JAAF statement on PSTA and GSP: ‘Don’t be your own worst enemy’
by Gomi Senadhira The Joint Apparel Association Forum’s (JAAF) recent statement on the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) and its impact on the GSP Plus, to my mind, is a classic case of being one’s own worst enemy. Why? Because statements like these get amplified, often with diabolical twists, to generate adverse […]
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) recently released a statement regarding the Protection of the State from Terrorism Bill (PSTA) and its potential impact on the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus). In my perspective, this stance is self-inflicted damage. Public statements like these tend to be sensationalized and misinterpreted, leading to unfavorable headlines both domestically and internationally.
Consequently, Sri Lanka's garment exporters may face adverse consequences. These headlines are not advantageous at this time for exporters targeting the EU market. Furthermore, the JAAF has not been the only entity to join the controversy, with organizations like the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also expressing their opinions. If the JAAF has genuine concerns about the proposed bill, they should address these issues directly with the government, preferably through the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Alternatively, they could have petitioned the Supreme Court, which would have been a more discreet approach. JAAF's public statements suggest a repetition of the mistakes they made in 2010, when they unintentionally contributed to Sri Lanka losing its EU preferences.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
