CARICOM welcomes change

Apr 23, 2025 News

…as US revised port fees on China-built vessels

Kaieteur News- Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) E.P. Chet Greene has welcomed the revised measures announced by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) regarding China’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding practices.

United States President Donald Trump plans to impose a US$1 million to US$1.5 million levy on all Chinese-made ships entering US harbours, and Caribbean countries have warned that such a policy will lead to increased inflation and severely hamper their respective economies.

“As chair of the Caricom Council for Trade and Economic Development, I welcome the announcement by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on the revised measures under the Section 301 investigation into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding practices. The inclusion of a special exemption for CARICOM member states is a significant and timely achievement for our region,” Greene said in a statement.

He commended CARICOM leaders “for their principled leadership and strategic engagement, which ensured our collective concerns were heard and addressed”, noting the role played by CARICOM Chair, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne for their stewardship and unwavering advocacy throughout the discussions.

“This outcome reflects the strength of regional unity and the results we can achieve through coordinated action. It is the product of sustained diplomacy, rigorous technical submissions, and robust collaboration among CARICOM governments, the regional private sector, and international partners. It underscores our commitment to safeguarding Caribbean maritime trade and the economic viability of small island states,” said Greene, who is also Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs.

He said he also had to acknowledge “the exceptional contribution of the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO)” led by its chief executive officer and technical director, Dr. Patrick Antoine. “The CPSO’s technical insight and strategic advocacy were critical throughout this process. Their submissions to the USTR not only articulated the region’s unique vulnerabilities but also reinforced the legitimacy of our position.”

Greene said the CPSO’s coordination with key maritime partners, including Tropical Shipping, Seaboard Marine, the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), and the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) “ensured that regional realities were reflected in the USTR’s final decision”. He said in its determination, “…the USTR specifically acknowledged the CPSO/Caribbean Coalition submission and incorporated special provisions addressing short sea shipping and regional trade, an important recognition of Caricom’s structural maritime dependencies”.

When Trump first made the announcement, President Irfaan Ali had voiced concern, saying this could impact the region. Ali said Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago would need to assess the implications for tankers and other vessels transporting oil and gas. “That, of course, can have effects on the cost of goods coming into the region, the cost of transport coming into the region,” Ali had stated. “This is a policy that was alluded to, so there are some discussions that will have to occur, so all of these things are key regional issues that we are discussing together.” Some of these challenges were raised by the Regional Private Sector Organisation during a recent emergency virtual meeting held by CARICOM heads. “The US is our partner; the region recognises that the US is an important partner, and the Regional Private Sector will be having some conversations with the US. We will also be having conversations with various actors in the US, Secretary of State for example and also the Chair of CARICOM will be seeking to have a meeting with the White House to go through some of these challenges that we may face and to have a better understanding of each other positions,” Ali had said. He noted while the policy is not yet implemented, “we have to have early conversations to mitigate or minimise the impact.” (CMC)

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