Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (SSLFTA)

Details: Category: Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (SSLFTA)

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 W.e.f.01.05.2018 Gzt No :2069/02, Dated 1^st May 2018	3,539	50% Total 3,721
Category-"0"/Immediately Zero Duty W.e.f.01.05.2018-not implemented Gzt No :2080/02, Dated 19^th July 2018	182	50% Total 3,721
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 01^st May 2018 and 19^th July 2018 respectively.
Amendments were identified for further discussion as mandated under the Report of COE.