Sri Lanka coconut product exporters raise warn of 30-pct US tariff

• CNL Reporter
• July 17, 2025
• Political
• US tariff
• 0 Comments

Sri Lanka’s coconut exporters have warned that a 30 percent Trump tariff will hit 20 percent of annual exports as competitors have got access at much lower rates to the United States.

Out of 857 million dollars of annual exports 160 million went to the US.“Competing suppliers such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and India enjoy preferential trade access, meaning Sri Lankan products, despite their globally renowned quality, will be sidelined on cost alone,” the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industry (CCCI) said in a statement.

Over 800,000 Sri Lankans depend on the coconut industry for their livelihoods, including smallholder farmers, processors, factory workers, logistics providers, and exporters, the Chamber said.

More than 150,000 direct jobs in the manufacturing and processing sectors are now under immediate threat.