Sri Lanka Gets Trumpered in Global Tariff -20 PERCENT

In the wild world of international trade, Sri Lanka just got slapped with a 20% tariff by none other than Donald Trump—yes, he’s back, and he’s not just rearranging Washington furniture. He’s rewriting the tariff tables, and guess who made it into the "Not Quite Friends But Not Total Enemies Either" list? That’s right, Sri Lanka.

Let’s spill the Ceylon tea.

President Trump, in a dramatic executive order that sounds like it was ghostwritten by a reality show scriptwriter, announced revised “reciprocal tariff” rates—code for “if you don’t play nice, you pay.” And Sri Lanka got a respectable but not flattering 20%.

We’re in good company though—Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand—all sharing similar rates (19–20%). Not exactly the VIP club, but hey, we’re not in the punishment corner with Laos (40%) and Syria (41%) either. 

India? Got a 25.

That sibling rivalry continues.

Cambodia? 19.

Apparently, dollarization and being too stable for your own good gets you a modest discount. They went from nothing to $33 billion in exports, simply by not doing monetary policy. Imagine that. Economists somewhere are weeping into their spreadsheets.

Brazil? Just 10.

They whined, threatened, and got what they wanted. Classic negotiation tactics, really. Might be time for Sri Lankan diplomats to take notes—or a few acting classes.

Africa and island nations? Mostly 15%.

Even Afghanistan got 15%. That one stings.

So what gives? According to the Trumpian decree, countries were rated based on how much they align with the U.S. on “trade and national security”—aka: whether they sign the dotted line and say “yes, Mr. President.”

Sri Lanka, for its part, tried. Treasury Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma reportedly had multiple chats with the U.S. Trade Representative, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake even Zoomed in to talk it out. But 20% it is.

Still, there’s a silver lining: Trump’s order suggests more changes could come. Countries that close “meaningful trade and security deals” could see rates reduced. So this 20% might just be a temporary haircut—if Sri Lanka plays the diplomatic long game.

But let’s get real: what does 20% even mean in gossip terms?

Think of it as being invited to a party, but seated at the second-tier table—not the kitchen, not the VIP booth, but somewhere by the buffet. You’re still in the room. But you’ve got to charm your way up.

Here's a few of the juicy highlights:

Sri Lanka – 20%

India – 25%

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand – 19%

Taiwan – 20%

Brazil – 10% (because they know how to negotiate)

Laos & Myanmar – 40% (what did they even do??)

EU – complicated math, of course

UK – 10% (Brexit perks?)

So what’s next for Sri Lanka? Diplomats will be back at the table, possibly with better lines, more charm, and stronger tea.

Until then, we’re stuck in the 20% club—but let’s face it, we’ve seen worse.

Stay tuned, trade drama fans. This tariff saga is just getting started.