By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News
CARICOM Urged to Strengthen Regional Trade and Security as U.S. Tariffs Loom
MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – With the United States set to impose reciprocal tariffs on nearly 60 countries starting August 1, 2025, CARICOM Chair and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness is calling for urgent diversification of regional trade, especially within the Caribbean.
“The time has come for the region to take trade diversification seriously,” Holness told leaders at the 49th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Montego Bay.
The Trump administration’s tariffs, which include a 10% baseline tax on most imported goods, are expected to significantly impact CARICOM exporters, affecting their price competitiveness and revenue in the U.S. market.
Gang Violence in the Caribbean Now a Regional Security and Health Crisis
Holness also sounded the alarm on organized crime, likening the fight against Caribbean gang violence to the global war on terror. He described it as a public health emergency, emphasizing that while poverty and social alienation are root causes, today’s criminal networks are driven by transnational funding, access to firearms, and organized intelligence.
“We must treat the dismantling of criminal gangs with the urgency of fighting terrorism,” Holness declared.
In Jamaica, 90% of homicide perpetrators and victims are male, highlighting the deep social impacts of unchecked violence.
Support for Haiti Remains a CARICOM Priority
The CARICOM Chair reaffirmed the region’s solidarity with Haiti, committing to renewed efforts to mobilize international support for the deployment of a multinational security force and the country’s long-term development.
Four Member States to Launch Full Free Movement by October 1, 2025
In a significant boost for regional integration, Holness announced that Barbados, Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica will implement full free movement under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) by October 1, 2025.
This means that nationals from these countries will be able to move, work, and set up businesses across borders without work permits or restrictions.
“This is a major step toward full implementation of the protocol on enhanced cooperation,” Holness noted, affirming Jamaica’s commitment to the goal despite existing limitations.
