According to the Chairman of Sri Lanka Exporters Association, A Sukumaran, exports of Sri Lankan apparel to US registered a growth by 9.5 percent to US $1,217.5 million from January to September this year.
In comparison, exports figures of previous year stood at $1,112.2 million during the same period.
In the first nine months, the exports to EU were only $720.2 million, while in 2004, it was $716.2 million in the same period.
Speaking at the Association? AGM, he said that though exports of apparel and textile from Sri Lankan to US showed marked rise during January to September, exports to EU remined unchanged despite the fact that GPS+ scheme (a special trade concession by EU to weak economies) was in place from July.
Apart from curbs on Chinese exports, only to be rescued by US market share, Sri Lanka, currently, the only nation to get the facility, is yet to realise any impact from the EU? GSP+, said Sukumaran.
Rules of origin do not allow the exporters to go through the duty free window opened by the GSP+.
Sukumaran revealed that due to the strict country of origin rules, the facility has received lower response.
