In response to the ripple effects of recent American tariffs on imported goods, the government is accelerating plans to strengthen national food security and reduce dependence on foreign markets.
According to Dr Thomas Samuel, trade adviser in the Ministry of Commerce and technical lead on the Food Security Task Force, the Cabinet has approved a Strategic Action Plan to be implemented over the short to medium term (2025–2027).
The original plan was designed for five years, but recent developments have prompted the change. “This plan has been adapted to accelerate the pace of intervention… by prioritising and focusing on short-term crops,” Samuel told St Lucia Times.
Key elements of the plan include boosting local food production across the agricultural and fisheries sectors, preparing a financing strategy to support implementation and enacting critical legislation to support livestock regulation. The Cabinet has also endorsed the creation of a multisectoral task force to develop a national food and nutrition security policy.
“These measures are expected to come to fruition within the short to medium term period of 2025–2027,” Samuel said, noting that some actions may be realised within the coming months.
One of the more urgent priorities is conducting an independent feed nutrition study to assess the quality of current feed options, with particular focus on the poultry sector, a key source of protein for the population. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture will explore the establishment of a national meat processing facility, aimed at improving both the availability and quality of locally produced meat.
The Attorney General’s Chambers has also been tasked with enacting new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) legislation. “The enhanced quality controls from the enactment of the SPS… will redound to the benefit of consumers and public health,” Samuel explained.
It is hoped that these interventions will help reduce Saint Lucia’s food import bill and lower its dependence on US markets, particularly for meat products like pork and poultry. “At the very least, the boost in food production… is expected to help reduce Saint Lucia’s importation of food,” he said.
Local farmers are set to benefit directly. Increased demand from distributors and consumers will raise their share of the domestic market and support long-term growth.
Samuel emphasised that this is a long-term partnership between the government and private sector aligned with CARICOM’s 25×30 plan to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25% by 2030.
He encouraged continued collaboration between ministries, producers and consumers to ensure food security and economic resilience in a changing global landscape.
Someone, please explain what specific effects American tariffs (import duties) on imports into the US have on goods imported into St. Lucia.
I’m no expert on this issue but here’s how I think Lucians are being impacted.
1. Exports from the USA to St. Lucia are NOT subject to US tariffs.
2. Supply chain for goods from the US is experiencing disruptions – scarcity of goods, labour issues, port strikes and delays. Shipping costs from the US (actually most everywhere) have increased in a significant enough way causing importers to increase their price to their consumers.
3. Because of #2. above, Lucian suppliers are having to source goods from non-US countries, paying more and further increasing the costs due to high demand low supply.