Sri Lanka's clothing industry has received a major boost from the European Union, which has cut the effective tariff rate on apparel imports from 12 to 4 from October 13. The reduction was granted on an application by Sri Lanka last year under the social labour clause of the enhanced tariff reduction scheme under the Generalised System of Preferences, and a subsequent confirmation by a EU labour audit that Sri Lanka qualified for the tariff reduction. Sri Lanka's case was pushed by Commerce Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who stressed that Sri Lanka had always complied with international labour norms, had a well established labour tribunal system and gave recognition to labour rights through its Constitution. He also emphasised the country's clean record on child labour.
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