AFC recommends national response to US tariff

Last Updated on Thursday, 3 April 2025, 18:19 by Writer

The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Thursday called for a national approach to tackle the United States (US) imposition of a 38% tariff on Guyana’s exports except oil.

“The Unites States has acted in its own national interest and it is incumbent on us collectively as a country and as a member of Caricom to not only assess the impact of the imposition of tariffs on our national and regional economic well-being but also to consult across the political divide to arrive at a national short and medium term approach to this new realty,” the AFC said in a statement.

The US said the tariff reciprocates Guyana’s average tariff of 76 percent on US exports to this country.

The Guyana government said it was engaging the US about the tariff.

Contending that this imposition has serious adverse implications for the development trajectory of Guyana, the AFC urged authorities to capitalise on this situation to focus on the non-oil economy.

“We believe that serious adjustments to the development of our non-oil economic strategies are now mandatory as well as our global approach to economic partnerships in our national interests,” that political party said.

The AFC used the opportunity to reiterate its recommendation for a “mutually agreed political consensus across the political divide” on short, medium and long term economic development plans in the national interest. “This new realty requires national consultation and a national approach.”