Sri Lanka is expecting a formal communication from the United States regarding proposed tariff changes within the next few days, Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma said, amid growing uncertainty over the Trump administration’s global trade policies.
The island nation has held two rounds of in-person talks in Washington with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in addition to online consultations, as it seeks clarity on a proposed 44 percent tariff.
“We have intervened and done several rounds of discussions,” Suriyapperuma told reporters on Sunday. “At the level of officials, we have been informed that we are on a good level, but the final decision may not be made on Sri Lanka-specific matters, but based on broader American global trade priorities.”
He added that Sri Lanka remains in “good standing” based on ongoing engagement and cooperation with U.S. officials.
The developments come amid warnings from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has stated he intends to impose a 10 percent additional tariff on countries aligning with the BRICS group, which he accused of supporting “anti-American” policies.
“Any country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an additional 10% tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday.
Trump also revealed that he had signed letters outlining the tariff decisions, which are expected to be dispatched starting Monday, just ahead of the July 9 deadline when the U.S. administration’s 90-day tariff pause ends.
Sri Lanka, which expressed interest in joining BRICS last year, was informed at the time that the group was not expanding. However, its geopolitical leanings have come under renewed scrutiny as Washington sharpens its stance on trade alignments.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that countries still negotiating with Washington may be granted extensions beyond July 9, offering some hope for nations like Sri Lanka.
In Colombo, the All Share Price Index at the Colombo Stock Exchange fell 0.58 percent on Monday, with analysts citing investor caution over potential U.S. tariff impacts.
“Market dipped today due to uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs,” said Ranjan Ranatunga, Assistant Vice President – Research at First Capital.
Sri Lanka has not yet received a formal letter outlining the applicable tariff rate.
As the global trade environment tightens and the BRICS vs West narrative deepens, Colombo will be watching closely for Washington’s next move.
