WT/L/1096  
 
21 September  2020 
(20-6350) Page: 1/8 
General Council  Original: English  
 
 
UNITED STATES – CARIBBEAN BASIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT  
REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEAR 2019  
UNDER THE DECISION OF 16 OCTOBER 20191 
The following communication, dated 22 July 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United States.  
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  On 5 May 2015, the United States was granted a renewal of the waiver (WT/L/950) of its 
obligations under paragraph 1 of Article  I and paragraphs 1 a nd 2 of Article XIII of the GATT 1994 
to the extent necessary to permit the United States Government to provide duty free treatment to 
eligible products of the Caribbean Basin countries and territories as authorized by the provisions of 
Caribbean Basin Eco nomic Recovery Act (CBERA) without being required to extend the same duty -
free treatment to like products of any other Member. This waiver (WT/L/950) expired on 
31 December 2019. A new waiver (WT/L/1070) dated 16 October 2019 extended the period of 
perform ance through 30 September 2025.  
1.2.  Under the terms of this waiver, the United States is required to submit to the General Council 
an annual report on the implementation of the trade -related provisions of the CBERA with a view to 
facilitating the annual revie w provided for in paragraph 4 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement. This 
report covers calendar year 2019.  
2  DUTY FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE CBERA  
2.1.  Section 211 of the CBERA allows the President of the United States to eliminate duties on all 
products, with certai n exceptions2, from those Caribbean countries and territories that he designates 
as beneficiaries. In 2018, 17  countries and territories received CBERA benefits. These countries and 
territories were: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, 
Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St.  Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.  
2.2.  On 5 August 2004, the United States signed the Dominican Repu blic-Central America -United 
States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA -DR) with five Central American countries (Costa Rica, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. The CAFTA -DR 
entered into force for El Salvador on 1 March 200 6; for Honduras on 1 April 2006; for Nicaragua on 
1 April 2006; for Guatemala on 1 July 2006; for the Dominican Republic on 1 March 2007; and for 
 
1 WT/L/1070.  
2 Prior to enactment of the United States -Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) in 2000, the 
products excluded from duty free treatment were: textile and apparel articles which are subject to textile 
agreements; certain footwear which was not eligib le for duty free entry under the US Generalized System of 
Preferences in 1983; prepared tuna in airtight containers; petroleum and petroleum products; watches and watch 
parts if such products contain any material from countries not accorded MFN treatment; and certain leather 
products (handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves, and leather wearing apparel). Many of these excluded 
products became eligible for preferential treatment under CBTPA, Title II of the Trade and Development Act of 
2000, which amended  the CBERA. The Trade Act of 2002, the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through 
Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006, and the HOPE II Act of 2008 further amended the CBERA.  WT/L/1096  
 
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  Costa Rica on 1 January 2009. When the CAFTA -DR entered into force for each of these countries, 
the country ce ased to be designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary. On 31 October 2012, the 
United States -Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) entered into force and Panama ceased to 
be designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary.  
2.3.  The Trade Act of 2002 amended the C BERA to grant additional benefits to Caribbean Basin 
apparel products. Specifically, these changes permitted the use of US and regional knit -to-shape 
components in eligible apparel articles. In addition, the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through 
Partners hip Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006 amended the CBERA program by establishing special 
new rules of origin that make Haiti eligible for new trade benefits for apparel imports and that 
enhance sourcing flexibility for apparel producers in Haiti. The HOPE II  Act of 2008 modified the 
existing trade preference programs under HOPE and added other new programs that allow for duty -
free treatment for qualifying Haitian -produced apparel. In 2010, the Haiti Economic Lift Program 
(HELP) Act extended the CBTPA and the HOPE Acts through 30  September  2020. The HELP Act also 
provided duty -free treatment for additional textile and apparel products from Haiti. Section 301 of 
the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended preferences for certain products of Haiti 
throug h 30 September 2025.  
3  CBERA PERFORMANCE  
3.1.  Combined with economic reform and other actions taken by beneficiary countries to liberalize 
their trade regimes, the trade benefits of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) have both helped 
beneficiary countries and d ependent territories in the region diversify their exports and have 
contributed to their economic growth.   
3.2.  In 2019, US imports under CBERA preferences decreased 82 per cent from $1.7 billion in 2018 
to $1.4 billion in 2019. This decrease in US imports is d riven primarily by the reduction of methanol 
imports under CBERA from Trinidad and Tobago. Table 2 shows that US imports of methanol under 
CBERA preferences decreased from $449.4 million in 2018 to $0 in 2019. Imports of methanol from 
Trinidad and Tobago c ame into the US in 2019 with no preference claimed (dutiable at 5.5 per  cent). 
In 2018, the value of US imports of textile and apparel3 under CBERA was $848 million, compared 
to $915 million in 2019.  
3.3.  Of the $1.4 billion in imports under CBERA in 2019, en ergy-related products4 accounted for 
12 per cent, textiles and apparel (almost all apparel) for 66 per cent, and agricultural products and 
processed food for 6 per cent.  
3.4.  The leading beneficiary countries for imports entering under CBERA preferences in 2019 were 
Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago. The United States imported $1 billion under CBERA preferences from 
Haiti in 2019. Trinidad and Tobago was the second leading supplier  of US imports under CBERA in 
2019. US imports from Trinidad and Tobago under CBERA totalled $189 million in 2019 down from 
$552 million in 2018, or a 34 percent drop.  
3.5.  Statistical annexes are provided to present a detailed description of the trade aspects  of the 
CBERA program for the most recent period. Detailed information for previous years has been 
provided in previous reports to the GATT Council or WTO General Council.  
  
 
3 The term "textiles and apparel" used herein encompasses chapters 50 -63 of the US Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule.  
4 The term "energy -related products" used herein encompasses chapters 27 and 29 of the US Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule.  WT/L/1096  
 
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  Table 1 provides summary information on US imports for consumption under CBERA pro visions, by 
sources, during the period 2011 through 2019.  
 
Table 2  provides information on US imports under CBERA of Methanol (2905.11.20) from Trinidad 
and Tobago, during the period 2015 through 2019.  
 
Table 3  provides information on leading US imports f or consumption under CBERA provisions, by 
product, during the period 2017 through 2019.  
 
Table 4  provides information on US trade with CBERA countries during the period 2011 through 
2019.  
  
  WT/L/1096  
 
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US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, BY SOURCES, 2011 -20195 
Source  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019   
Value (1,000 dollars)  
Haiti 474,602  436,783  362,266  858,785  931,010  857,223  879,004  957,401  1,005,616  
Trinidad and Tobago  2,589,360  2,171,197  1,640,709  1,234,474  830,291  379,017  487,845  551,831  188,892  
Jamaica  179,186  206,201  90,231  71,779  81,583  74,571  72,762  83,740  92,896  
Bahamas  123,854  130,539  141,654  158,191  88,389  68,403  79,744  66,181  60,694  
Belize  146,045  131,943  104,777  60,582  36,881  17,136  12,398  15,209  20,653  
Barbados  4,493  3,813  2,081  5,295  22,570  2,321  3,558  7,453  5,752  
Guyana  11,172  5,315  4,532  11,857  34,918  1,551  732 851 4,397  
St. Kitts and Nevis  27,273  22,350  18,933  18,341  10,481  7,158  5,083  5,076  4,234  
Grenada  317 341 295 443 1,728  1,809  2,405  2,912  2,991  
St. Lucia 1,889  1,836  3,210  1,162  1,301  627 342 373 488 
St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines  88 138 141 182 16 45 102 22 77 
Curacao  0 0 0 5,365  3 85 124 119 57 
Aruba  249 27 18 75 93 15 36 16 30 
Dominica  149 117 170 66 77 22 48 36 29 
Antigua Barbuda  23 30 24 19 82 37 161 19 18 
British Virgin Islands  136 451 103 50 9 9 0 22 11 
Netherlands Antilles  344 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Panama  54,718  26,308  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Montserrat  0 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Total 3,613,899  3,137,413  2,369,144  2,426,667  2,039,430  1,410,031  1,544,346  1,691,261  1,386,834  
Note:  Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals given.  US imports from Haiti prior to 2014 do not reflect imports under HOPE or HELP.  
Source:  Compiled from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.   
 
5 CAFTA -DR entered into force for the following countries (date of entry into force), at which time the y ceased to be CBERA beneficiaries: El Salvador (1 March  2006), Honduras 
and Nicaragua (1 April 2006), Guatemala (1 July 2006), the Dominican Republic (1 March 2007), and Costa Rica (1 January 2009) . TPA entered into force as of 31 October 2012, at 
which time Panama ceased to be a CBERA beneficiary.   
  WT/L/1096  
 
- 5 - TABLE 1 – CONTINUED  
US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, BY SOURCES, 2011 -2019 
Source  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  
  Per cent of total   
Haiti 13.13  13.92  15.29  35.39  45.65  60.79  56.92  56.61  72.51  
Trinidad and Tobago  71.65  69.20  69.25  50.87  40.71  26.88  31.59  32.63  13.62  
Jamaica  4.96 6.57 3.81 2.96 4.00 5.29 4.71 4.95 6.70 
Bahamas  3.43 4.16 5.98 6.52 4.33 4.85 5.16 3.91 4.38 
Belize  4.04 4.21 4.42 2.50 1.81 1.22 0.80 0.90 1.49 
Barbados  0.12 0.12 0.09 0.22 1.11 0.16 0.23 0.44 0.41 
Guyana  0.31 0.17 0.19 0.49 1.71 0.11 0.05 0.05 0.32 
St. Kitts and Nevis  0.75 0.71 0.80 0.76 0.51 0.51 0.33 0.30 0.31 
Grenada  0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.08 0.13 0.16 0.17 0.22 
St. Lucia 0.05 0.06 0.14 0.05 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.04 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines  (a) (a) 0.01 0.01 (a) (a) 0.01 (a) 0.01 
Curacao  0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 (a) 0.01 0.01 0.01 (a) 
Aruba  0.01 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 
Dominica  (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 
Antigua Barbuda  (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) 
British Virgin Islands  (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.00 (a) (a) 
Netherlands Ant illes 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Panama  1.51 0.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Montserrat  0.00 (a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Total 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  
(a) Less than 0.005 per cent.  
Source:  Compiled from official import statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  WT/L/1096  
 
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  TABLE 2  
US IMPORTS UNDER CBERA OF METHANOL (2905.11.20) FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, 
2015-2019 
Program  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  
CBERA  650,812,450  253,212,849  378,272,987  449,445,443  0 
No special programs claimed  4,111,646  4,043,576  12,020,986  13,266,055  367,515,858  
 
 
 
  WT/L/1096  
 
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  TABLE 3  
LEADING US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, 2017 -2019 
 
HTS 
Number  Description  2017  2018  2019  Change 
2018 – 
2019    
Value (millions of dollars)  Per cent  
6109.10.00  T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, knitted 
or crocheted, of cotton  258.6  284.7  287.2  0.9 
6109.90.10  T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, knitted 
or crocheted, of man -made fibers  79.6 106.0  175.0  65.0 
6110.30.30  Sweaters, pullovers and similar articles, knitted or 
crocheted, of manmade fibers, nesoi  125.5  141.5  152.1  7.5 
6110.20.20  Sweaters, pullovers and similar articles, knitted or 
crocheted, of cotton, nesoi  110.4  112.3  89.4 -20.3 
2709.00.20  Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude, 
testing 25 degrees A.P.I. or more  53.6 38.6 88.9 130.4  
2709.00.10  Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude, 
testing under 25 degrees A.P.I.  0.0 0.0 63.9 NA 
6104.62.20  Women's or girls' trousers, breeches and shorts, knitted 
or crocheted, of cotton  39.8 59.9 60.2 0.5 
3903.11.00  Polystyrene, expandable, in primary forms  78.1 64.4 58.3 -9.4 
6203.43.90  Men's/boys' trousers, breeches, shorts, not k/c, synth 
fibers, con under 15% wt down etc, cont und 36% wt 
wool, n/water resist, not rec perf outwear  33.8 48.4 46.6 -3.6 
6104.63.20  Women's or girls' trousers, breeches and shorts, knitted 
or crocheted, of synthetic fibers, nesoi  20.9 19.6 31.8 62.4 
0714.30.10  Fresh or chilled yams (Dioscorea spp.), whether or not 
sliced or in the form of pellets  23.3 24.4 24.4 0.0 
2106.90.98  Other food preps nesoi, incl preps for the manufacture of 
beverages, non -dairy coffee whiteners, herbal teas and 
flavored honey  14.9 18.4 23.5 27.7 
6205.30.20  Men's or boys' shirts, not knitted or crocheted, of 
manmade fibers, nesoi  20.6 31.3 21.8 -30.3 
1701.14.10  Other cane sugar, raw, in solid form, w/o added flavoring 
or coloring, subject to add. US 5 to Ch.17  0.0 2.3 17.8 659.6  
6304.91.01  Furnishing articles, excluding those of heading 9404 and 
other than bedspreads and bed nets, knitted or crocheted  0.0 3.6 15.2 321.7  
2933.61.00  Melamine  16.5 19.5 14.5 -25.5 
6211.43.10  Women's or girls' track suits or other garments nesoi, not 
knitted or crocheted, of man -made fibers, o/than rec perf 
outwear  7.1 9.2 13.2 43.5 
6203.42.45  Men's/boys' trousers &  shorts, not bibs, not knit/crochet, 
cotton, not containing 15% or more by weight of down, 
etc, o/than rec perf outwear  56.3 26.9 12.8 -52.2 
2103.90.90  Sauces and preparations therefor, neosi  8.7 9.4 11.1 17.1 
6105.20.20  Men's or boys' shirts, knitted or crocheted, of manmade 
fibers, nesoi  2.9 4.4 10.2 129.5  
 
Total of above  950.6  1,024.9  1,218.0  18.8 
 
All other  593.7  666.4  168.8  -74.7 
  Total 1,544.3  1,691.3  1,386.8  -18.0 
Note:  Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals given. The abbreviations "nesoi" and "nesi" stand for 
"not elsewhere specified or otherwise included. " NV indicates the tariff line was not valid in that year. 
NA indicates a calculation was not applicable.  
Source: Compiled from official import statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
 
 
  WT/L/1096  
 
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  TABLE 4  
US TRADE WITH CBERA BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES, 2011 -20196 
Year US Exports7 Share of 
US exports 
to the 
world  US Imports8 Share of US  
imports to 
the world  US trade balance  
 
Millions dollars  Per cent  Millions dollars  Per cent  Millions dollars  
2011 19,798.2  1.5 15,268.6  0.7 4,529.7  
2012 20,449.0  1.5 11,939.4  0.5 8,509.6  
2013 11,867.6  0.9 8,925.3  0.4 2,942.3  
2014 12,742.8  0.9 8,484.1  0.4 4,258.8  
2015 11,635.0  0.9 7,051.7  0.3 4,583.3  
2016 10,475.5  0.9 5,319.7  0.2 5,155.9  
2017 12,189.4  0.9 5,800.4  0.2 6,388.9  
2018 13,448.5  1.0 6,020.1  0.2 7,428.3  
2019 13,993.2  1.0 5,559.1  0.2 8,434.1  
Note:  Due to rounding, figures may not add to totals given. Panama was eligible for CBERA, and thus included 
in this table, until the Panama FTA went into force into 2012.  The Netherland Antilles was eligible until 
2013, and after 2013 Curacao became a CBERA beneficiary.  
Source : Compiled from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
 
__________  
 
6 Includes imports and exports for countries only while they were CBERA beneficiaries. See CBERA Table  1 
for program me coverage.  
7 Domestic exports, f.a.s. basis.  
8 Imports for consumption, customs value.