Sri Lanka gets more duty free access to Pakistan

April 02, 2009 (LBO) - Pakistan has increased the number of products that can be imported from Sri Lanka to 4,000 under the final phase of the free trade deal between the two countries.





Exporters can obtain concessions under the FTA from the Department of Commerce which is the authority that is monitoring the implementation of the agreement.

The Sri Lankan exporters must register with the Department and obtain Certificates of Origin indicating that they meet all the requirements to benefit from duty concessions granted by the free trade deal.

The ministry of export development and international trade said in a statement that the access became effective on March 20.

It said that under the deal signed in 2002, Pakistan has granted duty free access for Sri Lankan products like tea and betel leaves, albeit with quotas, coconut products, natural rubber, spices, natural graphite, paper boards and articles of aluminium.

"The final phase of liberalisation will provide duty free access for an additional 4,000 products," it said.

These include fish, meat, and vegetable products, foliage and plants, sugar and biscuits, pastry and cakes, mineral products, fibre boards, leather