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Viewing cable 04COLOMBO1951, NEW GSL TARIFF FEES' NEGATIVE BUT MINIMAL

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
04COLOMBO1951 2004-12-06 10:46 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 001951 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTR FOR JROSENBAUM, USDA FOR JARGUETE; 
COMMERCE FOR A.STERN; NEW DELHI FOR CRUSSELL 
 
E.O 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD CE ECONOMICS
SUBJECT: NEW GSL TARIFF FEES' NEGATIVE BUT MINIMAL 
IMPACT ON US EXPORTS TO SRI LANKA 
 
REF: A) COLOMBO 1858 B) COLOMBO 1905 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: As recently reported (Reftels), 
the GSL has imposed new tariff surcharges on non- 
essential items, though many agricultural, food, 
household and other consumer products are affected. 
The new levy ranges from 10-20 percent and does not 
affect the bulk of US exports to Sri Lanka.  This 
levy is one more example of the current Government's 
desire to pursue import substitution policies and 
revert to protectionist measures in an effort to spur 
local production and raise revenue.  End summary. 
 
2.  (U) As previously reported (Ref A), the 
Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) has introduced a new 
import duty, by way of an Export Development Board 
(EDB) levy (a "cess" in local terminology) on 
selected imports with effect from November 4, 2004. 
The levy ranges from 10 to 20 percent.  It will be in 
addition to the normal import tariff, apply to 
imports from all sources (irrespective of 
preferential trade agreements), and will be charged 
on c.i.f. value.  The levy will not apply to imports 
for export industries, which are generally exempted 
from import duties.  Most of the top US exports to 
Sri Lanka will not be affected, as they are not 
captured under any categories subject to the new tax. 
These unaffected US exports include electrical 
machinery and equipment, machinery, wheat, medical 
equipment, cotton, yarn, textile fabric, paperboard, 
medicine and pharmaceutical products. 
 
3.  (U) The tax will, however, affect a number of 
other US imports from perfumes to food products (see 
para 8).  Since the Most Favored Nation (MFN) import 
duty on most of these items is already at 28 percent, 
the levy will increase the effective import duty to 
over 48 percent (except on items which have 
preferential duties under trade agreements including 
the Indo-Lanka FTA, where the new levy will be 
assessed on the lower, preferential duty rate). 
 
4.  (U) In addition to the EDB levy, several other 
taxes have also been changed and increased recently. 
The value added tax (VAT) on non-essentials was 
increased from 15 to 18 pct.  The import duty 
structure was changed from 6 bands to 5 bands, and 
the highest band was increased from 27.5 pct to 28 
pct.  A ports and airport levy (PAT) was increased 
from 1 pct to 1.5 pct of c.i.f. price. 
 
5.  (SBU) According to US trade data, total value of 
imports affected by the EDB levy could be around US$5 
million, out of a total of approximately US$143 
million annual US exports to Sri Lanka.  Total effect 
on US exports could be much higher as US sourced 
products sent via other trading hubs, or manufactured 
by US entities abroad, are not captured in the US 
export data used to compile this analysis.  Most of 
the companies we talked to, such as Gillete and 
Proctor and Gamble, export their products from ports 
and plants outside the US. 
 
6.  (SBU) The Embassy has begun to receive complaints 
from affected US exporters regarding the new 
"prohibitive" tariff regime.  For example, Commercial 
Links, which exports apples, grapes and pulses to 
Colombo, said their fruit exports have stopped 
completely due to the new tariff structure, which has 
increased the duty paid price of these items by 30 to 
40 percent.   Pulses are not affected, as the levy is 
not imposed on "essential" food items.   Both 
Gillette and Proctor and Gamble are facing increased 
tariffs on their toiletries and cosmetics.  According 
to Gillette, their main problem is with "Oral B" 
toothbrushes which have been levied a piece rate duty 
of Rs 10 (about 10 US cents), prompting the company 
to consider pulling its Oral B range off the market. 
"Pringles" potato chips sold by P&G has been levied a 
20 percent or Rs 15 per kg duty. P&G has been forced 
to hold several containers of goods, thus incurring 
demurrage charges. 
 
7. Comment: The US exports outlined below are 
affected by the new levy.  Post has raised its 
concerns about these changes with the Government. 
Given the fact that the levy has been charged on 
other, larger trading partners, the wobbly state of 
GSL finances, and the general protectionist sentiment 
of the current Government, it is unlikely we will see 
much relief.  Nonetheless, we will continue to press 
both from the perspective of harm done to US 
products, as well as the overall opportunity costs to 
the economy from moving in the wrong direction on 
trade liberalization.  End comment. 
 
8.  The following lists US exports to Sri Lanka (2003 
figures) that would be subject to the new levy: 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
HS Number-- Product  US export-  ---New Levy(d) 
                     Value USD 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
------------- 
Food Products 
------------- 
0805    Oranges    223,100(a)  20pct or Rs 15/kg 
0806    Grapes     712,000     20pct or Rs 15/kg 
0808    Apples     196,000     15pct 
200520  Potatos preserved 
                   189,400     20pct or Rs 15/kg 
2009    Fruit Juice 69,600     20pct or Rs 15/kg 
2103    Sauces     115,200     10pct or Rs 15/kg 
2104    Soups       25,000     10pct or Rs 15/kg 
2106    Other food preparations (nes) 
                    147,000     15pct or Rs 25/kg 
2209    Vinegar     59,000(a)  15pct or Rs 10/kg 
1902    Pasta       21,400     10pct or Rs 10/kg 
1905    Biscuits, cakes, bread 
                     11,500     10pct or Rs 10/kg 
0207    Meat of poultry (chicken, turkey) 
                    193,000    15pct or Rs 50/kg 
1602    Prepared meat49,300    15pct or Rs 15/kg 
0406    Cheese      30,200    15pct 
0404    Whey         6,700    15pct or Rs 20/kg 
1806    Chocolate and other food with cocoa 
                     65,000    15pct or Rs 15/kg 
----------- 
Other items 
----------- 
3303    Perfumes and toilet waters 
                    213,800   20pct or Rs 25/kg 
3304,3305,3307 Hair, beauty preparations 
                    78,000   20pct or Rs 25/kg 
391810  Floor or wall coverings of PVC 
                     8,400    20pct or Rs 20/kg 
392490    Toilet articles of plastic 
                   157,000    20pct or Rs 20/kg 
401110    Tires for motor cars 
                    27,300    10pct or Rs 15/unit 
4203 to 05 Leather clothes 
                    17,500    20pct or Rs 20/kg 
4202     Leather travel goods, bags 
                    33,200(a) 20pct or Rs 20/kg 
6505     Headgear  380,000(a) 15pct 
69       Ceramic ware 
                    54,800    20pc 
7013     Glassware  38,600(a) 10pct or Rs 10/kg 
7018     Glassbeads 34,400    10pct or Rs 10/kg 
 
841510   Air conditioners 
                    77,600(b) 10pct 
841451   Fans       22,000    10pct 
8418210090 refrigerators 
                    31,000(a) 10pct 
852431   Disks for laser reading systems 
                   522,000    1pct 
852430   Discs for laser reading systems 
                   128,200    1pct 
9603    Toothbrushes  (C)    10pct or Rs 10/unit 
960810   Ball point pens, fountain pens, felt pens 
                   189,000    10pct or Rs 10/unit 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
(a) Jan-Sept 2004 
(b) 2002 
(C) Indirect imports from Gillette 
nes, not elsewhere specified 
(d) When there is a specific duty and an ad valorem 
duty, the higher absolute duty will apply. 
Source: GSL Ministry of Finance and USITC 
LUNSTEAD