Dear Reader,
Welcome to the Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week August 23–29, 2026!
📌 THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
- Dominican Republic makes a reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States a top trade-policy priority.
- Barbados and Venezuela agree to deepen cooperation in energy, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, trade and investment.
- The British Virgin Islands reports early gains from its inaugural financial services trade mission to India.
- Belize is selected to pilot a CARICOM initiative supporting industries benefiting from Article 164 protection.
- WTO members adopt the panel report in the EU–Indonesia fatty-acids dispute.
- Washington reportedly considers another broad round of semiconductor tariffs, with potentially significant implications for Asian technology supply chains.
🌴 CARIBBEAN TRADE STORIES
Dominican Republic prioritises reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States
Presidency of the Dominican Republic: President Luis Abinader said on August 26 that securing a reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States in the shortest possible time and on favourable terms for the Dominican Republic is a government priority. Speaking at the country’s Second Investment and Nearshoring Forum, Abinader also pledged to preserve incentives available to free-zone operators and continue strengthening the investment environment. The negotiations are especially significant given the United States’ importance as an export market and investment partner for the Dominican Republic. Read more
Barbados and Venezuela deepen economic and trade cooperation
Government of Barbados: Barbados and Venezuela issued a Joint Declaration on August 24 identifying energy, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, trade and transport as priority areas for expanded bilateral cooperation. Among the commitments are increased commercial exchange in hydrocarbons, exploration of renewable-energy investment, development of protocols governing trade in meat products, agricultural investment and fisheries processing and value addition. The two countries also intend to increase tourism flows and business linkages. Read more
BVI records gains from inaugural India financial-services trade mission
Government of the Virgin Islands: The British Virgin Islands reported several early outcomes from its inaugural financial-services trade mission to India, which is running from August 24–31 across New Delhi, GIFT City, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Discussions with India’s International Financial Services Centres Authority covered captive insurance, fintech, investment funds and asset management, with both sides expressing interest in progressing a memorandum of understanding subject to the necessary approvals. The BVI is seeking to expand its role in facilitating Indian cross-border investment and financial services. Read more
Belize selected to pilot CARICOM Article 164 industry-support project
Greater Belize Media: Belize has been selected as the pilot country for a new CARICOM initiative aimed at strengthening industries benefiting from protection under Article 164 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. The 36-month project, supported by the CARICOM Development Fund, will initially focus on furniture, animal feed and turmeric. Assistance will cover research, policy development, export readiness, climate resilience, capacity building and value-chain development, with lessons from the Belize pilot expected to inform wider regional implementation. Read more
Caribbean Airlines further adjusts regional connectivity
CMC: Caribbean Airlines announced that it will discontinue direct Trinidad/Tobago–Barbados return services BW212 and BW213 from September 2 as part of continuing network optimisation. The airline says travellers will remain connected through alternative same-day services. The change follows other recent route reductions as Caribbean Airlines seeks to improve commercial performance, highlighting the persistent challenge that costly and limited transport connectivity poses for intra-Caribbean tourism, services trade and business mobility. Read more
📢 STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO!
WTO adopts panel report in EU–Indonesia fatty-acids dispute
WTO: The Dispute Settlement Body on August 28 adopted the panel report in European Union – Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports of Fatty Acid from Indonesia (DS622). The panel found, among other things, that the EU acted inconsistently with the Anti-Dumping Agreement when it failed to use the exchange rate applicable on the date of sale for certain transactions, resulting in duties exceeding the established dumping margin. The EU now has 30 days to inform the DSB of its implementation intentions. Read more
Madagascar launches safeguard investigation on packaging and printed products
WTO: Madagascar notified the WTO on August 28 that it had initiated a safeguard investigation covering imports of self-adhesive labels, packaging and certain other printed products made from paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles and similar materials. The investigation will determine whether increased imports are causing or threatening serious injury to domestic producers. Interested parties have until September 12 to register and submit information. Read more
WTO–IMF Tariff Tracker expands coverage
WTO: The WTO–IMF Tariff Tracker was updated on August 26 with broader reporting-economy coverage and methodological refinements. The database tracks changes in effectively applied import duties by economy, trading partner and product, providing a useful transparency tool at a time when tariff measures are playing an increasingly prominent role in global commercial policy. Read more
🌎 GLOBAL TRADE STORIES
ASIA
U.S. weighs another round of semiconductor tariffs
Reuters: The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new round of broad semiconductor tariffs that could extend beyond chips themselves to technology products incorporating semiconductors, including laptops, servers and gaming consoles. One option under discussion would link tariff relief to investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Any such measures would have major consequences for Asian chip-producing and electronics-exporting economies and could accelerate the reconfiguration of global technology supply chains. The White House said no measure should be considered final until formally announced. Read more
EU–China trade tensions remain elevated ahead of talks
Reuters: Trade frictions between China and the European Union remained high this week ahead of further engagement between Brussels and Beijing. European policymakers continue to raise concerns about Chinese industrial overcapacity and competitive conditions in sectors such as electric vehicles, while Chinese firms and workers face the effects of existing and potential European trade-defence measures. The dispute illustrates the growing overlap between industrial policy, economic security and traditional trade remedies in EU–China relations. Read more
BYD export growth supports improved quarterly performance
Reuters: Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer BYD reported its first quarterly profit increase in more than a year, helped in part by strong overseas sales. The result underscores the growing importance of export markets to Chinese EV producers as competition intensifies domestically, even as Chinese vehicle exports face increasing scrutiny and trade barriers in several major markets. Read more
LATIN AMERICA
Cheese names become sticking point in U.S.–Mexico trade negotiations
Reuters: Geographical indications and the continued use of traditional cheese names by U.S. producers have emerged as a stumbling block in U.S.–Mexico trade negotiations. American dairy interests want assurances that common cheese names will remain available to their exporters, while Mexico must reconcile those demands with geographical-indication commitments made to other trading partners. The dispute shows how intellectual-property and regulatory issues are becoming increasingly important in North American market-access negotiations. Read more
Argentina’s expanding U.S. beef exports face fresh competition
Reuters: Argentina’s rapidly growing beef exports to the United States could face increased competitive pressure under a U.S. proposal to widen tariff-free market access to additional suppliers. Argentine beef shipments to the United States have tripled during the first seven months of 2026 and now account for nearly one-fifth of the country’s beef exports, according to the Rosario trade exchange. Expanded access for suppliers such as Brazil could alter competitive conditions in the U.S. market. Read more
United States explores long-term access to Venezuelan oil
Reuters: U.S. officials are working on arrangements that could provide Washington with long-term access to part of Venezuela’s oil reserves, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Any agreement could have significant implications for Venezuela’s energy exports, foreign investment and the reorientation of regional oil trade, while also intersecting with wider U.S. energy-security objectives. Read more
AFRICA
Ghana requires local refining of artisanal gold exports
Reuters: Ghana’s GoldBod ordered that artisanal gold doré purchased by self-financing aggregators for export must be refined domestically from September 1. The measure is part of Ghana’s wider effort to retain more value from its mineral resources, strengthen oversight of the gold trade and increase domestic processing before export. The policy illustrates the growing use of local value-addition requirements by commodity-producing developing economies. Read more
Kenyan traders protest higher customs-valuation benchmark
Reuters: Small-scale traders in Nairobi protested against a new customs-valuation benchmark introduced by the Kenya Revenue Authority. The minimum reference value applied to a consolidated 40-foot container increased from 2.5 million Kenyan shillings to 3.2 million shillings. Authorities say the measure is intended to combat under-declaration and import undervaluation, while traders argue that it substantially increases clearing costs for smaller importers. Read more
OTHER MAJOR GLOBAL TRADE DEVELOPMENTS
Canada retaliates as trade dispute with United States escalates
Reuters: Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs covering approximately US$20 billion in annual imports from the United States after Washington sharply increased duties on Canadian goods. The Canadian measures cover products including steel, dairy products, appliances and agricultural equipment, while Ottawa also announced assistance for affected workers and businesses. The dispute is increasing uncertainty for deeply integrated North American supply chains. Read more
U.S. tariff threat adds uncertainty to global semiconductor supply chains
Beyond its direct implications for Asia, Washington’s consideration of broader semiconductor tariffs could have global repercussions for manufacturers dependent on imported chips and chip-containing products. The reported proposal comes as governments increasingly use tariffs, investment incentives and economic-security rules to reshape strategic supply chains around semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Read more
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