Sri Lanka reverses cess hike on kinno

Published December 19, 2020
Sri Lanka has reversed its decision of increase in cess on the import of kinno. — File photo
Sri Lanka has reversed its decision of increase in cess on the import of kinno. — File photo

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka has reversed its decision of increase in cess on the import of kinno. The move is expected. Pakistan has been a leading and steady supplier of quality mandarins to the Sri Lankan market in recent years.

Last month, Sri Lanka had suddenly imposed an increase in cess on imported mandarins from LKR30 per kg to LKR160 per kg — an increase of LKR130 — which made kinno imports from Pakistan almost four times costlier for the country.

An official statement by the Ministry of Commerce termed the decision a positive development which will further promote and enhance bilateral trade. Although the tax was imposed on all imported kinno/mandarins, the move particularly affected Pakistan as the citrus cultivar is a concessional item under the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA).

Moreover, the citrus season in the country had just commenced and this development had placed export orders in immediate jeopardy. The Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Association (PFVA), exporters and Sri Lankan importers had also expressed their concerns in this regard and requested intervention of the Sri Lankan government.

The commerce ministry through its Trade & Investment Attaché in Colombo Asma Kamal immediately took up the matter with the concerned authorities in Sri Lanka in order to expedite an amicable resolution of the matter.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2020

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Increased inflows
Updated 12 Jan, 2025

Increased inflows

Govt must devise a strategy to increase industrial and agricultural productivity to boost exports and reduce reliance on uncertain remittances.
Gwadar’s potential
12 Jan, 2025

Gwadar’s potential

THE Gwadar deep-sea port, completed in 2007, was supposed to be a shining success for the other newly built ports in...
Broken metropolis
12 Jan, 2025

Broken metropolis

KARACHI, Pakistan’s economic juggernaut, is the largest contributor to the nation’s tax revenue. The Federal...
Afghan outreach
Updated 11 Jan, 2025

Afghan outreach

Islamabad should stress stronger counterterrorism measures, yet also engage the Taliban high command in Kandahar as well as politicians in Kabul.
Fragile recovery
11 Jan, 2025

Fragile recovery

STATE Bank Governor Jameel Ahmed appears to be quite optimistic over recent economic gains. That is not unusual;...
Destination Europe
11 Jan, 2025

Destination Europe

THE country’s aviation authorities can rest a little easy. After a four-year banishment from European skies,...