“We have set up a task force that will be monitoring the recent policy shifts by the United States government, particularly as they regard to the imposition of tariffs and the changes to immigration policy,” explained Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre while addressing the press at Monday’s pre-cabinet press briefing.
United States President Donald Trump announced on Saturday tariffs imposed on Canadian, Mexican and Chinese imports, taking effect on Tuesday February 4th 2025. These financial changes would cost US importers more money to buy goods and services from the three countries. President Trump also announced his administration’s intention to deport nonnationals of the United States,
Although Saint Lucia is nestled in the Eastern Caribbean, the coast is not entirely clear, explained Prime Minister Pierre. Both the financial implications of the tariffs and possible deportations of Saint Lucian nationals would pose challenges for the country: “…These changes may have a social and economic effect on Saint Lucia,” Pierre said.
On the issue of tariffs, Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte would head a team specifically designed to monitor these impacts on the cost of goods coming into the country. Crime Prevention Minister Jeremiah Norbert, on the other hand, will oversee matters of shifting immigration policies in the United States and their impact on Saint Lucians.
Still in unfortunate events, many US-funded projects in Saint Lucia are currently on-hold as the Ttump Administration seeks to gut the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
“As regards the decision by the US to stop foreign aid, there are a few programs that Saint Lucia that are US-funded programs such as the violence interruption program sponsored by USAID, the CREP which is the community reintegration program for the inmates of Bordelais and the OASIS program. They are now on hold because they are waiting for the final word from the US.”
These projects were geared towards tackling youth delinquency and crime in communities as well as rehabilitating inmates at the Bordelais Correctional Facility.
As this second Trump administration is still in its infancy, world leaders are waiting with anticipation of the US President’s next move.
