Anura Kumara’s first speech!
A Sri Lankan delegation met with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer at the U.S. Trade Representative’s office in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2025.
During the meeting, the delegation presented the original copies of correspondence sent by the Sri Lankan government to Ambassador Greer. This was done on the instructions of Minister of Finance and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The delegation provided an overview of the actions taken by the Sri Lankan government to address past and future challenges and to fully restore the nation’s economy.
Key to the discussions, the delegation emphasized the government’s firm commitment to collaborating with the United States to reduce the trade deficit and address both tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Ambassador Greer assessed the proposals submitted by Sri Lanka and expressed his hope for a swift agreement to establish a fair and equitable trading relationship between the two countries.
Later, on the same day, the USTR delegation, led by Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, and Director for South Asia, Emily Ashby, met with the Sri Lankan delegation. They elaborated further on the written proposals submitted by Sri Lanka to the U.S.
Both parties agreed to continue their negotiations with the goal of reaching a bilateral trade agreement between Sri Lanka and the United States. They expressed their commitment to finalizing the agreement as soon as possible.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade policies, overseeing merchandise trade, and managing direct investment policies. The USTR is also tasked with negotiating trade agreements with other nations. The office is headed by the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the President’s principal trade advisor and spokesperson on trade issues.
Presidential Media Division April 25, 2025
