WASHINGTON, DC — SEVERAL Caribbean nations are among 60 economies facing new U.S. tariffs under a sweeping trade enforcement initiative aimed at curbing the importation of goods linked to forced labour.
The measures, announced by the Trump administration, will see imports from affected countries subject to tariffs of either 10 or 12.5 percent. Among the Caribbean countries impacted are The Bahamas, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.
According to the White House, the new tariff regime is intended to strengthen enforcement of the United States' prohibition on goods produced with forced labour. It will replace the temporary global 10 percent tariff, which is set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday.
The administration said the policy will affect more than 95 percent of U.S. imports from what it describes as 60 of the country's key trading partners.
The action was taken under Sections 301(b) and 304(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, following investigations conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The investigations concluded that certain trade practices in the affected economies warranted action by the United States.
In a notice outlining the decision, the USTR said countries that have implemented, or committed to implementing, prohibitions on imports produced with forced labour through an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) would generally be subject to a 10 percent tariff rate, with some economies facing higher duties based on the findings of individual investigations.
For The Bahamas, the USTR said it had determined, after reviewing the investigation, public comments, testimony, and recommendations from the Section 301 Committee and advisory committees, that imports from the country would be subject to a 12.5 percent tariff.
Guyana will also face a 12.5 percent tariff, with certain exemptions. Trinidad and Tobago, meanwhile, will be subjected to a 10 percent tariff on its exports to the United States.
The memorandum accompanying the decision states that tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent are considered "appropriate and feasible" to eliminate the trade practices identified during the Section 301 investigations. It also notes that the administration considered alternatives—including lower tariff rates, negotiations without tariffs, or action under other statutory authorities—but determined that the measures announced were the most effective response.
The United States has increasingly used Section 301 of the Trade Act as a trade enforcement tool, allowing it to impose tariffs on countries it determines are engaging in unfair trade practices. The latest measures form part of the administration's broader effort to tighten supply chain standards and discourage the use of forced labour in global commerce.
