Apparel industry welcomes government's move to reapply for EU trade concession

The Joint Apparel Association Forum has praised the government's commitment to submit a fresh application for the European Union's GSP+ concession scheme under the bloc's new ten-year trade framework. "For Sri Lanka's apparel industry, GSP+ is not merely a tariff concession; it protects the competitiveness of our exporters in our largest market and secures the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers," the industry body said in a statement.

The forum also welcomed the government's twin-track approach: preserving GSP+ benefits under the revised framework while exploring alternative arrangements that could provide long-term, stable access to the European market. This balance of immediate protection and future planning, it said, is exactly what the industry needs and gives confidence to exporters and investors alike.

Completing the reapplication process and meeting the updated eligibility and compliance requirements will be critical, the association noted. "We will continue to uphold standards on labour practices, environmental protection and good governance; these are the core values of the scheme," it said.

Apparel is Sri Lanka's largest export earner. In 2025 the sector's exports exceeded US$5 billion, roughly 32 per cent of the country's total export earnings of US$17.25 billion. The European Union, which absorbs about 24 per cent of Sri Lanka's goods exports, is central to that performance. The association said it will work closely with the government and all stakeholders through the application process.