Colombo, April 23 -- The Trump administration's move to slap a 44% tariff on Sri Lankan exports, currently on pause, but not off the table is a textbook example of policy driven by headline numbers, not economic reality.

The excuse? A trade deficit in goods.

The truth? That's a narrow, outdated metric that misses the bigger picture and ends up hurting both countries.

Start with the basics - Sri Lanka is a developing nation with a GDP per capita around $4,000. The U.S. clocks in at $80,000. That gap should trigger policies that support growth, not punish it.

Yes, Sri Lanka sells more goods to the U.S. than it buys. But that's just one piece of the puzzle. The real measure of trade health is the current account, which includes:

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