Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, acknowledged Jamaica as a significant trading partner of Trinidad and Tobago and committed to enhancing the countries’ trade relationship, during a courtesy call from Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill, Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce of Jamaica on March 9, 2023.
The visit was part of a Jamaican Trade Mission visit to Trinidad and Tobago over the period March 8 – 11, 2023. The head of the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the interim head of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority accompanied the Minister as part of the Jamaican delegation.
Both Ministers discussed bilateral trade matters, which would enhance the trade relationship, including certification arrangements and the operation of the newly agreed Trade Complaints Mechanism. The parties also discussed the issue of a new standard for front-of-pack labelling, and Minister Gopee-Scoon invited her Jamaican counterpart to participate at an upcoming presentation on the issue by the Caribbean Private Sector Association.
Additionally, Minister Gopee-Scoon revealed that Trinidad and Tobago is currently undertaking a study on regional value chains which could strengthen the interlinkages of the manufacturing processes with Jamaica and the CARICOM region. She undertook to share the results of the study with Jamaica.
Minister Hill later shared Jamaica’s interest in exporting poultry and pork to Trinidad and Tobago, citing that the Jamaica Broilers Group is the largest producer of such products in region. Minister Gopee-Scoon expressed support for growing the trade in these products and indicated that Trinidad and Tobago regularly imports pork and has achieved a level of self-sufficiency in the production of poultry.
Ministers Gopee-Scoon and Hill expressed the commitment to undertake the necessary follow-up needed to resolve trade issues between the two countries and further develop Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica’s long-standing relationship.
