Browsing by Author "Tennakoon, Jayanthi"

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    Linkages between Trade, Development and Poverty: Sri Lanka
    (2014-01-08) Weerakoon, Dushni; Tennakoon, Jayanthi
    This paper examines in some details the Sri Lankan experience with trade reforms and its impact on the broader development objectives of the country.
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    SAFTA: An Analysis of the Potential Restrictions on Free Trade
    (2013-09-11) Weerakoon, Dushni; Tennakoon, Jayanthi
    Under the proposed tariff liberalization programme (TLP), SAFTA will become fully effective for non-LDC member countries of SAARC by 2013 (and by 2016 for LDC member states). However, under the negotiations on sensitive lists, each country has been permitted to exclude 20 per cent of tariff lines which are not subject to the TLP. In effect, it means that a substantial proportion of trade within the South Asian region may in fact be excluded from the principle of ‘free trade’. The primary objective of the proposed study aims to make an initial assessment of the extent of such excluded intra-regional trade; in doing so, it will offer a brief background to the rationale for promoting regional economic cooperation in South Asia and examines the current forms of trade initiatives in the region, including bilateral FTAs that can impinge on efforts by SAARC to foster trade linkages. Followed by the examination of the scope of the SAFTA Framework Agreement study offers quantitative estimates of the volume of intraregional trade excluded from the SAFTA process. Finally it outlines a set of policy recommendations to strengthen the SAFTA agreement and meet the objectives of ensuring liberalization of trade within the SAARC region.
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    WTO Doha Round and South Asia: Trade Facilitation
    (2013-09-03) Weerakoon, Dushni; Weeraratne, Bilesha; Tennakoon, Jayanthi
    This report is intended to contribute to a wider discussion of the contents and elements of the multilateral framework on trade facilitation by offering South Asian negotiators an opportunity to examine in greater detail the challenges posed by the negotiations on trade facilitation; the scope of the negotiations as delineated by the July Package; the content and elements to be agreed upon; future challenges posed by any new obligations that may arise from implementation of such an agreement; and finally discuss and evaluate trade facilitation proposals submitted by South Asian members and their implications for the region.