Caricom worried about US plans to impose fines on Chinese vessels- Ali

Last Updated on Saturday, 22 March 2025, 21:19 by Writer

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday said he and Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders on Friday discussed, among other issues, the likely increased cost in shipping and imports if the US goes ahead with plans to fine China-made and China-linked vessels passing through its ports.

“These are policies that are not implemented as yet but they are out there but we have to have early conversations to ensure that we mitigate or minimize the impact on the region,” he said.

Dr Ali signaled that the issue could be raised in discussions between several Caribbean leaders and the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio in Jamaica. The Guyanese leader stayed clear of saying whether he would be participating in those discussions, but stressed that he would be meeting with the key foreign policy decision-maker.

Mr Rubio is due to visit Guyana and neighbouring Suriname on his trip to the Caribbean.

The Trump administration has decided to fine China-made vessels as well as those transhipping from such seacraft to smaller vessels. But the Guyanese leader said that would adversely affect the oil and gas producing nations of Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana as well as Surinane when its offshore oil production begins by 2027. “Some of the new policy measures announced by the US can have a major impact on the shipping industry and the regional private sector organisation made a presentation to heads on what they see are some of the challenges, they highlighted some of the areas and for Heads (of Government) to advance the discussions with the US,” the President said. “There is proposed a charge and that, of course, can have an effect on the cost of goods coming into the region, also coming into the region,” he added.

Oil and gas tankers that collect supplies from Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana often go directly to the US. Cargo ships with supplies for the oil and gas sectors also dock at US ports.

Caricom leaders also discussed the volatile situation in Haiti where elections are due to be held in the coming months, the US’ threat to impose visas on foreign government officials and their immediate families if those countries continue to employ Cuban healthcare workers in violation of labour standards, and the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.