Sun, 13 Apr 2025

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 Was China the reason Guyana faced higher Trump tariff?

A Guyanese political commentator says Washington objects to Beijing's "very strong foothold" in the country.
The reason for Guyana's higher tariff is attributed to its close economic ties with China, which has invested heavily in various sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and hospitality. Guyanese political commentator Francis Bailey suggests that Washington wants Guyana to "chase the Chinese out" of the country, implying that it is caught in a geopolitical battle between the US and China. The planned high tariff would have hit Guyana's fishing and sugar industries, but these were exempt. The US continues to be a major buyer of Guyana's key exports such as crude oil, gold, and bauxite. Caribbean countries are concerned about the impact of Trump's tariffs on their economies, particularly the price hikes that will result from higher shipping costs and import duties. The Caribbean is already struggling with economic conditions such as frequent natural disasters and the aftereffects of the Covid pandemic.
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