CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, at its meeting held on Wednesday, noted its approval on 8th October of the implementation of the Harmonized System 2022 (HS 2022) classification and the reduction of the Common External Tariff (CET) on a list of essential food items.
In July 2025, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) approved Antigua and Barbuda’s request to suspend the CET on a range of basic food commodities, allowing for a zero percent (0%) duty rate from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. This measure is intended to cushion the impact of rising global food prices and ensure that Antiguan and Barbudan households continue to have access to affordable staple foods.
The approved list includes essential items such as:
• Fresh vegetables (e.g. potatoes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli)
• Fresh fruits
• Pulses and legumes (e.g. lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas)
• Canned proteins (e.g. sardines, mackerel, corned beef)
• Infant foods and cereals
• Cooking oils (e.g. olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil)
In relation to the above Decision, The Cabinet at its Meeting on Wednesday agreed that:
1. The Customs and Excise Department, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Legal Affairs, will finalize the HS 2022 documentation for submission to Parliament before December 31, 2025, to ensure implementation effective January 1, 2026.
2. The Prices and Consumer Affairs Division will take the necessary steps to monitor the prices of the relevant food items to ensure that the benefits of the reduced rates are passed on to consumers.
3. The Division will report back to Cabinet within 30 days on the extent to which the price reductions are being reflected at the consumer level.
The Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumers from the effects of global price fluctuations and ensuring that the benefits of government policy interventions are directly felt by the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has directed the Hon. Minister responsible for Agriculture, Anthony Smith to coordinate with his counterpart Minister in Guyana to facilitate Antigua and Barbuda purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables and other food items produced in Guyana for the Antigua and Barbuda consumers.
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This useless ALP government has finally done something positive for the working man in reducing the cost of living. Import duties should be reduced or eliminated across all commodities except those manufactured in Antigua.