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Everett Christian Urges CARICOM to Bypass US Tariffs with Direct Trade Routes
Former banker and management consultant Everett Christian is urging Caribbean nations to establish direct trade routes that bypass the United States in response to new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Speaking on Observer AM, Christian proposed a regional free trade zone in Jamaica, allowing CARICOM members to import goods directly from manufacturers, avoiding US ports and their rising tariffs.
Antigua and Barbuda and 12 other CARICOM nations now face at least a 10% tariff on exports to the US, while Guyana faces a 38% tariff on oil exports.
Christian suggested consolidating regional orders for shipment to Jamaica, where goods could then be transshipped to other islands tariff-free. He described the situation as a challenge but also an opportunity for deeper regional cooperation and economic integration.
He called on CARICOM leaders to present a united front, suggesting that the tariffs could ultimately push the region toward greater self-reliance and collaboration.
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I’ve been saying this for years.
Trump: No one is getting away from MAGA
Yeah Carribean people can’t work together to do nothing. Black people in general hate to see other black people prosper and Carribean people just to bad minded for this to never work.
We need our own cargo fleet
luckily antigua recently spend 10s of millions of dollars upgrading our port to make it a transhipment hub. if we werent lied to then this is the perfect oportunity for us to serve the region as a distibution point for chinese goods. i look forward to seeing the major wholesales ,distributors, resellers and manufacturers establish antigua as a base for regiional trade. thank you gaston and telemaque
I’ve always believed this is the way forward not only for Antigua but for all caribbean nations. Self reliance is key affording us the ability to not be at the mercy of the USA or anybody else. Free trade among ourselves can and must be done.
Even while the new 10 percent tariffs is on a pause for 90 days, it is a significant blow to the Caribbean. Less we forget, in 1983 the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) was introduced by the United States in order to promote trade and economic development in the Caribbean and Central America by providing all the countries with duty free access to the US market for many goods. This new tariffs situation is a slap in the face of Caribbean countries given that the CBI was a US Initiative. Anyhow we look at it, the new tariffs will undoubtedly make it harder for Caribbean countries.
The bigger territories will still find a way to exploit the smaller ones they badminded too bad. West Indies cricket should teach the smaller territories a lesson well learnt
And never will remember what happened when the federation was established? And what you think going happen when everything start come through Jamaica especially us small islands..
Apparently we learned nothing from COVID. This should have been the way of thinking since 2020 but not all our leaders see the vision
@Audley Phillip,
The Reagan administration created the Caribbean Basin Initiative. What was the result?
CARICOM is suppose to be a free market. Free market for what ?
The powers that be have been pushing tourism, off shore gaming and CIP. All
all industries that are vulnerable to external factors.
We provided a massive duty free zone to Yada for what purpose.
It only takes a travel advisory from the US to destroy tourism overnight.
Regarding the use of CARICOM trading among itself. CARICOM in NYC use isca colosal failure. After 53 years what has it achieved of any significance?
Jamaica imports $200 million (Ja) in chicken yearly. Most Jamaicans can only afford back and neck.
Reported today is that Chinese are providing crash vegetables. Think about that for a second.
Correction: CARICOM is a colosal failure after 53 years.
It just took the UK to put visa restrictions on Trinidad for prime Minister Rowley to suddenly realize that Trinidad should leave the Privy council, he didn’t even mention the CCJ, perhaps he plans to join the US Supreme Court.
Why can’t Antigua join with China and form a free trade zone Mr.Christian. Hugh Marshall Snr been pushing when hd got into politics. He was like a stick record on that one.
Mr. Christian you were so correct about Donald Trump. You said knowing him he might soon withdraw and use it as a negotiating tool. He did exactly that.
I wanted you to explain that the 10% tariff he imposed on Antigua has no economic effect, since Antigua do not export anything to the US. However the effect we will be feeling is from the tariffs he placed on major suppliers or trans suppliers to the USA. Since we mostly import either directly or indirectly from the USA. So we will be paying much higher for Chinese goods for example. Since then are imported into the US and then transshipped to the Caribbean.
So I do support us shopping as a block. We have growing South America supplies and we can also add Chinese. Our cars are normally imported directly from Japan and increasing from China. European good are normally of superior quality, so here as commonwealth countries we can also set up some trade agreements. Our government also are guilty of charging very high tariffs on imported goods. They need to lower their tariffs and instead manage our resources much better. They need to stop the greedy self enrichment.
Frankly Speaking, how dare you suggest they stop the greedy self enrichment, that’s what they live for resigning from one party and joining the one in power that’s what it’s all about. Stopping the self enrichment is like asking a fish to live out of water
Why would we need to bypass the USA?
We are already purchasing from the USA anyway. Most of what we have been consuming comes from the USA and Canada in terms of food.
We have also been paying duties on them as well, which still never stopped the ordinary citizen from buying and shipping from the USA.
Since there is a temporary hold on implementing the tariff with Canada and Mexico, again there is not issue.
Where I see an issue, is in the area of Construction Material and other products coming from countries who’s use of the USA as a transhipmen hub can and will affect us. That is will agree with, especially if the the tariff levied on those countries are above and beyond the previous rates.
Since our exports will only be met with only a 10% tariff, perhaps this is the time for us as a region to begin supplying the USA with our products. Our products are more affordable and attractive to the US consumer.
Fruits and vegetables, Rum and Spirits, and anything else should be given priority ensuring that we meet the FDA import requirements and standards.
If Guyana or Trinidad have the capacity to be the transhipmen hub to the region for items coming out of south America, let it be.
No doubt, Panama and Jamaica have the capacity to transship to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean from Asian and pacific countries via the Panama Canal.
In my mind, our main issue could be the availability of the disposable income persons from our main tourism source markets will not have to travel to our region. The DOGE in the US is reeking havoc on government workers. They may not be able to go on vacation for a while. Hopefully, persons in the private sector will still have an appetite for travel and leisure.
All in all, Mr. Christian’s assessment is timely.