The SSLFTA was signed at the Ministerial Level on 23.01.2018 and it came into force on 01.05.2018.The SSLFTA covers goods, services, investment, intellectual properties, telecommunications, e-commerce, trade facilitation, government procurement, competition and economic and technical co-operation.Basic Customs Duties (BCDs) on imports of all products except motor vehicles, liquor & tobacco are free into Singapore on MFN basis.From the market access point of view of Sri Lanka, only 04 products at HS 8 Digits, namely Medicated or Other Samsu-alcoholic products, are included in the Negative List of Singapore.
SSLFTA- at a glance
The Trade Liberalization Programme (TLP)
The TLP of Sri Lanka which includes the Elimination of BCDs, Cess and Ports and Airports Development Levy (PAL) on imports from Singapore is as follows.
Elimination of BCDs
Type of Staging Category | No. of Tariffs Lines (TLs) at HS 8 Digits |
% from TTLs |
Category-"X"/Negative or No Concession List |
1,488 | 20% |
Category-"0"/Immediately Zero Duty Gzt No :2069/02, Dated 1st May 2018 |
3,539 |
50%
Total 3,721
|
Category-"0"/Immediately Zero Duty Gzt No :2080/02, Dated 19th July 2018 |
182 | |
Category-"6"/Eliminating equally in 6years from 31.12.2018 to 31.12.2023 |
1,116 | 15% |
Category-"12"/Eliminating equally in 6years from 31.12.2023 to 31.12.2028 |
1,064 | 14.3% |
Category-"15"/Eliminating equally in 5years from 31.12.2028 to 31.12.2032 |
51 | 0.7% |
Total Tariff Lines (TTLs) | 7,440 | 100% |
Elimination of CESS & PAL
CESS | PAL | |||
Type of Staging Category | No.of Tariffs Lines (TLs) | % from TTLs | No. of Tariffs Lines (TLs) at HS 8 Digits |
% from TTLs |
Category-"X"/Negative or No Concession List |
1,488 | 20% | 1,488 | 20% |
Category-"0"/Immediately Zero CESS & PAL W,e.f.01.05.2018 |
5,094 | 68.5% | 2,240 | 30.2% |
Category-"10"/Eliminating equally in 5 years from 31.12.2023 to 31.12.2027 |
856 | 11.5% | 3,710 | 49.8% |
Total Tariff Lines (TTLs) | 7,438 | 100% | 7,438 | 100% |
Current Status
- Sri Lanka brought down BCD on 3721 to zero under Staging Category- "0", on 01st May 2018 and 19th July 2018 respectively.
- Amendments were identified for further discussion as mandated under the Report of COE.