Jamaica’s Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Senator Aubyn Hill, says the country is not directly affected by the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.

He spoke about this on April 9 during a press briefing at Jamaica House. The comments were in response to new US tariff rules announced by former President Donald Trump.

Trump’s new measures include a 10% tax on almost all imports to the US. There’s also a pause on tariffs for 90 days for over 75 countries—excluding China. China will instead face a large 125% tax on its goods.

Senator Hill said Jamaica is not a target of either the US or China, but the country still needs to stay alert and flexible.

Jamaica is waiting to see if the US will keep the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which currently allows most Caribbean goods to enter the US with lower or no taxes.

Right now, there’s no clear answer. If the CBI ends and Jamaica is hit with the 10% tax, officials will need to check which other countries are affected and whether those countries sell the same products to the US. If competitors are farther away—like in Africa or Asia—Jamaica might still have an advantage due to its location.

Senator Hill is confident Jamaica can adapt. He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica managed well without raising taxes or borrowing more money. He said the government is working carefully to protect Jamaicans during this uncertain period.

Source: Jamaica GIS.