In the wake of steep tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Barbados Prime Minister and current Chair of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Mia Mottley, has issued a powerful response, urging the Caribbean to unite and chart a path toward greater self-reliance and diversified partnerships.
Addressing the region in a recent statement, Mottley emphasized the urgent need for Caribbean solidarity, warning of the ripple effects the new U.S. trade measures could have on their small economies — particularly due to their heavy reliance on imported goods.
“We are working and will continue to work to become more self-sufficient,” she said. “But I want every Caribbean man and woman to understand the gravity of this moment. This trade war and the potential $1 million to $1.5 million levy on all Chinese-made ships entering U.S. ports will lead to higher prices for us all: at the corner shop, the supermarket, the electronics store, restaurants, car dealerships, and beyond.”
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Sandra Babu-Boateng broke down Mottley’s remarks on The BreakDown. Watch it below and subscribe to PanaGenius TV for more.
According to the Barbados Prime Minister, reducing Caricom tariffs to zero would have little impact, as the region’s economies are too small and vulnerable to absorb external shocks effectively.
Instead, Mottley is calling for a bold shift in foreign policy, one that expands beyond the United States.
“To shield ourselves from the fallout of these tariff hikes, we must deepen our ties with Africa, with Central and Latin America, and rekindle relationships with longstanding partners, the UK, Europe, and Canada,” she urged. “It is no longer viable to depend solely on one or two dominant markets. We must be ready to sell Caribbean goods to a broader, more resilient global market.”
The Prime Minister did not mince words about the scale of the challenges ahead, painting a stark picture of a world grappling with overlapping crises.
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“I will not sugarcoat it. These are some of the most trying times our region has faced since most of us achieved independence. In fact, it is the toughest global period since the end of World War II, 80 years ago,” she noted. “The climate crisis worsens each year. We’re also in the throes of a cost-of-living crisis — one that began when global supply chains collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Despite the economic pressure, Mottley reaffirmed the Caribbean’s commitment to peaceful diplomacy and collaboration with the U.S.
“The Caribbean is a friend of the United States, not an enemy,” she stressed.
In a direct message to Trump, Mottley extended an olive branch, calling for dialogue rather than division.
“I invite President Trump to sit down with us, to speak with leaders in the region. Let us work together to keep prices affordable for all our people,” she said. “Our economies are simply too small to harm yours. We seek cooperation, not conflict.”
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