation of the relevant international conventions.
A Cabinet subcommittee has been appointed to review Sri Lanka’s new application to regain the European Union’s GSP Plus trade concession.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism and the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperatives will jointly head the committee.
To qualify for the concession, Sri Lanka was previously required to comply with 27 international conventions under four key areas: human rights, labour standards, environmental and climate protection, and good governance.
However, five new conventions have been added for the next cycle. Sri Lanka will be required to comply with additional conditions relating to the conventions on narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, the prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, among others.
Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe submitted a Cabinet paper on the GSP Plus application this week. The Cabinet subcommittee has been appointed to examine whether Sri Lanka is complying with all the conditions stipulated by the European Union and to facilitate the continuation of the concession.
Representatives from eight other ministries will also serve on the subcommittee.
As the current GSP Plus scheme is due to expire on December 31, Sri Lanka is required to submit its new application by December this year.
Although the GSP Plus concession provides eligible developing countries with preferential access to the European Union market, the benefits depend on the continued and effective implementation of the relevant international conventions.
