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Caribbean leaders and industry officials are breathing a sigh of relief following the Trump-era decision to spare the region from steep U.S. port fees on Chinese-built shipping vessels — a move that could have severely disrupted regional trade.
Antigua Port Manager Darwin Telemacque, who played a leading role in the lobbying efforts, described the outcome as a “success story” for Caribbean diplomacy and collaboration.
“We’ve worked very hard on trying to present the Caribbean’s position as it relates to the impact that this would have created for us,” said Telemacque. “Had this thing gone through, this would have been cataclysmic.”
The original proposal by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) threatened to impose fees of up to $1.5 million per port call on Chinese-built ships — a decision that raised alarm across the global shipping industry. For Caribbean nations, whose economies rely heavily on maritime trade, the proposed levies posed a major economic threat.
Telemacque noted that a regional coalition — including CARICOM leaders, the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), major regional businesses like Massy, and energy firms in Trinidad — rallied to voice their concerns. The advocacy was spearheaded by economist Patrick Antoine of the Caribbean Private Sector Organisation, with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne also engaged in the effort.
“Dr Antoine actually went to Capitol Hill to present our case,” Telemacque explained. “And I think we were successful. Of the things that we asked, we received most of them.”
The USTR has since revised its plan, granting exemptions to ships operating between domestic U.S. ports, the Caribbean, and U.S. territories — effectively shielding major regional carriers from the impact of the fees.
Telemacque, who also chairs the Port Management Association of the Caribbean (PMAC), credited the outcome to the strength of regional unity.
“This was a broad-based effort. We had Jerron and Jeffrey Hall from Jamaica, a lot of people from different sectors got involved. We’re grateful that we’ve been successful in reducing the impact on our Caribbean civilization.”
The exemption marks a rare but welcome reprieve amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and highlights the power of coordinated Caribbean advocacy on the global stage.
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I’ve heard many times and have read the posts of many on here who have said ” oh let’s move away from the US and Britain” but yet we run straight into Chinese dominance and control..how stupid can we be?
Like the old saying goes..” you bite off your hand to spight your face”.
America has shown it’s cards in this entire trade war, that you’ll little islands would be stupid to think that you don’t need them.
Chinese dominance is not a good thing people..one nation getting super powerful to their own benefit, not ours.
Y’all better think before y’all act or talk.
I always say this on here. ” The lesser of two evils”. That’s the one you should always choose.
Big win for the region!
Proud moment for Antigua and CARICOM
Nice move!!
Let’s not get too comfy. These exemptions could change again depending on US politics.
As long as it helping the man in the street and not just big business, me good with it.
Oh please Donald Trump is playing poker with China and all that’s happening is he is scaring the crap out of the world while he bluffs China with hopes that they will eventually come to the table.
Donald Trump: Look at you little islands you thought I was gonna make you guys starve? No no I just want China to stop EFFING with my MAGA movement. We are gonna bring back the factories to American soil..We are gonna bring thr jobs back to America and we are gonna MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
his is proof that our ABLP led administration is working diligently and strategically for us. Wow this is great news and we can now breathe a little easier.
God Bless the Gaston Browne led administration.
I bet as a UPP supporter Darwin must be a big mad as this moves the goal post further away from a UPP win at the polls.
I couldn’t imagine Pringle or Goofy Richard going to meet with the US Secretary of State and walking away with this level of agreement.
This ABLP led administration is doing a superb job.
Thank you PM Gaston Browne & your team of Leaders.
This is the best news we could possibly get. I am especially happy because I don’t think Antiguans have what it takes to weather the financial storm this would bring about
I thought Lennox Weston said that we were buying our cargo vessel to help reduce the cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda. If we had gotten our own cargo vessel, we wouldn’t have to deal with Trump’s crazy tariffs.
Yes well done to them.
food4thought @ Please, do you think small island like Antigua can tell Trump what to do?? Trump realized his wrong, the economic damage, and he make the change.
Antigua government can’t give the people of Antigua constant running water, proper healthcare, good infrastructure—especially the roads and drainage, then how can get Trump to pull back tariffs hike on The Caribbean islands.
Let’s not pretend this was a local government win. The U.S. acted in their own interest, stop spinning it like a political trophy.
This exemption shows our government is doing the diplomatic work behind the scenes. Hats off to the leadership
Let’s hope this opens the door for more maritime policy dialogue between the U.S. and Caribbean nations.
These tariffs were always unfair to smaller economies. The Caribbean relies on global trade penalizing us for ships we didn’t build makes no sense.
Ok our diplomats/ambassadors are working. I think trump realizes the disaster that’s before him
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