Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
CARICOM Customs Bill to be ready within a month
The Caribbean Community is preparing for a final meeting later this month in Trinidad and Tobago for the preparation of a harmonised Customs Bill. The Bill is expected to be completed in about one month.
Policymakers during the CARICOM meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.
This is according to a release from CARICOM. Cooperation amongst member states in the drafting of the customs bill had been high.
“Given the level of cooperation demonstrated, it is anticipated that consensus and sign-off on the harmonised Customs Bill in its entirety will be secured exactly one month from now, by the close of the Trinidad and Tobago meeting,” CARICOM said.
This positive indicator came following five days of discussion in Antigua and Barbuda. The meetings had brought together Customs officials, legal experts, and CARICOM representatives, and focused on the regulations for a harmonised regional customs framework. Further, those who participated drafted legislation that aligned with modern international best practices and standards, CARICOM said.
CARICOM Director of External Trade, David Hales, said that the application of this legislation “will be of benefit to other aspects of the CSME such as the movement of persons, the movement of capital and right of establishment, all of which can stimulate production integration.”
Furthermore, the regulations will form the basis for Customs procedures and will cover all areas of customs policy management. CARICOM said the proposed regulations are expected to bring about increased predictability, thereby significantly reducing hindrances and frustrations to both regional and international traders.
The session in Antigua and Barbuda was also the Eighth joint meeting and was the penultimate in finalising the Customs regulations. These regulations will be put forward for approval by two CARICOM bodies and will subsequently be adopted for implementation by each member state.
The passing of the harmonised Customs Bill for the Caribbean had been a 12-year effort. Agreement for the Bill was eventually reached in August 2014. However, the drafting of regulations needed to be completed before implementation.
All CARICOM countries were visited to determine their current legal status and the resultant regulations drafted.
The final meeting will take place in Trinidad and Tobago from March 24th.
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