Prime Minister Gaston Browne has urged Caribbean nations to strengthen regional cooperation to address the potential economic fallout from shifting U.S. trade policies.
Speaking on the matter, he warned that increased tariffs and policy shifts could have serious repercussions for Caribbean economies, particularly in areas such as food imports and tourism.
“We have an obligation to stand up and speak up where [the U.S.] is taking policy decisions that could result in fundamental challenges for us,” Browne said. “We remain respectful of the United States, but they must also respect our sovereignty and understand the unintended consequences of their policies on our economies.”
The Prime Minister highlighted the *importance of U.S.-Caribbean trade ties, emphasizing that **80% of Antigua and Barbuda’s imports come from the United States, including food and essential goods. He cautioned that *rising tariffs on goods produced outside of the U.S., such as in China, Canada, India, and Mexico, could drive up prices for Caribbean nations.
“If these tariffs are going to hurt the American people, imagine what will happen to us in the Caribbean,” he said, noting that higher import costs could lead to inflation and reduced consumer spending power.
Browne called on *CARICOM leaders to engage in meaningful discussions with U.S. officials to secure economic protections for the region. He also stressed the need for **greater regional food security, urging Caribbean nations to invest more in agriculture to *reduce dependence on imported goods and mitigate rising costs.
“We need to produce more,” Browne stated. “We have to educate our people on these risks and incentivize them to grow more food so that we are not entirely reliant on imports that could become even more expensive due to these trade policies.”
The Prime Minister underscored that *collaboration with international partners, including the European Union and China, should complement—not replace—strong trade relations with the United States. He insisted that *Antigua and Barbuda remains “friends of all, enemies of none” and that diplomacy, rather than threats or unilateral decisions, should shape U.S.-Caribbean trade relations.
Browne concluded by affirming that Antigua and Barbuda, along with CARICOM, will seek diplomatic engagement with the U.S. to prevent economic hardship across the region.
