Dear Readers,
You have been asking for it and it is back – our Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest! It has been a while and there is much in the trade news to catch up on. Let’s get you caught up on some of the major trade stories from the past days.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s Trade Trends and Estimates for Latin America report shows that the value of goods exports from Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated to have grown by 6.4% in 2025, following an increase of 4.7% in 2024 aided by higher export volumes. But they warn of “continuing uncertainty surrounding the global economic outlook and the direction of trade policies, which could potentially temper global demand”. Have a read of the report here.
According to UNCTAD’s latest Global Investment Trends Monitor report, global foreign investment rose 14% in 2025, but underlying activity remains weak. The report notes that “a significant share of the increase came from higher flows through major global financial centres. Excluding these, underlying FDI growth would have been closer to 5%”. Have a read here.
REGIONAL AND HEMISPHERIC TRADE STORIES
From blackouts to food shortages: How US blockade is crippling life in Cuba
Al Jazeera: US pressure pushes island nation’s 11 million people to the brink as Cuba imposes emergency measures amid fuel crisis. Read more
CARICOM strengthens relations with three EU nations
St Vincent Times: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) strengthened its growing relationship with Sweden, Norway and Austria this week as new ambassadors from those countries were accredited to CARICOM. Read more
Africa-CARICOM Trade Poised to Exceed $1 Billion
St Vincent Times: Exports from the Africa Union to CARICOM could cross the US$1 billion mark, according to a CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) Study unveiled this week, signalling a major opportunity to rewire CARICOM import supply chains. Read more
BPO sector highlighted as key driver of jobs and digital exports at business mixer in Belize
BreakingBelizeNews: CEO Narda Garcia noted that to date, there is a total of 17 BPOs that benefit under Belize’s Designated Process Area Program (the DPA) and that provide over nine thousand jobs to Belizeans. Read more
Caribbean cannabis growers eye budding domestic sales and exports
BBC: Last year marked a decade since Jamaica decriminalised the recreational use of cannabis and legalised its production and sale for medical reasons. Several other Caribbean nations, including the twin island country Antigua and Barbuda in 2018, have since followed suit. Read more
STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO!
Members discuss next steps on WTO reform ahead of MC14
WTO members on 3 February considered next steps in advancing work on WTO reform in the lead-up to the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in March 2026. The facilitator on WTO reform, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, announced that he will launch a reform month on 5 February aimed at discussing a post-MC14 workplan. He underscored that reform must mean change and that WTO reform will be a central element of MC14. Read more
WTO revamps data portal with new catalogue of WTO datasets
The WTO has revamped the WTO Data Portal, the principal gateway to all trade data published by the organization. A key feature of the portal is a new catalogue of WTO datasets allowing WTO members and other users to explore WTO data in one self-contained area instead of navigating various platforms. Read more
GLOBAL TRADE STORIES
Trump extends AGOA by a year – but wants more US benefits
African Business: President Trump has extended the flagship US-Africa trade act by a year – but his administration wants to rework it to benefit US firms. Read more
Here’s why the India-EU trade pact is the ‘mother of all deals’
WEF: India and the European Union reached a landmark free trade deal last week, concluding negotiations in one of the world’s most ambitious trade pacts. Read more
U.S. and India unveil framework of interim trade deal, move closer to broad pact
CNBC: The United States and India moved closer to a trade pact on Friday, releasing an interim framework that would lower tariffs, reshape energy ties and deepen economic cooperation as both countries seek to realign global supply chains. Read more
EU and Australia revive stalled trade talks over agriculture, raw materials
RFI: The European Union is hoping to conclude a long-sought trade agreement with Australia which will include agricultural products and raw materials. Read more
Trade momentum slows in Asia and the Pacific
UNESCAP: Asia and the Pacific remained a central driver of global trade and investment in 2025, despite slowing momentum amid rising geopolitical and policy uncertainties. Read more
China hits growth goal after exports defy US tariffs
BBC: China said its economy expanded by 5% last year, meeting Beijing’s official target as a record trade surplus boosted growth. Read more
The Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest is a product of the Caribbean Trade and Development blog.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Caribbean Trade Law and Development 
Leave a Reply