CARICOM Secretary General working to resolve trade dispute between Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago

Manufactures in Jamaica have accused Trinidad & Tobago of breaching the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) trade rules established under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas by imposing non-tariff barriers to goods from Jamaica.

Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago comprise the two largest economies in the CARICOM region.

In responding to the accusation in what may quickly escalate into a full blown trade dispute, Trinidad & Tobago’s Industry Minister Vasant Bharath declared “there is no unfair treatment.” He insisted that manufacturers in the oil and gas-rich Trinidad & Tobago had “retooled” in the past few years and could now produce more effectively than many Jamaican manufacturers.

Diplomatic efforts are underway behind the scenes to resolve the dispute between two largest CARICOM states. The regional grouping’s Secretary General is working to end the verbal and trade spat that has quite often that has characterized recent relations between Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago.

The latest trade figures indicate that Trinidad & Tobago is the largest beneficiary of intra-CARICOM trade. The value of its exports to CARICOM in 2011 was US$2 billion while the value of its imports from CARICOM was US$140.9 million. Jamaica on the other hand, is the biggest market for CARICOM with imports valued at US$1 billion.