Trade Agreements
Jamaica benefits from numerous trade agreements. Over the years, they have encouraged the unrestricted flow of goods and services, reduced or eliminated quotas and tariffs, and opened worthwhile business opportunities in new markets.
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Strong Global Linkages
Jamaica is a liberal open economy with strong trade agreements with numerous countries.
World Trade Organisation
Jamaica is a member of the World Trade Organisation.
CARICOM
Jamaica is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), which allows for free trade among its fifteen full member countries.
Multilateral partnerships
The country enjoys multilateral trade and partnership agreements with North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe, facilitating greater flow of goods and capital.
Generalised System of Preferences
Jamaica benefits from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which affords reduced duties for products exported to Australia, Japan, Belarus, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the Russian Federation.
Frameworks
Economic Integration
Preferential access, rules of origin, and regional coordination across Jamaica's major trade frameworks.
CARICOM
- Products of Jamaican origin are not subjected to import duties in CARICOM member states.
- The union facilitates economic integration and trade coordination among 15 member states and five associates.
CARIFORUM-EPA (2008)
- Accords immediate duty-free and quota-free access for CARIFORUM goods into the EU, except sugar.
- Enables Jamaican professionals to offer services to the EU.
United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement
- Allows for elimination of UK customs duties on most goods under chapters 1-97, except chapter 93.
- CARIFORUM and the UK entered into this agreement in March 2019, pending Brexit, to preserve market access.
Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN)
- Guarantees duty-free access to Canada for numerous products from Commonwealth Caribbean countries.
- Allows duty-free exportation of goods, excluding selected categories such as textiles and apparel.
Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)
- Allows many qualifying products to enter the U.S. free of quota and duty.
- Guarantees duty-free access for products wholly grown or produced in Jamaica and qualifying transformed goods.
Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)
- Offers Jamaicans the right to establish businesses in CSME territories without restriction.
- Allows qualifying Jamaican goods and capital to move within CSME countries without duty barriers.
CARICOM-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement
- Grants many goods from Jamaica duty-free access to Costa Rica, with selected exceptions.
- Qualifies wholly produced Jamaican goods and significantly transformed goods for duty-free treatment.
CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation
- Allows duty-free access to specific commodities between Jamaica and Cuba.
- Rules of origin apply to exported goods to ensure sufficient local value content.
CARICOM-Dominican Republic Free Trade
- Allows duty-free access for most goods traded between Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, with limited exceptions.
- Applies to goods wholly produced locally or sourced externally with significant transformation.
CARICOM-Colombia Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation
- Grants immediate duty-free access to select manufactured products between Jamaica and Colombia.
- Provides phased tariff reductions for other manufactured products.
Access Global Markets
Speak with JAMPRO about how Jamaica's trade agreements can open new opportunities for your business.