Cabinet implements task force to counter potential negative effects of US policy shifts
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
by GIS
THE TASK FORCE WILL MONITOR TARIFF INCREASES AND CHANGES TO UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION RULES.

The Government of Saint Lucia has coordinated a task force to monitor the United States government’s current policy changes. Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre said, during a February 3 press briefing, that the aim is to mitigate against possible negative impacts of these new policies on Saint Lucians.

“The Government of Saint Lucia is closely monitoring the recent policy shifts by the United States government—particularly regarding the imposition of tariffs and changes to its immigration policy. Considering that these changes may have both social and economic effects on Saint Lucia, the Cabinet of Ministers has formed a task force to deal with the ramifications and possible implications of a change in both of these policies: namely the imposition of tariffs by the US, and the threat of deportation of non-nationals in the US.”

The prime minister highlighted the importance of food security in the face of those threats.

“This shows that what happens outside of Saint Lucia has an impact on Saint Lucia. We are a very small economy. Regarding the tariffs, we are concerned about the cost of inflation on the cost of goods and services in Saint Lucia—particularly food. As you know we import many of our foodstuffs and other goods from the US.

“It has all come to the forefront, the necessity of food security, and what better food security can you have than by eating what we grow in Saint Lucia. We are emphasizing that we must look inward to see if we can try to grow as much as possible. Now, more than ever, this shows the importance of having local produce and local goods.”

The task force on tariffs is led by the Minister for Commerce, Hon. Emma Hippolyte while the task force on immigration is led by Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Crime Prevention.

The prime minister also extended an invitation to importers to work alongside the task force to help mitigate against the possible effects of tariff increases.