Saint Lucians are being urged to brace for potential price hikes on imported goods as global trade tensions threaten to disrupt supply chains and drive up costs.
The warning comes after the US and China narrowly avoided an all-out trade war at the weekend, agreeing to a temporary 90-day reduction in tariffs. The truce follows weeks of escalating tensions, including American threats to impose steep tariffs on imports – measures that could have hit Caribbean nations, including Saint Lucia but are on hold.
While the immediate crisis has been deferred, Inspector Gilroy Polius, head of the Customs and Excise Department’s Risk Management Unit, cautioned that price increases are still likely.
“We’ve been seeing the trend externally, especially in the US, where prices are starting to go up,” he said. “But because of the time it takes for goods to be ordered, shipped and cleared, there’s typically a delay before we feel those impacts locally.”
The Customs Department has confirmed that while local prices remain stable for now, the ripple effects of global trade disruptions are inevitable.
Authorities are advising citizens to budget wisely and explore alternatives, such as supporting local agriculture.
The department is working alongside other government agencies through a ministerial task force established to monitor and respond to the evolving trade situation.
Prime Minister Phillip J. Pierre acknowledged the uncertainty, stating that small island nations must remain vigilant to protect their economies.
“Right now the tariffs have been stopped for 90 days between China and the US, so I believe I was right in that I was cautious and I took my time and said let’s form a committee,” Pierre told reporters.
“It’s a very fluid situation and we as small islands are waiting to see how our interest can be aligned to support the people of Saint Lucia.”
In the meantime, the government has announced measures to ease the cost of living, including zero-rating additional food items and removing service charges on essential goods. However, officials stress that long-term resilience will depend on reducing reliance on imports – a challenge that requires both individual and national action.
