Trinidad and Tobago

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Trinidad and Tobago.

The fourth Trade Policy Review of Trinidad and Tobago has indeed offered us a better understanding of trade and economic developments in the country over the past seven years. I would like to thank the Trinidad and Tobago delegation led by H.E. Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon Minister of Trade and Industry for her constructive engagement throughout this Review. I would also like to thank the discussant H.E. Ambassador Michael Gaffey of Ireland for his insightful remarks and all the delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions. The more than 200 questions submitted by 15 Members and the interventions by 23 delegations underline the importance attached by WTO Members to Trinidad and Tobago’s trade and investment policies and practices.

Trinidad and Tobago is a high income developing country with a GDP per capita of over US$15500. It has the largest economy in the CARICOM group and with a population of about 1.3 million is the third most populous country. Trade is very important to the economy with the value of imports and exports of goods equivalent to about 78% of GDP.