Basseterre, St. Kitts. May 6, 2025. Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, will join a delegation of Caribbean leaders today in high-level talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the growing economic and geopolitical strain caused by U.S. tariffs on the region.
The meeting, which will take place in Washington, D.C., will include heads of government from the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Bahamas. The discussions will focus primarily on the far-reaching implications of U.S. tariffs on Caribbean economies, as well as U.S. immigration policies and border security concerns.
The dialogue comes against the backdrop of a global trade conflict reignited by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had reintroduced sweeping double-digit tariffs on imports from several nations, including Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states. Most CARICOM countries currently face a minimum tariff of 10% on all goods entering the United States, with Guyana reportedly facing even steeper duties.
Prime Minister Drew is expected to raise the issue of disproportionate impacts on St. Kitts and Nevis and small island developing states (SIDS), whose economies are heavily reliant on trade with the U.S.
On April 9, in a move seen as a temporary de-escalation, President Trump announced a 90-day suspension of what he termed “reciprocal” tariffs, applying only to countries that have not imposed retaliatory measures against the U.S. Caribbean leaders are hoping to leverage this window to negotiate longer-term concessions or exclusions.
The meeting will also cover immigration reform and border security, particularly as they affect Caribbean nationals in the U.S. diaspora and those seeking to travel, work, or study in the United States.
Regional stakeholders and international observers are monitoring the meeting closely.
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