Dear Reader,
Welcome to our Caribbean Trade & Development News Digest for the week February 15-21, 2026!
📌THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
A week is a long time in trade. And what a week it has been! Below are this week’s headlines!
The US Supreme Court strikes down President Trump’s emergency power tariffs implemented under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (1977), but the President has already announced he will use other legislation to maintain the current tariffs, and later increased these to 15%.
World Trade Organization (WTO) members have agreed on a draft decision for approval at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March on improving the integration of small economies into the world trading system.
In its latest Global Trade Update (February 2026), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) notes that uneven tariff hikes are driving trade diversion, while tariff shifts are redrawing the competitiveness map. Have a read here!
🌴CARIBBEAN AND HEMISPHERIC TRADE STORIES
Former CARICOM leaders speak out against the U.S. blockade on oil supplies from other countries to Cuba.
A former President and seven ex Prime Ministers from CARICOM countries issued a statement on February 19, 2026, expressing their concern about the devastating consequences of an absolute blockade on oil supplies from third countries to Cuba, established by the U.S. President’s Executive Order of January 29, 2026, which threatens to impose trade tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. Read more
Patterson agonising over Cuba Crisis
Jamaica Gleaner: Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has expressed his “indescribable” personal torment over the deepening political and humanitarian crisis in Cuba – a crisis he says is made worse by the absence of the bold political courage once shown in the era of Michael Manley. Read more
TTMA welcomes T&T’s removal from EU tax list
Trinidad Guardian: The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) has welcomed this country’s removal from the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Read more
Barbados Leads the Charge in Sustainable Maritime Tourism: Green Shipping Corridor Initiative Set to Revolutionize Caribbean Travel and Trade
TTW: Barbados is making waves in the maritime industry as it embarks on an ambitious plan to create a green shipping corridor, a groundbreaking initiative that promises to transform both tourism and trade across the Caribbean. Read more
Which Trump tariffs did the Supreme Court strike down? Here’s what to know
AP: The nation’s highest court struck down some of U.S. President Donald Trump’s most sweeping tariffs on Friday, in a 6-3 decision that he overstepped his authority when using an emergency powers law to justify new taxes on goods from nearly every country in the world. Read more
Trump tariff chaos: What does 15% levy mean for trade deals the US signed?
Al Jazeera: From the EU to Vietnam to the UK and India, multiple countries had signed or finalised trade deals with the US. Read more
US trade commission launches review of USMCA automotive rules of origin
Reuters: The U.S. International Trade Commission has initiated an investigation into the automotive rules of origin under the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, the commission said in a statement on Thursday. Read more
Trump adds 10% global tariff after U.S. Supreme Court decision, but CUSMA-compliant goods are exempt
CTV: A defiant U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose an additional 10 per cent global tariffs on Friday after the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down many of the existing tariffs, including some levied against Canada. Read more
📢 STRAIGHT FROM THE WTO!
Women’s access to international markets to be spotlighted at MC14 high-level event
A high-level event on women and trade will be held on the margins of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25 March to bring together women entrepreneurs, development partners and WTO members. Registration for the event – which will feature the work of the WTO Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades Initiative and the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund — is open until 22 February. Read more
Members endorse draft MC14 decision on boosting small economies’ participation in trade
WTO members agreed on 17 February on a draft decision for approval at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in March on improving the integration of small economies into the world trading system. Adopted at a meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development’s Dedicated Session on Small Economies, it is the first draft decision to be submitted for ministerial approval at MC14. Read more
Members discuss new approaches, share experiences on reforming fossil fuel subsidies16 February 2026
At a meeting on 16 February, WTO members participating in the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) initiative continued exploring new approaches to reforming fossil fuel subsidies and examining the effects of subsidies provided to emissions-intensive sectors. Members reaffirmed the importance of enhancing transparency through greater information and experience sharing. Read more
🌎 GLOBAL TRADE STORIES
Asian economies weigh impact of fresh Trump tariff moves, confusion
Reuters: U.S. trading partners in Asia were weighing fresh uncertainties this weekend after President Donald Trump announced a new tariff on imports, hours after the Supreme Court struck down many of the sweeping levies he used to launch a global trade war. Read more
South Africa’s trade ministry to oppose liquidation of Tongaat Hulett
Reuters: South Africa’s trade ministry said on Friday it would oppose the liquidation of sugar producer Tongaat Hulett (TONJ.J), opens new tab, warning of severe consequences for jobs, farmers, and the country’s sugar industry. Read more
How AGOA renewal shapes Africa’s trade future
UNCTAD: Despite heightened trade tensions and policy volatility, global trade and growth demonstrated notable resilience in 2025. Supply chains continued to adjust, markets remained connected, even as pressures weighed more heavily on smaller and more vulnerable economies. Read more
EU says US must honor a trade deal after court blocks Trump tariffs
AP: The European Union’s executive arm requested “full clarity” from the United States and asked its trade partner to fulfill its commitments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most sweeping tariffs. Read more
France’s Macron holds bilateral talks with India’s Modi to boost economic and strategic ties
AP: French President Emmanuel Macron met with India’s Prime Minster Narendra Modi on Tuesday for bilateral talks aimed at deepening economic and strategic ties as the two countries seek closer cooperation amid global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical alignments. Read more
Global trade tensions: a “wake-up call” to fast-track intra-African trade protocols – ACCP
MSN: The African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) has stated that recent escalating global trade tensions must serve as a definitive catalyst for Africa to realize its own continental market. Read more
Why the EU won’t anchor an anti-Trump trade bloc
Euractiv: Mark Carney is eager to build a unified super-bloc capable of squaring up to the trade leviathans of China or the US. But his grand design is really a pipe dream. Read more
European Commission targets WTO’s key rule in push to rebalance China trade
Euronews: EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič calls to reassess the World Trade Organization’s “Most Favoured Nation” rule with China in focus. Chinese exports have surged since the country joined the trade body. Read more
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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