CARICOM Committee Being Established to Review Non-Tariff Barriers to Regional Trade

Prime Minister of Jamaica and CARICOM chair, Dr. Andrew Holness (right), engages in a discussion with President of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali (second right), during an External Trade Negotiation Committee Breakfast Meetingat the Jewel Grande Hotel in St. James on Monday (July 7). Sharing in the conversation are Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, and Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis. The meeting is part of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM from July 6 to 8 under the theme ‘People, Partnership and Prosperity – Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’. ( Adrian Walker/JIS)

A CARICOM-level committee is being established to examine and potentially remove non-tariff barriers that continue to affect intra-regional trade.

That’s according to chairman of CARICOM, Dr. Andrew Holness.

The announcement comes amid news that CARICOM could lose nearly US$550 million annually as a result of the tariffs imposed by the US.

Dr. Holness says it’s important to consider expanding trading ties with other countries given the fallout. To that extent, he says Jamaica has acceded to a partnership between CARICOM and the African Export-Import Bank.

Dr. Andrew Holness, chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Jamaica. He was speaking at the Regional Private Sector Leadership Breakfast Forum in St James on Tuesday.