Industry and Enterprise Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti says that the new tax regime introduced by former US President Donald Trump will have a significant negative impact—not just on Sri Lanka, but also on the American people.
Speaking on the issue, Minister Handunnetti stated that the new tax policy poses a serious challenge for the middle class in the United States.
“This is a major problem for America’s middle class. But unlike Sri Lanka, the U.S. doesn’t have a strong progressive left-wing movement to challenge these decisions,” he said.
Handunnetti further remarked that if such a political force existed in the U.S., it could have triggered a strong response or even a shift in the political landscape. “If there was a left-wing movement there like we have here, Trump would be at home, not pushing such policies,” he added.
The minister’s comments come amid growing concern in Sri Lanka over the impact of new tariffs on exports and the broader consequences of U.S. trade policy under Trump’s leadership.
