There is some good news for the BVI and the rest of the Caribbean as Tropical Shipping has been exempted from $1 Million Port Fee Tariffs.
Many businesses here feared that if the proposed fee increase went into effect it would mean higher costs for goods and services coming into the territory.
This would have caused a domino effect with customers paying more at the supermarkets and stores.
With this new announcement they can now somewhat breathe a sigh of relief.
The news came on Friday April 18th.
President Trump’s executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry grandfathered American-owned carriers like Tropical Shipping that currently rely on Chinese-built vessels.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed surcharges that would have cost Tropical Shipping customers an additional $3,000 per 40-foot container load, will not go into effect.
Tropical Shipping President and CEO Tim Martin said this is a huge victory for them and the entire Caribbean region they serve, adding that their voices were heard.
Martin stated that they could not have accomplished this without the relentless advocacy from their Caribbean representatives in Washington, D.C., their customers, and the many organizations that wrote letters to the USTR describing the devastating multiplier effect these port fees would have had on all of them.
Martin says a USTR committee member was surprised by the massive response from Caribbean leaders and businesses.
He said one of Tropical’s core values is, ‘Responsiveness is their driving force, and Caribbean communities were their driving force on this issue.
The Tropical President singled out Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, United States Virgin Islands, Governor Albert Bryan – Teri Helenese, Director of the Federal Relations Office of the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, President Irfaan Ali, Guyana, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados and Chair of CARICOM, Dr. Patrick Antione, CARICOM Private Sector Organization among others.
Martin said they will continue to advocate in Washington, D.C., to strategize the long-term plans to bring U.S. shipbuilding back to the U.S. and how American carriers like Tropical can prepare for the future.