Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has criticised the government’s handling of international trade negotiations, following the announcement that a 30 percent tariff will be imposed by the United States on imports from Sri Lanka starting 1 August.

In a post shared on platform X, Premadasa said the tariff was the direct result of weak diplomatic engagement and failure to seek broad-based support during negotiations.

“A 30% U.S. tariff on Sri Lankan exports is the price we pay for poor negotiation,” he wrote, warning that nearly USD 3 billion in export revenue is now at risk.

He went on to suggest that overconfidence and insular policymaking had hindered Sri Lanka’s ability to secure favourable outcomes on the global stage. “Our ego kept us from seeking every ally, every expert hand, and now nearly $3 billion in exports hangs in the balance,” Premadasa stated.

Taking a jab at the government’s approach to economic diplomacy, the Opposition Leader added, “This is a good case study on how textbook experts are not meant for real world negotiations.”