RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/G/359  
9 August  2017 
(17-4262) Page: 1/20 
Trade Policy Review Body   Original: English  
 
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
REPORT BY  
JAMAICA  
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), the policy statement by Jamaica  
is attached.  
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Jamaica . WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  Contents  
1   INTRODUCTION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  3 
2   VISION 2030 JAMAICA – NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT  PLAN ("VISION 2030 
JAMAICA")  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  3 
3   MACRO -ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ .............  4 
3.1   The Economic Reform Programme  ................................ ................................ .................  6 
3.2   Economic Growth Council  ................................ ................................ .............................  6 
4   TRADE AND SECTORAL P ERFORMANCE  ................................ ................................ ........  7 
4.1   Trade performance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 7 
4.2   Sectoral performance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 8 
4.3   Impact of global economic developments on Jamaica's trade performance  ..........................  9 
4.3.1    Slow recovery from the global economic recession  ................................ ........................  9 
4.3.2    Lack of progress  in the Doha Round negotiations and rising protectionism  .......................  9 
4.3.3    De-risking and the loss of correspondent banking relationships  ................................ .....10 
4.3.4    Brexit  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 10 
4.4   Economic growth -inducing policies and strategies to promote competitiveness  ................... 10 
5   TRADE POLICY AND INS TITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  ................................ ...................  13 
5.1   Elements of Jamaica's foreign trade policy  ................................ ................................ .....13 
5.2   Institutional framework for Jamaica's foreign trade policy regime  ................................ .....13 
5.3   Regional integration – the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and 
Economy (CSME)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 14 
6   BILATERAL/HEMISPHERI C AND PREFERENTIAL T RADE ARRANGEMENTS  .................  14 
6.1   CARICOM bilateral agreements  ................................ ................................ ..................... 14 
6.2   CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement  ................................ .......................... 14 
6.3   CARIBCAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 14 
6.4   CARIBBEAN Basin Initiative (CBI)  ................................ ................................ ................. 15 
7   MULTILATERAL FRAMEWO RK – THE WTO  ................................ ................................ .. 15 
7.1   Implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements  ................................ ........................ 15 
7.2   Implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation  ................................ ........... 18 
7.3   Aid for trade  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 18 
7.4   Technical assistance and capacity building  ................................ ................................ .....19 
8   CONCLUSION ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  19 
 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  For the 2011 -2016 period under review, the focus of the Government of Jamaica was on 
economic growth and development; creating employment an d maintaining fiscal prudence. 
Jamaica 's macro -economic policies and strategies continued to operate within the framework of 
Vision 2030 Jamaica – National Development Plan, which seeks to put the country on a path to 
achieving developed country status by 2030. Progress has been made in the implementation of the 
Plan, which is currently in its ninth year.  
1.2.  Several policies and strategies have been implemented, inter alia , to assist Jamaica to 
(i) recover from the effects of  the 2008 -2009 global financial and economic crises, which had a 
negative impact on the productive and export sectors; (ii) implement reforms to reduce the high 
debt burden and lay the foundation for sustained, robust economic growth; (iii) improve the 
business environment and increase the competitiveness of firms; and (iv) develop and implement 
strategic investment projects, such as the Global Logistics Hub Initiative, the establishment of 
Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and information communications techn ology/business process 
outsourcing (ICT/BPO), to spur further growth.  
1.3.  To facilitate Jamaica 's further integration into the multilateral trading system, progress was 
made in key policy areas and strategies, including the launch of a National Aid for Trade Strategy 
in 2011; the implementation in 2015 of the National Export Strategy 2 (NES 2); reforming the 
trade facilitation regime; and the continued implementation of obligations under bilateral and 
regional trade agreements as well as under the World Trade Organization (WTO).  Work also 
continued on the revision of the Foreign Trade Policy.  To ensure an inclusive approach to trade 
policy formulation and implementation, these initiatives were mainstreamed into the national 
development plan, Vision 2030 Jamaica , which is aligned to the United Nations Sustai nable 
Development Goals (SDGs).  
1.4.  There was a change in political administration in March 2016. The emphasis of the current 
administration is to pursue inclusive private sector -led economic growth and broad and sustained 
job creation.  A Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) was established with the 
overarching mandate of managing the development and implementation of Jamaica 's economic 
growth strategy.  The Prime Minister of Jamaica has portfolio re sponsibility for this Ministry.  The 
new Government is placing emphasis on three pillars of economic management: (a) the effective 
execution and monitoring of monetary policy; (b) the development of Jamaica 's capacity to 
manage the implementation of a susta inable fiscal policy; and (c) public sector reform to support 
effective and efficient implementation of economic growth policies. There has also been a thrust to 
streamline government operations, including through the merger of ministerial responsibilities . An 
example of this is the establishment of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and 
Fisheries (MICAF), which is a merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of 
Industry, Investment and Commerce.  The investment portfol io has been transferred to the MEGJC . 
1.5.  Trade and investment are considered critical components of the economic growth agenda. 
Jamaica is leveraging the value of its global brand to penetrate new markets; expand exports in 
existing markets and to integrate f urther into global value chains.  This is being done through 
addressing supply -side constraints; improving quality standards; the application of science, 
technology and innovation (STI) to improve productivity; and fostering entrepreneurship, including 
through the internationalization of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs).  
1.6.  Jamaica continues to pursue effective integration into the global economy; however, global 
developments, such as de -risking and increasing tendencies towards protectionism in some 
markets, present threats to the country 's ability to do so.  
2  VISION 2030 JAMAICA – NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT  PLAN ("VISION 2030 J AMAICA")  
2.1.  Vision 2030 Jamaica, Jamaica's national development plan co vering the 21 -year period, 
2009–2030, presents a strategi c roadmap for Jamaica to achieve developed country status by 
2030.  Vision 2030 Jamaica is now in its 9th year of implementation. The document is built on a 
results -based management framework, comprising 4 goals, 15 national outcomes and a strategic 
and ope rational framework geared towards the achievement of specific goals and outcomes as WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  embodied in the Vision Statement, " Jamaica, the place of choice to live, work, raise families and 
do business ". 
2.2.  The three -year Medium Term Socio -Economic Policy Framework (MTF) is the implementation 
mechanism for Vision 2030 Jamaica. Since 2009, there have been three MTFs. In the plan for 
2017/18, focus will be placed on the development of the fourth  medium term framework, w hich 
would rely on participatory mechanisms for its development and review. It is envisaged that there 
will be about 800 to 1,000 people/organizations providing strategic direction to define the priorities 
to 2021.  
2.3.  The overall progress of implementation of  Vision 2030 Jamaica under the successive MTFs 
(2009 -2012, 2012 -2015 and 2015 -2018) has been mixed. A summary of the progress made under 
the framework of national outcome indicators and targets for the Plan indicates that , of a total of 
67 indicators, 64.2  per cent have shown improvement over the baseline year 2007, based on 
results to 2015/16, while 34.3 per cent showed no improvement or worsened relative to the 
baseline year of 2007.  
2.4.  This can be further broken down as follows:  
- 25.4 per cent of the Visi on 2030 Jamaica targets were met or exceeded the 2015/16 
period. This compares to 23.4 per cent over the 2014/15 period;  
- 38.8 per cent of indicators showed some improvement over the baseline year 2007 
compared to 31.9 per cent over the 2014/15 period;  
- 34.3 per cent of indicators showed no improvement or worsened compared to 42.6 
per cent over 2014/15; and  
- one (1) indicator each for 2014/15 and 2015/16 could not be compared in this way, 
due to lack of agreed targets for the relevant period.  
3  MACRO -ECONO MIC ENVIRONMENT  
3.1.  Growth in the Jamaican economy accelerated to an estimated 1.5 per cent in 2016, following 
an increase of 0.8 per cent in 2015. The expansion in 2016 was largely influenced by increased 
consumer and investor confidence and a stable macroeco nomic environment.  GDP growth reflected 
the impact of increased investments in infrastructure, business process outsourcing, tourism and 
agro-processing , given improvements in external competitiveness facilitated in part by structural 
reforms.  The Jamaican  economy is projected to grow in 2017 at a faster rate than in 2016. This 
forecast envisages expansions in agriculture, forestry and fishing ; manufacturing, electricity and 
water supply;  mining and  quarrying ; and hotels and restaurants.  
3.2.  The current account  balance for the 201 6 calendar year improved by US$ 327.1  million to a 
deficit of US$103.0  million (0.7 per cent of GDP), relative to the previous calendar year (Figure 
17). This represents a continuation of the improvements observed for the last four years . The 
improved outturn emanated from all sub -accounts, except for the primary income sub -account. 
The goods, services and  secondary income sub -accounts improved by US$220.9 million, US$153.1 
million and  US$83.1 million, respectively, while the primary inco me sub -account reflected a 
deterioration of US$130.0 million. The improvement in the combined goods and services balance 
of US$374.0 million, or  16.3 per cent, reflected a fall in goods and services imports primarily due 
to lower mineral fuel prices.  
3.3.  The net international reserves (NIR) of the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) increased by US$282.4 
million to US$2 ,719.4 million at end -2016. Gross reserves amounted to US$3 ,291.5 million and 
represented 24.7 weeks of projected goods and services imports at end -2016, rel ative to 23.5 
weeks at end -2015.  
3.4.  BOJ continued its accommodative monetary policy stance in 2016. For the year, the Bank 
reduced its signal interest rate, the rate payable on its 30 -day Certificate of Deposit (CD), by 25 
basis points (bps) to 5.00 per cent.  Related rates were adjusted accordingly. The lowering of the 
signal rate reflected the generally favourable outlook for inflation over the near - to medium -term 
amidst improved macroeconomic fundamentals. During the year, the Bank raised the cash reserve 
and liquid asset reserve requirements for deposit -taking institution 's foreign currency liabilities in WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  incremental steps to equal those for domestic currency liabilities while discontinuing the 
remuneration of foreign currency reserve holdings. This adjustm ent was intended to curb the 
growing trend in dollarization. The Bank continued to manage Jamaica Dollar liquidity through 
issues of regular sterilization instruments and repurchase operations.  
3.5.  The year 2016 brought positive developments in Jamaica 's infla tion experience. The calendar 
year inflation outturn of 1.7 per cent was not only lower than in 2015 but was the lowest rate for a 
calendar year since 1964. The deceleration in inflation for the year reflected the impact of weak, 
albeit improving, domestic  demand conditions, declining inflation expectations and favourable 
weather conditions. Annual inflation was 4.1 per cent at March 2017, relative to 3.0 per cent for 
the corresponding period in 2016. The outturn was marginally below the lower end of the Ba nk's 
forecast range of 4.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent for FY2016/17 and largely reflected higher costs for 
energy and transport, domestic agriculture commodities and processed foods. Annual core inflation 
was 2.3 per cent at March 2017, attributable to the l ower exchange rate pass -through to domestic 
prices coupled with continued fiscal restraint. For FY2017/18, inflation is projected within the range 
of 4.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent.  
3.6.  The Government of Jamaica has remained resolute in its effort at maintaining  fiscal prudence 
and achieving continued success under its economic reform programme. In November 2016, the 
Government recorded its thirteenth consecutive positive review under the IMF 's Extended Fund 
Facility (EFF) programme. It also successfully negotiat ed a new precautionary three -year Stand -By 
Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF. The SBA replaced the EFF in the penultimate quarter of 
FY2016/17. The frequency of the formal reviews of the quantitative performance criteria (QPCs) 
and the structural benchmarks u nder the SBA has been adjusted to semi -annual from quarterly. 
Under the precautionary SBA, Jamaica has access to approximately US$1.6 billion (SDR 1,195.3 
million, or 312 per cent of quota) with certain conditionalities. In addition to the commitments to 
maintaining macroeconomic stability and reducing public debt, by addressing a wide range of 
structural issues, the SBA incorporates a renewed focus on unlocking Jamaica 's growth potential 
through structural reforms. The first IMF Staff Review mission under the SBA was conducted 
between 20 February and 3 March 2017. That mission was followed by a successful review by the 
Executive Board of the IMF on 18 April 2017. The approval of the first review provides the 
Government of Jamaica with access to SDR 126.0 mi llion (approximately US$170.0 million). The 
remaining funds will become accessible to Jamaica in six tranches upon successful completion of 
the semi -annual programme reviews. The Bank of Jamaica is confident that all the indicative QPCs 
and structural benc hmarks under the SBA at end -March 2017 were met.  
3.7.  Central Government operations recorded a cumulative primary surplus of $135.9 billion , or 
7.7 per cent of GDP , for FY 2016/17, which was $15.1 billion above FY2015/16. Similarly, for the 
FY2016/17, the fisca l deficit was lower by $1.4 billion relative to the FY2015/16. The outturn was 
attributable to higher Revenue and Grants partly offset by higher expenditure. In particular, for 
FY2016/17, Revenue and Grants was $44.0 billion above FY2015/16. The performanc e of revenue 
was reflected primarily in Tax Revenue and Grants.  With regard to Tax Revenue, higher than 
budgeted receipts were recorded in Income and Profits, Production and Consumption and 
International Trade. Higher expenditure relative to FY2015/16 was reflected in all areas of 
expenditure except domestic interest payment.  BOJ's Terms of Trade Index (TOT) for Jamaica 
contracted at an annual pace of 28.5 per cent at March 2017, in contrast to the annual expansion 
of 0.8 per cent registered at December 201 6. This outturn reflected a decline of 15.8 per cent in 
the Export Price Index (EPI) and a rise in the Import Price Index (IPI) by 17.7 per cent. The 
reduction in export prices was driven by a fall in implicit tourism prices, while the expansion in the 
IPI emanated from higher prices for fuel, capital goods and non -durable raw materials. Over the 
next four quarters, the Bank expects that Jamaica 's TOT will improve. This mainly reflects an 
improvement in the EPI as a result of an expected increase in implici t tourism prices, consistent 
with the Bank 's forecast of higher global growth.  
3.8.  Jamaica 's economy is expected to grow by 2.0 per cent –3.0 per cen t in the short to medium 
term. Growth is predicated on increases in:  
- domestic demand – due to a strengthening in the domestic labour market and 
increases in consumer and business confidence;  and 
- external demand – associated with the improved performance of the global econo my. WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  3.9.  Further improvement will be facilitated by continued improvement in Jamaica 's 
macroecon omic and business environment; strengthening of competitiveness; increased capacity 
utilization in some industries; and the roll -out of major strategic investment projects.  
3.10.   Specifically for FY2017/18, real GDP is projected to increase by 2.3 per cent.  The goods 
producing industry is expected to grow by 5.7 per cent, driven primarily by increased output of all 
four industries, with the mining and quarrying industry expected to record the largest 
improvement in real value added.  For the services industry , growth of 1.2 per cent is projected, 
supported by increased value added in all industries with the exception of Producers of 
Government Services.  
3.1  The Economic Reform Programme  
3.11.   In 2012, the Government of Jamaica embarked on an Economic Reform Programme (ERP), 
which is a strategic plan of action aimed at generating the sustained economic growth and long -
term development of the country. The ERP is predicated on seven (7) pillars, namely (i) debt 
reduction; (ii) tax reform; (iii) public -private sector partn ership; (iv) pension reform; (v) public 
sector reform; (vi) job creation; and (vii)  growth inducement strategies. The ERP has resulted in 
improvements in some of Jamaica 's economic fundamentals resulting in:  
- debt reduction strategy which was initially pu rsued using the National Debt Exchange 
(NDX) and which featured an exchange of debt instruments between the Government and 
creditors on the local market. This was launched in February 2013.  The debt/GDP ratio has 
declined from 140.5% of GDP in FY 2013/2014  to 122.5% in FY 2016/2017.  
- broader tax reform through the promotion of a simpler, more efficient, broader tax 
base and equitable tax system which would eliminate distortions and become an incentive 
for economic growth.  Pivotal to the issue of tax refor m is the need to contain leakages 
within the context of the current fiscal constraints, as well as to achieve the targeted 
reduction of tax expenditures to approximately 2.5 per cent of GDP, whilst bolstering the 
revenue collection/compliance gains to achi eve a targeted primary balance of 7.0 per cent.  
- a Public -Private Partnership (PPP) Policy has been approved by the Cabinet. This will 
guide the long -term relationship between Government and the private sector.  
- pension reform - the GOJ remains on trac k with implementing the Pensions (Public 
Service) Act during FY 2017/18.  
- public sector reform to establish a more transparent public sector , to streamline 
operations and to improve efficiency. Several public sector entities will also be merged to 
improv e efficiency and improve the use of the country 's resources and divest the ones that 
will be more profitable in private hands.  
- a reduction in the unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points from 14.2% in 
January 2012 to 12.7 in January 2017.  
- the impleme ntation of Growth Inducement Strategies with primary focus being placed 
on the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and the Information and 
Communication Technologies (ICT) and Business Proces s Outsourcing (BPOs) sectors.  
3.2  Economic Growth Council  
3.12.   In August 2016, the Government of Jamaica established an Economic Growth Council (ECG) 
to advise the Cabinet on a set of policies and reforms that can help to stimulate economic growth 
that would assist Jamaica in achieving an economic growth target of 5 pe r cent per annum in four 
years, that is, by 2020. The ECG comprises eight representatives from the public and private 
sectors and is chaired by a member of the private sector. Following extensive consultations with 
national stakeholders, the ECG presented its recommendations to the Cabinet in September 2016.  
These recommendations, which also incorporate elements of the ERP, are contained in its 
document e ntitled Call to Action1. 
                                                
1 Economic Growth Council. Call to Action 5 in 4 . November 2016. http://mfaft.gov.jm/wp/wp -
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  3.13.   The work of the Council is focused on eight priority areas: (1) maintaining mac ro-economic 
stability and pursuing debt reduction strategies; (2) improving citizen security and public safety; 
(3) improving access to finance; (4) pursuing bureaucratic reforms to improve the business 
environment; (5) stimulating greater asset utili zation; (6) building human capital; (7) harnessing 
the power of the Jamaican Di aspora; and (8) catalysing the implementation of strategic projects. 
The Council follows up on recommendations made and their status of implementation and reports 
to the public on a quarterly basis.  
4  TRADE AND SECTORAL P ERFORMANCE  
4.1  Trade performance  
4.1.  Between the period 2011 –2015, trade accounted for an average 81.79 per cent of GDP, 
indicating that the economy is highly open and dependent on trade. About 80 per cent of the 
employed labou r force is estimated to be involved in occupations that are either directly or 
indirectly linked to trade.  The ratios for imports and exports of goods to GDP in 2015 were 30.3 
per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, highlighting the longstanding imbalance e xisting in goods 
trade.  The ratio of trade in services as a percentage of GDP in 2015 was 35.7 per cent.  Tourism is 
the main service sector with a contribution to GDP of 16.9 per cent in 2015, accounting for the 
majority of the services trade. Together with tourism, Jamaica 's other main exports, such as, 
bauxite and alumina, sugar, agricultural products and business process outsourcing, and its main 
imports, such as petroleum products, food and motor vehicles serve as, inter alia , inputs for 
production, a source of income and a means of advancing Jamaica 's competitiveness. Additionally, 
the global trend of pursuing business growth through the fragmentation of production and creation 
of supply networks across national borders is also rooted in global trade . The pace of 
implementation of Jamaica 's development plan is, therefore, dependent on global trade 
performance.  
4.2.  Jamaica 's trade deficit grew from approximately US$3.4 billion in 2005 to a high of US$5.1 
billion in 2008. During the period 2009 –2016, the de ficit fell below that of 2008, significantly 
impacted by the movement in the price of fuel on the international market. In 2016, Jamaica 's 
trade deficit with the rest of the world was valued at US$3.56 billion, which represented a 
US$222.2 million or 5.9 p er cent decline when compared to the US$3.78 billion recorded in 2015. 
This decrease in the trade deficit was largely impacted by the country 's lower expenditure on 
mineral fuels, chemicals and food.  
4.3.  Expenditure on imports in 2016 was valued at US$4.8  billion, 5.6 per cent below the US$5 
billion recorded in 2015. Mineral fuels were valued at US$934.9 million in 2016, below the US$1.2 
billion recorded in 2015. This represented the lowest amount spent on this commodity group since 
2008 when expenditure was v alued at a high of US$3.4billion, due to exceptionally high fuel prices 
on the world market. In 2016, there was also a move towards using liquefied natural gas (LNG) 
and this was realized in the latter part of the year. Additionally, there were reduced imp orts of 
manufactured goods, with the major items being iron, steel and building cement. Reduced 
importation of ethanol -related products resulted in a decline in spending on chemicals in 2016. 
Food declined to US$840.9 million, down from US$943.6 million. T his was primarily due to reduced 
expenditure on imports of cereal and cereal preparations (mainly durum wheat), which was 
impacted by lower prices of grain on the world market.  
4.4.  Total revenue from exports for 2016 was approximately US$1.2  billion, down from  US$1.3  
billion in 2015. Revenue from domestic exports fell by US$110.7 million, to value US$1.1  billion, 
down from the US$1.2  billion in 2015 due to lower returns from bauxite, alumina and sugar. Re -
exports were valued at  US$104.2 million, increasing by 9 4.8 per cent or US$50.7 million, up from 
the US$53.5 million recorded in 2015. Exports of crude materials excluding fuels, valued at 
US$555.9 million fell by US$106.0 million, or 16.0 per cent, when compared to US$661.9 million 
recorded in 2015, due mainly  to the decrease in the exportation of alumina and bauxite. Exports of 
mineral fuels  were valued at US$172.7 million, a decrease of US$21.6 million or 11.1 percent 
when compared to the US$194.3 million recorded in 2015. This decline was due mainly to lower  
exports by the state refinery of finished products , namely Turbojet  A1 fuel and Bunker C grade fuel 
oil. Earnings from food products decreased by 1.0 per cent to US$220.3 million, down from 
US$222.5 million in 2015, mainly attributed to the reduction in t he exportation of sugar.  WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  4.2  Sectoral performance  
4.5.  The s ervices sector contributed approximately 73 per cent of GDP in 2016. The main 
industries in terms of their contribution to GDP were: wholesale and retail trade; repairs; 
installation of machinery and equipment (19.4 per cent); producers of government services (13.0 
per cent); transport, storage and communication (8.3 per cent); finance and insurance services 
(10.3 per cent); real estate, renting and business activities (11.3 per cent); other services (6.6 per 
cent); and hotels and restaurants (4.7 per cent). The services sector grew at an annual average 
rate of 0.4 per cent between 2011 and 2016, with hotels and restaurants registering the highest 
average growth rate of 2.0 per cent.  
4.6.  Specifica lly returning to trade in services, the tourism industry experienced significant growth 
in visitor arrivals over the review period and continued to contribute significantly to Jamaica 's 
foreign exchange earnings . This was also marked by increases in room s tock and di rect 
employment in the sector. Implementation of key objectives of the Master Plan for Sustainable 
Tourism Developmen t continued to be pursued. Areas of priority over the review period included 
strengthening linkages, increasing visitor arrivals , accessing new markets, developing new 
products, attracting new investments, building new partnerships and developing human ca pital. 
There have been a number of initiatives aimed at increasing local participation in the tourism 
sector . These include the t abling of a Community Tourism Policy and the establishment of a 
Linkages Network Programme, which increases local spend through partnerships with the private 
sector, academia and Government. It includes five identifiable network areas, namely, sport and 
entertainment, gastronomy, knowledge, shopping, health and wellness, to support the 
development of new tourism niche areas and broaden tourism spend to communities and non -
traditional tourism segments.  
4.7.  The National Export Strategy identifies mining as one of  its priority industries . The mining 
and quarrying industry recorded a decline of 3.3% in real value -added and contributed 2.3  per 
cent to GDP in 2016.  The industry employs 0.5 per cent of the total labour force and generated 
US$546.1 million in foreign ex change earnings in 2016. The mining and quarrying industry is 
dominated by bauxite and alumina production, which accounted for 97 per cent of the industry 's 
export earnings and 56.2 per cent of the total value of J amaica 's goods exports in 2015.  Total 
bauxite production, declined from approximately 10.2 million tonnes in 2011 to 8.5 million tonnes 
in 2016, due mainly to a fall in bauxite production arising from the curtailment of alumina 
production at the Sherwin refinery in the U nited States after it filed  for bankruptcy in 2016. Two of 
the three plants that were closed due to the global financial crisis in 2009 are now reopened. The 
Alpart Nain refinery plant in St. Elizabeth was reopened on 2 June 2017 and is now owned by 
Jiuquan Iron and Steel (JISCO). T he West Indies Alumina Company (WINDALCO) Ewarton plant, 
owned by UC Rusal, was reopened in the third quarter of 2010. The WINDALCO Kirkvine plant, 
also owned by UC Rusal, remains closed. The Government is now focused on strengthening the 
institutional cap acity of the mining and quarrying industry to, inter alia , enhance efficiency, 
increase the use of research and technology in industry operations, and integrate the development 
of mineral resources with overall land -use planning and zoning.  
4.8.  The Government of Jamaica continues to support the development of the manufacturing 
industry through the implementation of policy, regulatory and institutional structures aimed at 
creating and further strengthening the industry in order to facilitate the establishment of  an 
enabling business environment, improved competitiveness , and greater sectoral linkages. The 
Government encourages the development of environmentally sustainable manufacturing and has, 
where possible, provided assistance to develop stakeholders ' capacit y in standards, quality 
management , marketing and customer service.  In particular, such assistance is offered to MSMEs . 
4.9.  In 2016, the manufacturing industry's contribution to GDP was 9.1 per cent, relatively 
unchanged from 2011. The industry grew from 1.8 p er cent in 2011 to 1.9 per cent in 2016. 
Among the main subsectors were food, beverages and tobacco products, chemicals and chemical 
products and non -metallic mineral products. In 2015, the manufacturing industry 's share of total 
employment was about 15 per cent. The issues facing the industry include cost of credit, 
compliance costs relating to standards, labour productivity challenges, shifts in energy costs, and 
inadequate and costly transportation infrastructure.  The Government is inviting greater pri vate 
sector engagement in manufacturing and is also implementing policy responses t o these 
challenges. Such policy responses include encouraging investment in and public -private 
partnerships which develop alternatives to fossil fuels and renewable energy s olutions and make WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  available cheaper sources, such as LNG.  The Government has also increased investment in and 
policy focus on education and training; the use of industrial relations to achieve productivity gains; 
and the implementation of projects to rehab ilitate and maintain physical infrastructure.  
4.10.   The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry accounted for 8.0 per cent of Jamaica 's GDP, 
representing an increase from 6.6 per cent in 2011. The industry employed 17.7 per cent of 
Jamaica 's total employed la bour force in 2015, down from 18.2 per cent in 2012.  Gross value -
added for the industry increased from 10.3 per cent in 2011 to 12.9 per cent in 2016. The value of 
traditional export crops, namely, coconut, coffee, citrus, cocoa and pimento, fluctuated ove r the 
period 2011 to 2015, with an overall increase from US$23.5 million in 2011 to US$28.5 million in 
2015. The value of sugar exported fluctuated over the period 2011 to 2015, with an overall decline 
from US$62.2 million to US$53.8 million.   
4.11.   In 2008, Jamaica ceased exporting bananas to the U nited Kingdom , its main traditional 
market, due to the impact of weather conditions. Subsequently, exports were also affected by the 
liberalization of the UK market and the low prices for the product in that market,  which made it 
unprofitable for Jamaican b anana exporters. Instead, banana producers are now focused on 
exporting to the Cayman Islands and Canada. Jamaica exported 410,072 tons and 318,048 tons of 
bananas to those markets in 2015 and 2016, respectively, o f which the Cayman Islands ac counted 
for about 60 per cent. It has become more lucrative to produce bananas for the local market, 
which includes supplying the tourism industry, than it is to export the product.  
4.12.   The Government is seeking to enhance the deve lopment of the agriculture industry through 
the use of agro -parks, which were established in 2012; encourage youth engagement through 
initiatives, such as the Youth in Agriculture Programme; and develop a sustainable private sector -
led sugar cane industry that strengthens the economic, social and environmental resilience of 
sugar dependent areas, which is being done through infrastructure upgrades and the provision of 
quality housing.  The Government of Jamaica is improving its food safety infrastructure sys tems 
through the implementation of the Food Safety Programme. The development of the agriculture 
industry is also guided by the Government 's Food and Nutrition Security Policy, adopted in 2013, 
which aims at, among other things, facilitating the availabili ty of food, guaranteeing Jamaicans ' 
access to food, nurturing individual well -being through food choices and consumption that reflect 
recommended dietary allowances, and maintaining stability in food supplies.  
4.3  Impact of global e conomic developments on Jama ica's trade performance  
4.3.1   Slow recovery from the global economic recession  
4.13.   The global economic decline as a result of the global economic and financial crises has had 
significant impact  on the growth of world trade. In 2016, growth in the volume of merchandi se 
exports reflected weak performance of 1.3 per cent, representing the fifth consecutive year of 
trade growth below 3 per cent2. This is in comparison with an average growth rate of about 6 per 
cent over the almost three (3) decades (1980 -2007) before the  outbreak of the crises3. Weak 
international trade growth in the last few years reflects continuing sluggish growth in the global 
economy, including as a result of economic policy uncertainties; economic slowdown in the 
emerging economies  and falling commo dity prices. It has been forecast that there will be growth in 
global merchandise trade of between 1.8 per cent and 3.6 per cent in 2017 and 2.1 per cent and 4 
per cent in 2018, but that these figures could continue to be affected by policy uncertainty in 
certain developed countries and regions4. This trade slowdown has had a negative impact on 
developing countries, including Jamaica, in terms of a decline in merchandise exports. In 2015, 
Jamaica 's merchandise exports fell to US$1.2731 billion from US$1.593 3 billion  in 2013.  
4.3.2   Lack of progress in the Doha Round negotiations and rising protectionism  
4.14.   The lack of timely progress in the WTO Doha Round negotiations has resulted in countries 
shifting attention to concluding plurilateral agreements and regional trade  agreements (RTAs) as a 
means of pursuing further trade liberalization. Additionally, increasing nationalism and rising 
                                                
2 WTO Press Release #768 dated 7 April 2016 and WTO Press Rele ase #791 dated 12 April 2017.  
3 The Commonwealth secretariat, Trade Hot Topics Issue #140, “Revitalizing World Trade: Issues and 
Priorities for the Commonwealth”.  
4 WTO Press Release #791 dated 12 April 2017.  WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  protectionism and anti -globalization and anti -liberalization sentiments, particularly in developed 
countries, could stifle trade flows a nd further restrict market access.  2016 was not only a record 
year for the lowest growth in world trade, but there was also an increase in the stock of trade 
restrictive measures implemented by the G20 economies since the economic and financial crises.  
4.15.   These developments are occurring at a time when international trade is expected to play a 
central role in achieving the UN SDGs.  For small, open economies like Jamaica, trade plays a 
major role in achieving economic growth, employment and poverty reduction.  If the SDG and 
domestic socio -economic targets are to be achieved, Jamaica will need access to a stable rules -
based multilateral trading system that will support its participation and integration into the global 
trading system.  
4.3.3   De-risking and the loss of c orrespondent banking relationships  
4.16.   Over the past few years, there has been a general tightening of international regulatory 
standards for international finance, through a process known as de -risking. De -risking refers to the 
practice of ending banking rela tionships with clients or closing accounts deemed high risk, 
including when the earnings from such relationships are considered small in relation to  the risk.  
4.17.   The experience of the Jamaican financial sector regarding de -risking has been mixed. 
Several bank s have had their correspondent banking relationships terminated; others have been 
allowed a limited range of correspondent services; and others have been subjected to more 
stringent due diligence processes.  Jamaica has taken a number of measures to address  de-risking, 
including through focusing on strengthening Jamaica 's supervisory capacity and regulatory 
frameworks while reducing the potential for money laundering and the financing of terrorism 
through effective Anti -Money Laundering/Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) compliance.   
4.18.   De-risking and the loss of correspondent banking relationships have placed Jamaica and its 
CARICOM partners at risk of being cut off from the international financial system as it limits the 
access of these countries to the global payments and financial systems.  Jamaica, as part of 
CARICOM, has engaged in an advocacy and awareness building programme to place the issue on 
the agendas of bilateral, regional and international meetings, including meetings of the WTO 
Committee on Trade in Financial Services (CTFS).  Jamaica is also working with its international 
partners to identify the best means of addressing and mitigating the impact of reduced access to 
international banking and financial services and markets caused by de -riskin g measures.  
4.3.4   Brexit  
4.19.   In a national referendum on 23 June 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted to 
withdraw from membership of the European U nion, a process commonly known as Brexit.  Jamaica 
is closely monitoring developments relating to the United Kin gdom 's exit from the European U nion. 
The United Kingdom is an important trade partner for Jamaica. In 2016, the United Kingdom  
accounted for 25 per cent of Jamaica 's domestic exports to the European U nion, and 18 per cent of 
Jamaica 's total trade with the bloc. Jamaica accesses the United Kingdom 's market through the 
CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), to which the United Kingdom is party by 
virtue of its EU membership. Currently, Jamaica and its CARIFORUM partners are engaging the 
United Kin gdom to ensure the continuation of preferential access to the market post -Brexit. 
Jamaica and its CARIFORUM partners will be working with the European U nion to improve access 
to the markets of Member States post -Brexit under the CARIFORUM -EU EPA.  
4.4  Economic growth -inducing policies and strategies to promote competitiveness  
4.20.   Global Logistics Hub Initiative and Special Economic Zones: The Global Logistics Hub 
Initiative (GLHI) is designed to further integrate Jamaica into the international trading system and 
global value chains.  Through the GLHI, the Government is demonstrating its commitment to the 
creation of a competitive business environment, as well as supporting growth -inducing economic 
activities that will stimulate sustainable economic growth and developm ent. The GLHI, 
complemented by other policy initiatives underway, aims at: (1) increasing transhipment at 
Jamaican ports; (2) developing a variety of value -adding manufacturing/assembly industries within 
Special Economic Zones (SEZs); (3) expanding service s for the handling and movement of goods; 
(4) creating a modern and efficient infrastructure; (5) competitive pricing of shipments; WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  (6) offering competence and quality in the delivery of logistics services; and (7) enhancing 
Jamaica 's capacity to effective ly track and trace consignments.  Jamaica is finali zing its market 
analysis and master plan for the logistics hub.  
4.21.   The implementation of the GLHI brings into sharp focus the importance of the SEZs.  The 
SEZ legislation was enacted on 1 August 2016 , and repea led the Jamaica Export Free Zone Act. 
SEZs represent an ambitious plan to develop geographically -demarcated industrial clusters, by 
offering simple and efficient regulations and procedures that engender supply chain integration, 
targeted investment promoti on and retention, diversification of economic activities across sectors 
and value addition.  The SEZs implementation also places emphasis on trade facilitation, which 
includes the automation of processes and improved customs management.  Importantly, the 
Customs Act is also being revised to augment operations at the SEZs.  An integrated approach is 
being taken to the implementation of the SEZs to ensure that the environment is conducive to the 
growth of both the goods and service sectors.  
4.22.   The Jamaica Special E conomic Zone Authority (JSEZA) has been established to regulate, 
attract investment in and guide the development of SEZs in Jamaica.  JSEZA, which is housed in 
the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, is managing companies ' transition from the 
Free Zones to the Special Economic Zones regime. The Authority is facilitating the enactment of 
new regulations for the SEZs.  
4.23.   The Information Communications Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (ICT/BPO): 
The ICT/BPO industry is a priority sector for th e country and has a key role to play in the 
development of the Jamaican economy.  It is a high -performing segment of Jamaica 's services 
industries, having grown at an annual rate of 16% since 2012 and enjoying the highest 
employment growth rate over the las t decade, with an estimated 25,000 employees as at 31 
March 2017. It is one of the country 's most dynamic sectors covering, inter alia , contact centres, 
back office operations, and knowledge intensive operations.  The industry is poised for further 
growth a nd has the capacity to double its current size.  Efforts are being made to increase the level 
of local and international investments in the sector.  The Government of Jamaica has established an 
ambitious target of doubling the size of the ICT/ BPO industry by  2020, and is focused on providing 
the necessary support and putting in place the requisite policies and enabling environment to 
facilitate further growth.  
4.24.   The first phase of the National Export Strategy (NES) was developed in 2009 as a set of 
initiatives aimed at increasing Jamaican exports and reducing Jamaica 's trade deficit through 
targeted intervention in key sectors.  Implemented over a three -year period, April 2010 –March 
2013, the NES sought to competitively reposition Jamaica 's exports in the global economy by 
focusing on specific cross-cutting industry strategies and priority industry initiatives.  The NES has 
since been updated with inputs from key stakeholders from each priority sector (e.g., agro 
processing, light manufacturing, film and animation)  and cross -cutting area (e.g., capacity 
building, standards and quality management), resulting in phase two of the NES (NES2). The 
overall targets for NES2 are to achieve export growth of 15% per annum, with total goods exports 
reaching US$2.5 billion by 2 019, and for services exports to reach US$3.2 billion also by 2019.   
4.25.   The Business Reform Agenda and the establishment of the National Competitiveness Council 
(NCC):  All mechanisms pertaining to national competitiveness fall within the purview of the NCC, 
which was established in 2010. The NCC 's Business Environment Reform Agenda is specifically 
focused on enhancing Jamaica 's performance in key international indices, such as the Doing 
Business Report, the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), and the Logistics  Performance Index 
(LPI). The NCC plays a key role in the implementation of the World Bank funded Foundations for 
Competitiveness and Growth Project, which is intended to strengthen the business environment in 
Jamaica for private sector investment, and it oversees the execution of Component 1 of the Project 
which seeks to enhance competition in the business environment. The NCC is tasked with 
oversight of the implementation of the NES and is the main entity to which bureaucratic 
impediments facing investors  are escalated for redress.  Its achievements since mid -2013 include 
the establishment of a Secured Transaction Framework, which included the passing of the Security 
Interest in Personal Property Act, the establishment of a National Collateral Registry and the 
creation of a single business registration form; the passage of the Insolvency Act, the 
establishment of a mandatory e -filing system for tax administration and the implementation of the 
ASYCUDA System for customs administration.   WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  4.26.   The Government of Jama ica places great emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and 
enterprise development in Jamaica. MSMEs play a significant role in generating employment and 
contributing to private sector growth and expansion. It is estimated that MSMEs account for 97.6% 
of all registered classified taxpaying enterprises and that there are also approximately 412,000 
own-account -workers, i.e., single person enterprises, operating in Jamaica.  
4.27.   The Government of Jamaica has put in place a policy, legislative and institutional fra mework 
to support the development and expansion of MSMEs. There have been significant improvements 
to the  policy and legislative framework in the past few years with the passing of, inter alia , the 
Secured Interest in Personal Property Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Public 
Procurement Act (and Regulations 2017), the Special Economic Zones Act and the MSME and 
Entrepreneurship Policy, which was implemented in 2013. The MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy 
is the first comprehensive, coherent and coo rdinated framework for addressing the policy issues 
and challenges facing the sector and providing targeted support to expand its contribution to 
Jamaica 's socio -economic development. In 2016, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture 
and Fisheries ( MICAF) began a limited review of the policy with a view to, inter alia , strengthening 
sector support mechanisms and outlining the strategies and activities to further boost the sector 
over the next five -year period.  
4.28.   Several entities have been established t o provide targeted support to the sector. These 
include the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, the Micro Investment Development 
Agency and the Development Bank of Jamaica and Start -Up Jamaica. An MSME Office was 
established in MICAF with responsibil ity for policy oversight and coordination of activities and 
initiatives in relation to the development of the MSME sector.  
4.29.   Jamaica is in the process of developing a National Investment Policy by 2018, which will 
support the realization of the country 's national sustainable development goals and the country 's 
overall development strategy as set out in the GOJ 's medium term economic programme and 
Vision 2030.  Investment policy priorities are guided by a thorough analysis of the country 's 
comparative advantag es, development challenges and opportunities, and address key bottlenecks 
for local direct investment and foreign direct investment in : the GLHI; infrastructure development; 
establishment of an international financial centre; further development and diversification of the 
tourism product into health and wellness and medical tourism; expansion of the ICT sector; the 
creative industries; the development of agro -parks; and energy diversification.  The policy will also 
seek to improve collaboration among M inistries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) involved in 
investment facilitation and promotion.  A Steering Committee was approved by the Cabinet of 
Jamaica in February 2017 to oversee the development of the policy, and working groups have 
been formed to carr y out the policy development activities.  
4.30.   Jamaica is committed to meeting international standards for transparency in investment and 
tax matters. To this end, Jamaica recently revised the text of its Model Double Taxation Agreement 
(DTA) , inter alia , to inc lude the minimum standards required under the Base Erosion and Profit 
Shifting (BEPS) Project. Jamaica has also submitted its Letter of Intent to become a signatory to 
the OECD Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Bas e 
Erosion and Profit Shifting (Multilateral Instrument or MLI), which was developed under the BEPS 
initiative to modify existing treaties allowing for compliance with the BEPS minimum standards.  
4.31.   Since 2011, nine (9) bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) have been 
concluded. On 1 June 2016, Jamaica became a signatory to the OECD Multilateral Convention on 
Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.  
4.32.   Jamaica is reviewing its pol icy and approaches towards the negotiation and implementation 
of bilateral investment treaties (BITs), which includes the completion of a model agreement to 
guide the Government 's engagement in future BITs negotiations.  To date, 17 BITs have been 
concluded  since 1987, and discussions are underway regarding the possible conclusion of BITs with 
a number of other bilateral partners. This is in addition to Jamaica 's compliance with the 
requirements of: (i) the international certification process of the IMF/Worl d Bank Financial Sector 
Assessment Programme, (ii) the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), (iii) the Caribbean Financial 
Action Task Force (CFATF), as well as various bilateral commitments under the United States ' 
implementation regime for the Foreign Acco unt Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Jamaica is a member WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  of the following: (i) the OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information5, (ii) 
the Committee for Fiscal Affairs of the OECD6, (iii) the Inclusive Framework for BEPS7, and (iii) the 
Steerin g Group for the Inclusive Framework8. 
5  TRADE POLICY AND INS TITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  
5.1  Elements of Jamaica' s foreign trade policy  
5.1.  Generally, Jamaica's trade policy continues to focus on mainstreaming trade, increasing 
competitiveness, production and exports. Jamai ca, as a member of CARICOM, engages in the 
negotiation and implementation of trade agreements as a means of securing its trade interests and 
enhancing trade performance.  In these agreements, Jamaica seeks to maintain and improve 
market access with a view t o fostering increased market penetration and stimulate exports and 
develop a diversified export sector. There is also the goal of maintaining and improving 
performance in the domestic market and facilitating measures to address supply -side constraints 
thereby improving productivity and competitiveness in both the domestic and export markets.   
5.2.  For Jamaica, trade agreements should be aimed at promoting both trade and development, 
and should have a strong development component.  
5.3.  Jamaica is reviewing its foreign  trade policy, which was last revised in 2001 (Ministry Paper 
No. 69). The current review seeks to ensure the mainstreaming of foreign trade to strengthen its 
role as a driver of economic growth and development; allow Jamaica to adjust to significant 
chang es in the international environment since 2001 ; and pursue a more comprehensive and 
inclusive approach to foreign trade policy formulation and implementation. The overall aim of the 
revision is to promote a whole -of-Government approach aimed at increasing exports in goods and 
services and ensuring that  the flow of imports benefits the economy in a sustained manner. The 
Policy and its Action Plan, when approved, will span a five-year implementation period and will 
focus on positioning Jamaica to leverage the  benefits of trade -related issues, such as intellectual 
property rights. They will also take account of the country 's implementation of the United Nation 's 
SDGs . 
5.2  Institutional framework for Jamaica' s foreign trade policy regime  
5.4.  The formulation of foreign trade policies and the negotiation of trade agreements is the  
responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.  The Ministry carries out this 
responsibility in consultations with stakeholders from the public and private sectors and from civil 
society. The implementation of Jamaica 's obligations under trade and trade -related agreements to 
which it is a party is done by other ministries and their departments and agencies, mainly, the 
Ministries of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheri es; Finance and the Public Service; 
Science, Energy and Technology; Tourism; Transport and Mining; and the Office of the Prime 
Minister.  The trade -related departments and agencies include the Planning Institute of Jamaica, 
the Jamaica Customs Agency, the B ureau of Standards Jamaica, the Trade Board Limited and 
Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO).  
5.5.  National consultations on the implementation of Jamaica 's foreign trade policies and on 
positions to be taken in external trade negotiations are undertaken by the Jamaica Trade and 
Adjustment Team (JTAT). JTAT is a consultative mechanism comprising representatives of 
trade -related ministries, departments and agencies, in addition to representatives of the private 
sector and civil society. The Minister of Foreign  Affairs and Foreign Trade chairs the meetings of 
JTAT. However, it also meets in its various configurations.  
5.6.  The Jamaican private sector plays an active role in trade policy development and 
implementation.  This is usually done as sectoral initiatives and through the work of umbrella 
organizations namely the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Jamaica Exporters 
Association (JEA), the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), the Jamaica Manufacturers 
Association (JMA), the MSME Alliance and the Smal l Businesses Association of Jamaica.  At the level 
                                                
5 Jamaica has been a member since 2010.  
6 Jamaica is one (1) of fourteen (14) developing countries invited to join the Committee in 2014.  
7 Jamaica has been a member of the Framework since 2016.  
8 Jamaica was elected to the Steering Group in January 2017.  WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  of civil society, the trade unions, trade and development -related associations and academia are 
also invited.  
5.7.  Jamaica's trade policy formulation is also guided by the provisions of the Revised Treaty of 
Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) including the CARICOM Single 
Market and Economy (CSME). The Treaty requires the coordination of the regional trade policy, 
and bilateral trade negotiations with third countries as a regional grouping  is usually led by the 
CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations (OTN).  In this connection, Jamaica participates actively in 
the work of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and other trade -related 
bodies established by CARICOM.  
5.3  Regional integ ration – the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and 
Economy (CSME)  
5.8.  The 2001 Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was passed into law in Jamaica through the  
Caribbean Community Act of 1 December 2005.  Implementation of the CARICOM Single Market 
and Economy  (CSME) began in 2006. The CSME is administered through five (5) core regimes, 
namely: (i) the free movement of goods; (ii) the free movement of skills; (iii) the free movement 
of capital; (iv) the provision of services; and (v) the right of establishment.  In 2011, CARICOM 
Heads of Government decided to put the economy aspect of the CSME on hold and focus on the 
Single Market. A number of regional institutions have been established to support the 
implementation and operation of the CSME.  They include:  the C aribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), 
the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the CARICOM 
Competition Commission, the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) and 
the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). While most M ember States have made progress in the 
implementation of the CSME, there is still more work required amongst Members to ensure a 
greater level of implementation. This is an important issue for Jamaica and for the CARICOM 
Conference of Heads of Government.  
6  BILATERAL/HEMISPHERI C AND PREFERENTIAL T RADE ARRANGEMENTS  
6.1  CARICOM bilateral agreements  
6.1.  CARICOM currently has trade agreements with Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican 
Republic and Venezuela. Work is being conducted under the CARICOM -Costa Rica Free T rade 
Agreement, the CARICOM -Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement and the CARICOM -Cuba 
Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement to further enhance market access commitments and 
resolve existing market access difficulties that have impeded effective utili zation of the 
Agreements.  
6.2  CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreement  
6.2.  Jamaica currently trades with the European Union  under the reciprocal CARIFORUM -EU 
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which was signed on 15 October 2008.9 It was notified to 
the WTO on 24 October 2008 under GATT Article XXIV.  Jamaica continues to provisionally apply 
the EPA, pending its ratification. Its ratification is among the priority issues being purs ued by the 
Government in 2017. A five -year review exercise was conducted in 2015  and focussed on the 
impact of the EPA on CARIFORUM States and the challenges encountered in advancing the 
implementation process. The outcome of the review suggested that the global financial and 
economic crisis had a profound impact on the ability of the  CARIFORUM parties, including Jamaica, 
to take advantage of the market access opportunities under the Agreement.  
6.3  CARIBCAN  
6.3.  The 1986 Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) continues to provide 
non-reciprocal duty free access to the Canadian market for a  range of goods from pa rticipating 
CARICOM countries. In July 2015, the WTO General Council, at the request of Canada, extended 
the MFN waiver for CARIBCAN to 2023.  
                                                
9 Guyana signed the agreement on 20 Octob er 2008 , and Haiti signed on 10 December 2009 . WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  6.4  CARIBBEAN Basin Initiative (CBI)  
6.4.  The Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) comprises the Caribbe an Basin Economic Recovery Act 
(CBERA) of 1983/1990 and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) of 2000.  The 
CBTPA, through which the benefits under CBERA were further expanded, is due t o expire on 30 
September 2020. In May 2015, the WTO General Council approved a further MFN waiver for the 
CBI up to 31 December 2019.  
7  MULTILATERAL FRAMEWO RK – THE WTO  
7.1.  Since becoming a founding Member of the WTO on 9 March 1995, Jamaica has been an active 
participant in all aspects of the WTO 's work programme, inclu ding in the WTO regular bodies and 
in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.  Despite its small size and resource 
constraints, Jamaica has taken numerous steps to continue implementing the Uruguay Round 
Agreements. Jamaica participates in the wo rk conducted in the various WTO committees charged 
with overseeing the implementation of these agreements.  
7.2.  Jamaica remains actively engaged in the negotiations on Doha Development Agenda issues, 
including through its membership of certain groupings, such a s the SVE Group, the African, 
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, the G90 comprising the ACP, African and LDC G roups, the 
Group of 33 and the ' W/52 ' Group in the negotiations on geographical indications, to promote its 
interests and concerns with a view to ensuring that there will be balanced, development -oriented 
outcomes. Jamaica continues to chair the Negotiating Group on Rules.  
7.3.  During the period under review, Jamaica did not participate as a complainant, defendant or 
third party in any dispute settlement case.  
7.4.  Jamaica continues to make notifications under the WTO Agreements as required, including in 
the areas of technical barriers to trade, sanita ry and phyto -sanitary measures, import licensing, 
agriculture, subsidies and countervailing measures, anti -dumping measures, and state trading 
enterprises.  
7.1  Implementation of the Uruguay Round Agreements  
7.5.  Jamaica enacted the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subs idies) Act of 1999 (CDDSA) and the 
Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) (Determination of Fair Market Price, Material Injury and 
Margin of Dumping) Regulations in 2000, to implement the WTO Agreements on Anti -dumping and 
Subsidies and Countervailing Meas ures. There are significant amendments pending to the CDDSA 
which will make the legislation more user friendly for industry and clarify existing practice. The 
Safeguard Act of 2000 and the Safeguard Regulations of 2003 were enacted to implement the 
WTO Agr eement on Safeguards.  
7.6.  The Anti -dumping and Subsidies Commission (the Commission), a portfolio agency of the 
MICAF, administers the trade remedy regime for Jamaica by conducting investigations and 
determining appropriate remedies under both legislative regi mes. The Commission has conducted 
to completion six anti -dumping investigations and one safeguard investigation. No investigations 
were conducted during the period of review. The Commission also performed investigative 
research, provided advice to the port folio Minister , and was involved in trade policy development 
and trade negotiations. The Commission is building business capacity to take trade remedy action 
by completing the amendments to the CDDSA, training micro, small and medium goods producing 
entities in the use of trade remedies and to establish a help desk to assist industry. As part of its 
capacity -building initiative, the Commission trains individuals and businesses in the application of 
trade remedies. Accreditation was received from the General  Legal Council for the coursework for 
training of Attorneys -at-Law. In addition, a proposal for a help desk to support industries in the 
process of compiling evidence and filing complaints has been developed.  
7.7.  The Executive Director of the Commission has s erved as a panellist on five completed WTO 
Dispute Settlement panels on trade remedy and related matters. Jamaica continues to provide 
guidance and support on trade remedy matters to others in the region.  WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  7.8.  Jamaica continues to work tirelessly to implement an intellectual property rights regime that 
is fully compliant with the TRIPS Agreement. The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) is 
continuously reviewing and updating relevant legislation to ensure that the country 's intellectual 
property laws eff ectively protect the intellectual property rights of nationals and non -nationals 
alike.  
7.9.  Since Jamaica 's last report to the WTO in 2011, Jamaica amended its Trade Marks Act and 
Trade Marks Rules and the Copyright Act , and is currently in the process of agai n amending the 
Trade Marks Act and Rules and the Protection of Geographical Indications Act and Regulations. 
Jamaica is also now in the final stages of adopting a new Patents and Designs Act and is currently 
drafting new legislation for the protection of n ew varieties of plants.  
7.10.   The Trade Marks Rules were amended in 2011 to provide for a new schedule of fees , and, in 
2013, the Trade Marks Act and Rules were amended to provide , inter alia , for a cooling off period 
for trade mark oppositions. The Copyright A ct was amended in 2015 to provide , inter alia , for an 
extension of the term of copyright protection and to provide exceptions to the copyright regime for 
visually impaired persons, persons with print disabilities and the hearing impaired to allow them to 
place material into accessible formats.  
7.11.   Jamaica is currently amending the Trade Marks Act and the Trade Marks Rules to  generally 
update the Act and Rules including the fees and forms and to provide for the international 
registration of trademarks under the  Madrid Protocol. The Protection of Geographical Indications 
Act and Regulations are also being amended at present to provide the higher level of protection to 
all goods including wines and spirits, to establish a Geographical Indications Advisory Committe e 
and to update the applicable fees payable.  
7.12.   The new Patents and Designs Act will be fully compliant with the TRIPS Agreement and will 
pave the way for Jamaica t o become party to the Patent Co operation Treaty (PCT), as well as the 
Hague Agreement and the L ocarno Treaty for Industrial Designs. Amendments are also being 
made to the Copyright Act to provide for cross -border copyright transactions and to add to the list 
of authorized bodies which can make accessible formats for visually and print disabled perso ns. A 
new law is currently being drafted for the protection of new varieties of plants, which will ensure 
Jamaica 's compliance with the TRIPS Agreement.  
7.13.   In 2012, JIPO issued a Practice Notice regarding the examination of trademarks which  
contain traditiona l knowledge and/or traditional cultural expressions of indigenous or local 
communities. By virtue of that Practice Notice, such trade mark applications will be refused 
registration if misleading and if they are submitted without consent or authorization of  one of the 
recogni zed representatives of the relevant indigenous or local community. In 2015, another 
Practice Notice was issued by JIPO extending the terms of the 2012 Practice Notice to the 
examination of design applications by JIPO. Jamaica has also re cently started the process to 
develop legislation for the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.  
7.14.   In 2013, Jamaica passed the Secured Interests in Personal Property Act (SIPPA) for IP 
securitization and is in the process o f developing the framework to implement the securitization of 
assets using IP.  
7.15.   The Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime (C -TOC) Unit of the Jamaica Con stabulary 
Force (JCF) enforces IP legislation in Jamaica. The Unit undertakes arrests and criminal 
prose cutions for breaches of the country 's IP laws. Jamaica 's criminal and civil courts continue to 
hear and determine cases of IP infringements and to assist national and international rights 
holders to enforce their IP rights in Jamaica.  
7.16.   Standards in Jamaica are primarily regulated by the Bureau of Standards of Jamaica (BSJ) 
which was established in 1969, as a statutory body, pursuant to the Standards Act of 1969.  The 
BSJ promotes and encourages the maintenance of standardization in relation to commodities, 
processes and practices. Over time, its role expanded to include the provision of services in 
relation to conformity assessment (certification, inspection, testing, and calibration) and 
metrology. The BSJ is in the process of reviewing its existing legal fra mework with a view to 
creating an environment conducive to the implementation of the National Quality Policy.  The 
review includes the governing legislation (Standards Act of 1968, Processed Food Act of 1959 and WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  Weights and Measures Act of 1976).10 The amendment aims to shorten the process for the export 
of processed food and to enable a more trade -friendly regime that brings Jamaica in line with 
international best practice, which posits a risk -based approach towards production.  
7.17.   The regulatory functions of the BSJ were operationally separated with the establishment of 
the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA) in January 2016. The NCRA is 
responsible for registering processed food establishments, inspecting goods at the ports of entry 
and in the domestic market for compliance, and legal metrology. The BSJ provides the NCRA with 
corporate services, namely, human resource management and development; corporate planning 
and budgeting; financial management; facilities management; and ICT support. The BSJ has 
commenced a number of initiatives, including the Strategic Public Sector Transformation Project 
and the Capacity Building for Market Access Project to, among other things, enhance the 
organization 's role in the areas of trade facilitation, indus trial growth and the protection of the 
health and safety of the Jamaican people.  
7.18.   The BSJ 's conformity assessment programmes were transferred to the National Certification 
Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) as at 1 January 2017. These programmes include the Jamaica Mad e Mark 
Programme (JMM); HACCP Recognition Programme; National Certification Mark Programme (CMP); 
and Certification of Agricultural Produce (CAP).  The NCBJ continues to maintain the effectiveness 
of the accredited management system to ISO 17021:2015 and wa s approved by ANAB to issue 
ISO 9001:2015 accredited certificates to organizations. The BSJ attained certification to ISO 
9001:2008 Quality Management Systems – Requirements from BSI (UK certification body) in 
February 2016 for the provision of services in  relation to facilitating the development of standards 
for commodities, services, practices and processes; performing conformity assessment activities; 
and promoting research and education in standardization. This achievement was an indication that 
the org anization has a quality management system that meets the requirements of ISO 
9001:2008.  
7.19.   Four of the organization 's laboratories ( chemistry, microbiology, packaging and mass) 
attained accreditation of critical food test according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 general requirements 
for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories for specified tests. The BSJ has 
undertaken a reduction of the turnaround times in its laboratories. Generally, the times have been 
reduced by two weeks. Products tested at the accr edited laboratories of the BSJ will provide access 
to over 80 markets worldwide, based on the accreditation received from the Jamaica National 
Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC).  
7.20.   The BSJ is seeking to establish a 'WTO/TBT National Enquiry Point Portal ' to meet the 
relevant obligations outlined in the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and to provide value -
added services to the BSJ 's clientele. Targeting mainly associations and sector groups, such as the 
Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation 
(JBDC), the BSJ is assisting MSMEs to enhance their international competitiveness.  
7.21.   The Plant Quarantine Produce Inspection Division in the MICAF  is Jamaica's enquiry point 
under the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phy to-sanitary Measures. A National Agricultural 
Health and Food Safety Coordinating Committee has been established to allow for more effective 
coordination among the various administrative bodies. The enquiry point continues to play a major 
role in ensuring transparency in the implementation and application of Jamaica's laws and 
regulations affecting SPS measures. Changes have been made to Jamaica's legislative framework 
in the area of sanitary and phyto -sanitary measures to facilitate compliance with the WTO  SPS 
Agreement. The SPS enquiry point circulates, as frequently as possible, a spread sheet which 
provides information on the most recent SPS notifications. The stakeholders are encouraged to 
initiate discussion on notifications which are of interest to th em. The modernization of Jamaica's 
SPS regime remains a work in progress which would benefit from further development assistance.  
                                                
10 Cabinet , in February 2017 , approved an amendment of the Processed Food Act 1959 and the 
Processed Food (General) Regulations 1959 to remove the requirement for Export Certificate. Parliament , in 
2015, approv ed an amendment to the Weights and Measures Act 1976 and its attendant Regulations to 
increase the fines to a maximum of $1 million in respect of offences under the Act or Regulations. Parliament , 
in 2012 , approved an amendment to the Standards Act of 1968  and the Processed Food Act of 1959 to 
increase the fines to a maximum of $3 million in respect of offences under the Acts.  WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  7.22.   The WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation is administered by Jamaica Customs, an Agency 
of the Ministry of Finance and the Public  Service.  Under the Customs Modernisation and Reform 
Programme, the then Jamaica Customs Department underwent an extensive process of 
rationali zation and re -organization of customs procedures and management.  The Customs Act, 
1955, which is Jamaica's primar y piece of legislation dealing with customs valuation and 
procedures, was amended in 2001 to bring it into conformity with the provisions of the WTO 
Agreement on Customs Valuation.  
7.23.   Despite the advances that have been made under the Customs Modernisation an d Reform 
Programme, the Customs Agency still encounters challenges associated with, among other things, 
under -invoicing.  Additionally, there continues to be a need for ongoing training and technical 
assistance. In this regard, Jamaica has benefited from te chnical assistance provided by the 
Governments of Chile, Sweden, the United  States, the United Kingdom and Canada, as well as the 
World Customs Organization (WCO).  
7.24.   As part of efforts to modernize customs procedures, the Jamaica Customs Agency 
implemented t he Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) World on 1 April 2016.  
ASYCUDA World is a web -based system that accelerates customs clearance and simplifies 
proce dures through computerization. The implementation of ASYCUDA World is among the 
measures being introduced by the Government of the Jamaica to facilitate trade, achieve greater 
efficiency, reduce transaction costs and improve the  domestic business environment.  
7.2  Implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation  
7.25.   Jamaica was an active participant  in the negotiations on trade facilitation. Acting individually 
and in its capacity as Coordinator of the ACP Group in Geneva during the preparatory process for 
the 9th Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9), Jamaica advocated strongly for the 
adoption of a new and more dynamic approach toward the treatment of special and differential 
treatment (S&DT) provisions that would take into account the different capacities of the 
developing countries and LDCs to implement the provisions of the TF Agreement  and the 
difficulties they may encounter in doing so. Emphasis was therefore placed on the need for the 
provision of adequate technical assistance and capacity building support to assist developing 
countries and LDCs in implementing the TF Agreement.  
7.26.   Jamaica notified its Category A commitments in February 2015 and ratified the Agreement 
in January 2016. Jamaica 's Categories B and C commitments were submitted to the WTO 
Secretariat in July 2017.  
7.27.   A Trade Facilitation Task Force comprising representatives of the public and private sectors 
was established in 2015 under the aegis of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC). The Task 
Force is responsible for mapping and driving the implementation of the trade facilitation measures, 
including those under the TF Agreement, which are deemed critical to support economic growth 
and promote competitiveness, as well as ensure a coordinated approach across government 
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the development of a single electronic window for 
trade ( SEWT) and a national trade information portal (NTIP), amongst a range of other reforms.  
7.28.   Since 2015, the Task Force has undertaken a range of activities which are required for 
coordinating and implementing various provisions under the TF Agreement. These activities include 
the development of a Roadmap and Project Plan for Trade Facilitation, as well as partnering with 
the World Bank Group to provide technical assistance and training in areas such as gap 
assessments, data collection and analysis and the dev elopment of risk profiles.  
7.29.   Jamaica also participates in the CARICOM Regional Committee on Trade Facilitation (RCTF) 
established to facilitate regional coordination and implementation of the TF Agreement within 
CARICOM and to promote consistency between nat ional and regional trade facilitation priorities.  
7.3  Aid for trade  
7.30.   Jamaica supported the proposal for the Doha Development Round to have a capacity 
building component. The Aid for Trade Initiative is intended to assist developing countries and 
LDCs to build t he trade capacity and infrastructure required to take advantage of export WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  opportunities; to increase their capacity to trade; and to participate more effectively in 
international trade.  
7.31.   Jamaica 's National Aid for Trade Strategy , entitled 'Partnership towar ds Sustained Economic 
Growth and Development through Trade ', was developed with the assistance of the Inter -American 
Development Bank (IDB).  It was presented by the IDB at the WTO 's 3rd Global Aid for Trade 
Review in July 2011 and formally launched in King ston in November 2011.  The Strategy identified 
gaps in previous funding for trade projects and identified Jamaica 's trade -related needs in three 
(3) pillars, namely network infrastructure; competitiveness and export diversification; and trade 
development.  It also includes an action matrix identifying critical initiatives requiring development 
assistance and investment.  Jamaica 's National Aid for Trade Strategy has been aligned with 
national policies, plans and strategies.  The Strategy is also closely linked  to the Regional Aid for 
Trade Strategy, which was launched by CARICOM in 2013.  
7.32.   Since the launch of the National Aid for Trade Strategy, the Government of Jamaica has 
been the recipient of six major Aid for Trade projects aimed at, inter alia , (i) export d iversification; 
(ii) improving conditions for better access of Jamaican products to the rest of the world; 
(iii) increasing agricultural competitiveness; and (iv) strengthening of the business environment in 
Jamaica for private sector investment.  
7.33.   Jamaica a ppreciates the trade -related assistance receive from its development partners, 
including the E uropean Union, IDB, World Bank, Commonwealth Secretariat, Canada, New 
Zealand, the U nited Kingdom  and the U nited States.  
7.34.   Nevertheless, it should be recalled that , at the Global Aid for Trade Reviews, it was 
recognized that the Caribbean was among the regions receiving the least amount of Aid for Trade 
resources. Among the problems affecting Jamaica 's ability to secure additional funding have been 
the Government of  Jamaica 's tight fiscal policy space , due primarily to the high debt burden and 
slow economic growth; the priorities of international development partners; and the challenges of 
size as investors look at economies of scale.  
7.4  Technical assistance and capacit y building  
7.35.   During the period under review, Jamaica continued to participate in the technical assistance 
and capacity building (TACB) courses and programmes offered by the WTO on -line, at the national 
and regional (CARICOM) levels and in Geneva. These cours es and programmes have provided 
practical support to Jamaica in building its knowledge, capacity and skills in relation to the WTO 
Agreements and their implementation; and in facilitating greater participation in the work 
programme of the WTO and in intern ational trade in general. The introduction of the progressive 
learning approach to TACB has resulted in a more streamlined approach to learning , and the on -
line courses have provided greater access to information and inst ruction on the WTO Agreements. 
Howe ver, Jamaica will continue to face capacity constraints in a number of areas and will continue 
to require TACB support from the WTO. In this regard, there will also be need for a more 
structured approach toward the provision of TACB in certain specialized areas, including trade in 
services, to address the capacity deficits that exist in these areas.  
8  CONCLUSION  
8.1.  Jamaica remains committed to the multilateral trading system, and continues to actively 
participate in the WTO 's regular work and contribute to the e fforts being made to advance 
negotiations on issues under the Doha Development Agenda. Notwithstanding limited resources, 
Jamaica continues its efforts to implement the WTO Agreements, while implementing its 
obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguara mas establishing the CSME, as well as other 
trade agreements negotiated with the E uropean Union and bilateral partners in Latin America and 
the Caribbean. As stated, international trade is essential to the Government achieving its goal of 
robust economic g rowth and job creation.  Jamaica,  therefore, is aiming to take a holistic approach 
to the implementation of its foreign trade policy to ensure that the country benefits from 
international trade.  
8.2.  The country, however, faces major challenges arising from deve lopments in the global 
economic environment. These challenges include the practice of de -risking by financial institutions WT/TPR/G/359 • Jamaica  
 
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  in major economies, an increased tendency towards protectionism in some key markets, lack of 
fiscal space to absorb concessionary don or funding from Aid for Trade, and the uncertainties 
surrounding the future of the Doha Development Round.  This is a parlous situation for highly 
indebted developing countries with small, open, vulnerable economies.  Nevertheless, Jamaica is 
monitoring deve lopments in the global economy, especially those that have a significant bearing 
on its trade performance, and thus its ability to achieve robust economic growth and create jobs. 
These are development dimension issues which Jamaica hopes will continue to r eceive attention as 
preparations accelerate for the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11) to be held in December 
2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  
 
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