TT, US trade ties solid

This was the assurance given by Permanent Secretary in the Trade and Industry Ministry, Norris Herbert, to members of the Foreign Affairs Joint Select Committee during a public hearing at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre yesterday.

Herbert said while TT does not have a one-on-one agreement or a non-reciprocal agreement with the US, it does have other trade agreements such as a cross border trade agreement which will expire in 2023.

He was confident that through this agreement, as well as other initiatives, TT will continue to benefit from trading with the US.

Following up on a comment made by Foreign and Caricom Affairs Ministry Acting Permanent Secretary Jennifer Daniel, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon indicated that trade attaches are being facilitated in TT’s overseas missions in countries which are considered as important markets.

Daniel earlier indicated that high commissioners and ambassadors of TT’s overseas missions often take point with respect to advancing trade opportunities for this country in the jurisdictions that they are assigned.

Daniel explained there is a process whereby these efforts are reported and analysed.

TT Manufacturing Association representatives Christian George and Joy Francis indicated that the ease of doing business in TT has been improving.

They identified the Single Electronic Window (SEW ), started under the People’s National Movement (PNM) and continued under the People’s Partnership (PP) coalition, as an example of an initiative which has helped in that regard.