WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  ANNEX 6 – SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  CONTENTS 
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 337  
1.1   Main Macroecono mic Developments .......................................................................... 337  
1.1.1   Real  economy ..................................................................................................... 337  
1.1.2   Fiscal policy and structural reforms......................................................................... 338  
1.1.3   Balance of payments, monetary and exchange rate policy .......................................... 339  
1.2   Trade and inve stment pa tterns ................................................................................. 340  
1.3   Outlook ................................................................................................................. 343  
2   TRADE POLICY REGIME: FR AMEWORK AND OB JECTIVES ........................................ 344  
2.1   General Constitution al and Legal Framework .............................................................. 344  
2.2   Trade Policy Formulation and Implementation ............................................................. 344  
2.3   Foreign Inve stment Regime ..................................................................................... 344  
2.4   Internatio nal Relations ............................................................................................ 345  
2.4.1   World Trade Organization ...................................................................................... 345  
2.4.2   Preferential agreements and arrangements .............................................................. 346  
3   TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ...................................................... 347  
3.1   Measures Directly  Affecting Import s .......................................................................... 347  
3.1.1   Procedures ......................................................................................................... 34 7 
3.1.2   Tariffs ............................................................................................................... . 348  
3.1.3   Other charges affecting imports ............................................................................. 352  
3.1.4   Customs valuation and rules of origin ..................................................................... 352  
3.1.5   Import prohibitions, restrictions an d licensing .......................................................... 353  
3.1.6   Continge ncy measures ......................................................................................... 354  
3.1.7   Technical regulations, co nformity assessment, and standards ..................................... 354  
3.1.8   Sanitary and ph ytosanitary me asures ..................................................................... 355  
3.1.9   Other measures ................................................................................................... 356  
3.2   Measures Directly Affecting Exports ........................................................................... 356  
3.2.1   Export procedures , taxes, and levies ...................................................................... 356  
3.2.2   Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing .......................................................... 356  
3.2.3   Export subsidies, financing, insurance, and promotion ............................................... 356  
3.3   Measures Affecting Production an d Trade ................................................................... 357  
3.3.1   Ince ntives .......................................................................................................... 3 57 
3.3.2   Competition policy and price controls ...................................................................... 358  
3.3.3   State-trading and state-owned en terprises .............................................................. 358  
3.3.4   Government  procurement ..................................................................................... 359  
3.3.5   Intellectual property rights .................................................................................... 359  
4   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ................................................................................... 362  
4.1   Agriculture ............................................................................................................ 362 
4.1.1   Overview ............................................................................................................ 3 62 
4.1.2   Border  measures ................................................................................................. 362  WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  4.1.3   Domestic measures .............................................................................................. 362  
4.2   Manufac turing ........................................................................................................ 36 3 
4.3   Services ................................................................................................................  363 
4.3.1   Telecommunications ............................................................................................. 363  
4.3.2   Financial services ................................................................................................. 364  
4.3.2.1   Onshore fi nancial serv ices .................................................................................. 365  
4.3.2.2   Offshore fi nancial serv ices .................................................................................. 365  
4.3.3   Transport ........................................................................................................... 3 66 
4.3.3.1   Air transport ..................................................................................................... 366  
4.3.3.2   Mariti me transp ort ............................................................................................ 366  
4.3.4   Tourism .............................................................................................................. 367  
4.3.5   Profession al services ............................................................................................ 368  
REFERENC ES ................................................................................................................ 369  
5   APPENDIX TABLES .................................................................................................. 370  
 
CHARTS 
 
Chart 1.1 Merchandise trade by SITC section, 2007 and 20 12 .............................................. 341  
Chart 1.2 Merchandise trade, by main or igin and destinatio n, 2007 and 2012 ......................... 342  
Chart 3.1 Frequency distribution  of MFN tariff  rates,  2013 .................................................... 349  
Chart 3.2 Distribution of the MFN tariff by ISIC sector, 2013 ................................................ 351  
 
TABLES 
 
Table 1.1 Selected macroeco nomic indicato rs, 2007-13  ....................................................... 337  
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2007-13 ........................................................................... 339  
Table 2.1 Selected notifications to the WTO, 2007-13 .......................................................... 346  
Table 3.1 Tax revenue by main source s, 2007- 12 ............................................................... 348  
Table 3.2 Structure of MFN Tariff, 2006 and 2013 ............................................................... 348  
Table 3.3 Summary analysis  of MFN ta riff, 2013 ................................................................. 350  
Table 3.4 State participation in the economy, 2007 and 2013 ............................................... 358  
Table 3.5 IPRs granted by St. Vinc ent and the Grenad ines, 2007- 13 ..................................... 360  
Table 3.6 National IP R legislatio n, 2013 ............................................................................ 360  
Table 4.1 Telecom market evolution, 2008-13 .................................................................... 364  
BOXES 
 Box 3.1 Import licensing requirements .............................................................................. 353
 
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  APPENDIX TABLES 
 Table A1.1 Merchandise exports and re-e xports by SITC se ction, 2006 -12 ............................. 370
 
Table A1.2 Merchandise imports by SITC section, 2006-12 ................................................... 371  
Table A1.3 Merchandise exports and re-e xports by trading partner, 2006-12 .......................... 372  
Table A1.4 Merchandise imports by trading part ner, 2008- 12 ............................................... 373  WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
1.1  Main Macroeconomic Developments 1.1.1  Real economy 
1.1.  The economy of St. Vincent and the Grenadin es is dominated by the services sector, which 
accounted for about 64% of GDP throughout the review period (Table 1.1). The main service activities are real estate, wholesale and retail tr ade, transportation, services provided by the 
Government, financial intermediation, and education. The undeveloped hospitality infrastructure 
and the very limited air access have hitherto rest ricted the development of tourism. However, the 
subsector has the potential to become the economy's central pillar and its GDP contribution could increase rapidly after the forthcoming inauguration of a large-capacity international airport 
(section 4.3.3).  
Table 1.1 Selected macroeconomic indicators, 2007-13 
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013a 
Real sector   
Nominal GDP (market prices, EC$ million) 1,847 1,878 1,822 1,840 1,828 1,875 1,945
Real GDP (2006 prices, EC$ million) 1,456 1,449 1,419 1,387 1,391 1,412 1,444
GDP per capita (EC$) 18,46
3 18,950 18,172 18,141 18,229 18,60
9 ..
Real GDP growth (%) 3.0 -0.5 -2.0 -2.3 0.3 1.5 2.3
GDP components (%)
Total consumption 100.2 102.3 104.9 105.0 104.5 106.8 103.0
 Government final consumption 15.7 16.9 17.3 15.5 17.2 17.9 17.9
 Private final consumption 84.4 85.4 87.7 89.5 87.3 88.8 85.1
Gross capital formation 27.6 29.4 24.1 25.2 24.1 23.6 26.7
 Transportation 1.6 2.4 1.4 1.5 1.1 1.4 1.6
 Other machinery and equipment 5.8 8.6 5.1 7.0 6.4 6.4 7.2
 Construction 20.3 18.5 17.6 16.7 16.6 15.9 17.9
Goods and services -27.8 -31.7 -29.0 -30.2 -28.6 -30.5 -29.7
 Exports of goods and services 31.0 30.2 28.5 26.9 27.0 27.1 27.0
 Exports of goods 7.5 8.2 7.9 6.6 6.4 6.9 6.9
 Exports of services 23.5 22.0 20.6 20.3 20.6 20.2 20.1
 Imports of goods and services 58.8 61.9 57.5 57.1 55.6 57.5 56.7
 Imports of goods 42.1 47.3 43.5 43.7 43.2 45.4 44.4
 Imports of services 16.7 14.7 14.0 13.4 12.5 12.2 12.4
Gross national saving -0.4 -3 .7 -5.2 -5.4 -5.3  -4.2 -0.1
Foreign saving 28.0 33.1 29.2 30.6 29.4 27.8 26.8
GDP by economic activity (%)
Agriculture, livestock and forestry 5.0 5.3 5.5 5.7 6.0 5.8 5.8
 Crops 3.9 4.2 4.3 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.8
 Bananas 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0
  Other Crops 3.2 3.7 3.9 4.4 4.8 4.7 4.7
 Livestoc k 1.0 1.1 1.1 0.9 1.1 1.0 1.0
 Forestry 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0
Fishing 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3
Mining & quarrying   0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1
Manufacturing    4.7 4.1 4.5 4.8 4.7 4.3 4.2
Electricity & wate r   3.7 3.3 3.5 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.9
Construction    9.2 8.4 8.0 7.6 7.5 7.2 8.1
Wholesale & retail trade 12.7 13.6 12.4 12.1 12.0 12.2 12.4
Hotels & restaurants  3.0 2.7 2.0 1.7 2.0 2.0 1.9
 Hotels 2.4 2.1 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3
 Restaurants  0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6
Transport, storage and communications 12.8 12.5 12.2 11.8 11.8 11.7 11.5
 Transport and storage 8.3 8.2 8.2 8.2 8.0 7.8 7.6
 Communications 4.4 4.3 3.9 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.9
Financial Intermediation 6.6 6.4 6.1 6.2 5.2 5.6 5.6
Real estate, renting and business activities 12.6 12.5 12.7 12.8 13.3 13.0 12.7
Public administration, defence & compulsory 
social security 6.4 7.0 7.9 9.2 9.7 10.0 9.9
Education 4.9 3.8 4.6 4.7 5.0 5.2 5.1
Health and social wor k 2.3 2.4 2.4 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.7
Other community, social & personal services 1.9 2.1 2.2 1.9 1.8 1.9 1.9
Activities of private households as employers 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3
Less: FISIM 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1
Plus: Product taxes 14.6 16.4 16.3 15.5 14.9 14.9 14.8
Less: Subsidies on products 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Consumer Price Index (2008=100, % change, 
period average) 7.0 10.1 0.5 0.8 3.2 2.6 ..WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013a 
General Government financeb (% of GDP at market prices) 
Current revenue 23.5 26.1 25.6 26.3 25.3 25.2 22.8
Current expenditure 20.5 22.9 25.8 25.7 27.1 26.1 24.0
Current account balance 3.0 3.1 -0.2 0.6 -1.8 -0.9 -1.2
Primary balance 0.0 1.9 1.1 0.0 -0.2 0.3 -0.7
Overall fiscal balance (after grants) -2.5 -0.6 -1.7 -2.9 -2.7 -2.1 -2.9
Total public debt 53.7 57.1 63.5 65.5 68.2 72.1 ..
Public sector external debt (end of period) 27.7 30.1 31.9 40.8 42.5 39.7 ..
Money and interest ratesc   
Money supply, M1 (EC$ million, end of period) 398 386 359 345 331 361 388
Broad money, M2 (EC$ million, end of period) 1,063 1,083 1,086 1,114 1,110 1,184 1,282
Prime lending rate (%, end of period) 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
 
.. Not available. a Projections. b For the year 2013, data cover the period January-June. c For the year 2013, data cover the period January-September.  Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Annual Economic and Financial Review  (2011) and (2012); National 
Account Statistics 2011; ECCB on line statistics. Viewed at: http://www.eccb-centralbank.org/ 
Statistics/index.asp ; and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Statistical Office, Central Planning 
Division, Ministry of Finance & Plan ning, online information. Viewed at: http://www.stats.gov.vc/Link 
Click.aspx?fileticket=I25WnV1ycDY%3d&tabid=103&mid=504 . 
1.2.  Construction maintained a GDP share of approximately 8% during the review period, on 
account of continued dynamism in public spending on infrastructure, and private investments in 
accommodation facilities. The Government's ambitious plans, including further airport and seaport rationalization, are likely to sustain that momentum. Despite the adverse impact of several natural 
disasters, agriculture continued to account for some 6% of GDP in 2013, largely due to continued 
output diversification. The manufacturing sector remains relatively small, with a GDP contribution of less than 5%. Both agriculture and manufacturing continue to depend heavily on fiscal 
incentives in order to cope with the disadvan tages posed by weak domestic demand, difficult 
access to credit, and high energy, transport, and telecommunications costs. 
1.3.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains a net food importer; its agricultural trade deficit 
widened during the review period. In addition, the country's energy matrix continues to be 
dominated by imported fossil fuels; diesel imports, supplied mainly under a favourable long-term 
credit arrangement with Venezuela, account for some 80% of all domestically generated electricity.
1 The vulnerability of the economy is furthe r exacerbated by its heavy dependence on 
external financing, by way of foreign direct  investment, grants, loans, and remittances.  
1.4.  Several unfavourable events, including a seri es of natural disasters, the global economic 
crisis and the collapse of major insurance companies in the sub-region (Common Report), severely 
tested the resilience of the Vincentian economy during the review period.2 In these difficult 
circumstances, real GDP contracted during 2008 -10, but returned to an upward trajectory 
from 2011 (Table 1.1). The fiscal position deterior ated somewhat, but the overall fiscal deficit, 
after grants remained at annual levels of under 3% of GDP; the deficit before grants hovers 
around 6% of GDP. At end-September 2012, the total public debt of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines amounted to EC$1.31 billion (approx imately 69.9% of GDP), with the external 
component accounting for some 57% (EC$747.3 million).3  
1.1.2  Fiscal policy and structural reforms 
1.5.  The authorities have committed to post primary surpluses; a surplus was recorded in most 
years of the period under review, but deterioration was expected for 2013. The Government has 
tried to keep expenditure under control by rationalizing public sector purchases of goods and 
services, and improving the management of stat e-owned enterprises. By and large, recurrent 
                                               
1 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). 
2 At end 2012, the losses incurred from natural disasters, and liabilities exposure due to the demise of 
regional insurers were estimated at over EC$625 million or nearly a third of GDP. In December 2013, 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines again suffered torrential rains, causing massive flooding and huge landslides; 
their economic cost is yet to be assessed. 
3 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  budgetary outlays were reasonably restrained, except for expenditure on wages and pensions4; 
spending pressures were partially mitigated by a declining birth rate and higher net migration overseas. 
1.6.  The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines has continued to pursue creative funding 
options for its infrastructure investments, including through grants, concessionary loans, and 
public-private sector partnerships, so as not to place a serious burden on the Treasury. The authorities also persevered in their commitment to the Educational Revolution launched in 2001; 
some 20% of the total recurrent budget and 15% of total capital spending, annually, were 
allocated to education.  
1.7.  During the review period, the authorities increased the rates of excise tax on most goods 
subject to it, as well as various administrative fees; plans were also announced to gradually 
replace specific excise tax rates by ad valorem  rates.
5 In addition, the property tax assessment 
base was reformed through a transition from a rental-value to a market-value system as from January 2013. According to Government estimates,  this reform would broaden coverage by some 
10,000 taxpayers, resulting in additional annual revenue of EC$3.2 million. Efforts to improve 
revenue collection brought about the implementation of an electronic filing system at Inland Revenue and a migration to ASYCUDA World at Customs (section 3.1.1). Nevertheless, the 
authorities acknowledge residual weaknesses in tax administration, notably in risk management 
and audit techniques.
6 
1.8.  The deteriorating financial sustainability of the two public pension schemes, National 
Insurance Services and the Public Service Pensio n System, prompted the Government to announce 
a series of parametric reforms to be implemented gradually from January 2014.7 The feasibility of 
merging the two schemes was also being studied. 
1.1.3  Balance of payments, monetary and exchange rate policy 
1.9.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines applies th e common monetary and exchange policies of the 
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (Common Report). During 2007-12, inflation fluctuated between a low of 0.5% and a pe ak of 10.1% (Table 1.1), but the average annual rate was 
moderate (4%). By and large, inflationary pressu res mirrored the trends in international food and 
fuel prices. 
1.10.  The current account of the balance of payments remained in deficit throughout 2007-13. 
The goods and income components continued to post structural deficits that could not be offset by 
the surpluses on services and current transfer s (Table 1.2). The overall deficit was largely 
attributable to the merchandise trade balance; St. Vincent and the Grenadines continued to import merchandise worth six to seven times the annual value of its goods exports. The current account 
deficits have been financed mainly by foreign direct investment and long-term loans.  
Table 1.2 Balance of payments, 2007-13 
(EC$ million and %)
a 
 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013b
Current account -518 -622 -533 -562 -537 -521 -568 
 Goods and services -513 -596 -528 -556 -523 -577 -623 
 Goods -639 -733 -649 -682 -672 -722 -756 
  Merchandise -648 -746 -657 -692 -685 -734 -769 
  Exports 129 141 135 111 104 115 130 
  Imports 776 886 793 803 788 849 898 
  Goods procured in ports by carriers 9 12 8 10 13 12 12 
 Services 126 137 121 126 149 144 133 
  Transportation -90 -109 -101 -94 -93 -105 -109 
  Travel 243 212 197 193 212 217 211 
                                               
4 Public servants were accorded salary increase s of 4% in 2009, 5% in 2010, and 1.5% effective 
January 2011. 
5 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012). 
6 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012). 
7 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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   2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013b
  Insurance services -21 -22 -19 -19 -18 -21 -22 
  Other business services 18 61 57 57 54 62 63 
  Government services -24 -4 -14 -10 -6 -9 -9 
 Income -59 -62 -35 -33 -35 -10 -10 
 Compensation of employees 16 11 19 17 16 20 20 
 Investment income -75 -73 -54 -50 -51 -30 -30 
 Current transfers 54 36 31 27 21 67 65 
 General Government 23 -1 0 -2 -6 33 33 
 Other sectors 32 36 31 29 27 34 32 
Capital and financial account 514 571 550 617 479 575 602 
 Capital account 199 132 146 148 104 92 35 
 Capital transfers 199 132 146 148 104 92 35 
  General Government 192 125 140 142 101 88 31 
  Other sectors 7 7 6 6 4 4 4 
 Financial account 315 439 404 469 375 483 568 
  Direct investment 322 430 298 262 231 312 342 
  Portfolio investment -9 -8 49 -1 -9 15 40 
  Other investments 2 18 57 208 152 156 186 
  Public sector long term 31 15 25 141 32 -36 53 
  Commercial banks 98 -41 3 -17 19 42 -40 
  Other assets -54 -29 -31 38 78 107 124 
  Other liabilities -74 73 60 45 23 42 49 
Net errors and omissions -1 42 -5 14 -4 3 30
Overall balance -5 -9 13 68 -62 57 65
Financing 5 9 -13 -68 62 -57 -65
 Change in Governme nt foreign assets 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 Change in imputed reserves -22 9 21 -96 62 -57 -65 
Memorandum        
Current account balance (% of GDP) -28.0 -33.1 -29.3 -30.6 -28.8 -27.1 -29.2 
Outstanding external public debt (% of 
GDP) 27.7 30.1 31.9 40.8 42.5 39.7 .. 
Debt service ratio (% of exports of goods 
and services) -19.3 -20.3 -25.6 -24.1 -23.7 -22.6 .. 
 
.. Not available.  a EC$2.7 = US$1. 
b Provisional. 
 Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Annual Economic and Financial Review  (2011) and (2012); and 
ECCB online statistics. Viewed at: http://www.eccb-centralbank.org/Statistics/index.asp . 
1.2  Trade and investment patterns 
1.11.  The total merchandise trade of St. Vincen t and the Grenadines grew by 6.7% between 2007 
and 2012, but with considerable year-on-year fluctuations due to swings in international food and 
petroleum prices. The value of re-exports declined  steadily during that period, registering an 
almost three-fold contraction both in nominal terms and as a percentage of domestic exports (Table A1.1). Food and live animals were the main export category throughout 2007-12; the share of machinery and transport equipment in total ex ports declined steeply, whereas the shares of 
manufactured goods, and beverages and tobacco grew (Chart 1.1). Imports remained dominated 
by foodstuffs, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, and other manufactured goods. The 
composition of imports shifted somewhat, with the shares of foodstuffs and fuels expanding and 
those of machinery and manufactures contracting (Table A1.2). 
1.12.  The exports of St. Vincent and the Grenadin es continue to have a significant sub-regional 
component, with St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda accounting 
for some 68% of total exports in 2012. The share of total exports destined to the United Kingdom 
declined from 19.7% in 2007 to 1.8% in 2012, largely on account of developments affecting trade in bananas (Chart 1.2 and Table A1.3). The United States remained the principal origin of goods WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  imported into St. Vincent and the Grenadines, foll owed by Trinidad and Tobago, and the European 
Union (Table A1.4). 
Chart 1.1 Merchandise trade by SITC section, 2007 and 2012 
2007 2012
(a)    Exports and re-exports
Total: US$48 million
(b)    Im ports 
Total: US$327 million Total: US$357 millionTotal: US$43 millionBeverages, 
tobacco
4.0%Misc.manuf. 
articles
3.8%
Machinery & 
transport equip.
20.4%
Food & live 
animals
65.1%
Food & live 
animals
18.5%Food & live 
animals
62.0%Manufactured 
goods
8.7%Other
0.6%Other
0.7%
Other
0.4%Other
0.5%Beverages, 
tobacco
10.3%Crude materials
2.6%Manufactured 
goods
11.7%Machinery & 
transport equip.
5.9%Misc.manuf. 
articles
3.8%
Beverages, 
tobacco
3.7%Beverages, 
tobacco
2.8%Food & live 
animals
23.0%
Crude materials
2.8%
Crude 
materials
2.2% Mineral fuels
16.1%
Mineral fuels
21.0% Chemicals
7.6% Chemicals
7.5%Manufactured 
goods
19.1%Manufactured 
goods
16.4%Machinery 
& transport 
equip.
21.7%Machinery & 
transport equip.
16.4%Misc.manuf. 
articles
11.0%Misc.manuf. 
articles
9.4%Crude materials
0.5%
 
 
Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. 
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Chart 1.2 Merchandise trade, by main origin and destination, 2007 and 2012 
2007 2012
(a)    Ex ports and re-ex ports
Total: US$48 million
(b)    Im ports 
Total: US$327 million Total: US$357 millionDominica
4.0%
Total: US$43 millionAntigua & 
Barbuda
8.0%United 
States
4.2%
St Lucia
22.5%
Venezuela
2.2%Asia
0.2%United States
3.4%
Trinidad & 
Tobago
14.7%Other 
America
16.7%Others
0.6%
United States
35.6%
Other 
America
9.9%Europe
14.8%Japan
3.0%China
3.4%Other Asia
2.8% Others
0.8%
United States
35.6%
Venezuela
5.6%Other America
11.3%Europe
9.3%Japan
1.3%China
3.3%Other Asia
2.3%Europe
2.0%
Europe
20.2%Asia
1.6%
Other 
America
16.0%
Antigua & Barbuda
12.4% Trinidad & 
Tobago
15.7%St Lucia
25.6%
Dominica
7.6%
Trinidad & Tobago
23.6% Trinidad & Tobago
26.8%Barbados
3.9%Barbados
2.2%Others
0.2%Barbados
9.6%Others
0.6%
Barbados
14.3%
Antigua & Barbuda
2.3%
 
 
Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Ba nk, and UNSD Comtrade database. 
1.13.  According to the authorities, the United States and the European Union are the main 
sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) into St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Regional investors, 
notably from St. Lucia and Barbados, have been expanding their operations in banking and 
wholesale and retail trade. FDI has been primarily channelled into tourism, agriculture, WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  telecommunications, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, and education. FDI inflows were 
estimated at US$135 million in 2011, up from US$103 million in 2010.8 
1.3  Outlook 1.14.  The IMF expects real GDP to grow at an  annual rate of 3% over the medium term and 
inflation to remain in the range of 2–2.5%.
9 The corresponding growth rate projection by the 
authorities is slightly more optimistic, at least at 4% per year; the authorities also expect to be able to contain the Central Government fiscal deficit within 3-4% of GDP.
10 Actual macroeconomic 
performance would depend, to a large extent, on de velopments in international oil and food prices, 
as well as on the operationalization of the new international airport, and the timely implementation of structural reforms and seaport rationalization projects. 
                                               
8 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). 
9 IMF (2011). 
10 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  2  TRADE POLICY REGIME: FRAMEWORK AND OBJECTIVES 
2.1  General Constitutional and Legal Framework 2.1.  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a pa rliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of 
Nations. The British monarch, represented locally by a Governor General, is the Head of State. The 
executive power, including authority to conclude and sign international treaties and agreements, is 
exercised by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. There is no local government in St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines; all six parishes are administered by the central government. 
2.2.  Legislative power is vested in the Parliament comprising 15 elected members of the House of 
Assembly and six senators appointed by the Governor General; four senators are nominated by the Prime Minister and two by the leader of the oppo sition. The parliamentary term of office is five 
years, although the Prime Minister may call elections at any time. Elections were last held 
in December 2010. 
2.3.  The law-making process begins with the drafti ng of a bill by the Attorney General's office, at 
the request of a Ministry; draf t bills are published in the Government Gazette . Upon its 
introduction in Parliament by the relevant Minister, a draft bill needs to be seconded by a member 
of the House of Assembly and undergo two readings before being passed in a majority vote at its third (final) reading. Occasionally, Parliament may appoint a Select Committee to review a bill and 
make recommendations; comments from the public  may be invited at that stage. Following 
parliamentary approval, the bill becomes an Ac t, which must receive the Governor General's 
assent and be published in the Government Gazette  before it enters into force. 
2.4.  The St. Vincent and the Grenadines legal sy stem is based on English common law, with the 
following hierarchal order: magistrates' courts (the lowest judicial level); the Supreme Court of 
Judicature or the High Court; the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; and the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, as th e court of final appeal. The Caribbean Court of 
Justice, established by CARICOM, has jurisdicti on over matters pertaining to the Treaty of 
Chaguaramas. International agreements that have not been enacted into domestic law cannot be invoked or relied upon by private parties in national courts. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has 
ratified the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 
(the New York Convention). 
2.2  Trade Policy Formulation and Implementation 2.5.  Export-driven sustainable growth remains th e main trade policy objective of St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines. Trade policy formulation remains within the remit of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Foreign Trade, Commerce and Information Technology, which has primary responsibility for WTO affairs and trade-related negotiations. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning 
defines tariff, fiscal, and investment policies; its Department of Customs and Excise administers 
the Customs Act. Trade policy is also influenced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries, the Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of 
Health, Wellness and the Environment, and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of 
Standards. Consultations with the private sector continue to take place on an ad hoc  basis; 
according to the authorities, such consultations ar e held whenever an issue is deemed to concern 
the private sector. 
2.6.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to collaborate actively with other OECS and 
CARICOM states in the formulation of trade and related policies, and their implementation. Such regional institutions and mechanisms provide supp ort to its limited human and technical resources. 
In general, regional-level synergies are also sought in conducting international trade negotiations. 
2.3  Foreign Investment Regime 2.7.  No major changes have taken place in the legal and institutional framework governing foreign 
investment into St. Vincent and the Grenadines since its last Review.
11 By and large, overseas 
                                               
11 WTO document WT/TPR/S/190/VCT/Rev.1, 21 April 2008. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 345 - 
 
  investment inflows are unrestricted and foreign investors receive national treatment, except for 
transactions involving the holding of land.  
2.8.  Non-OECS/CARICOM nationals and alien-controlled companies12 must obtain a licence to hold 
land and land-linked mortgages. Applications for a landholding licence must be submitted through 
a local lawyer to the Prime Minister's office.13 Landholding licences are granted for a specific 
property and do not require renewal or payment of annual fees. Approved licences are to be 
registered at the Land Registry for a fee that is  linked to the transaction value of the plot being 
acquired.14 The purchaser and the vendor must each pay 5% stamp duty on the value of the 
property being transferred. 
2.9.  Foreign nationals need a work permit in order to conduct business or be gainfully employed 
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Work permits ar e granted by the Prime Minister's Office and are 
valid for one year (renewable). The annual ap plicable fee is EC$720 for CARICOM nationals 
and EC$1,800 for all other nationalities.15 
2.10.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not apply any restrictions on the repatriation of capital. 
Foreign investors' profits remain subject to corporate tax; the applicable rate was set at 32.5% 
in 2009. Lower corporate tax rates remain in place for manufacturing enterprises registered under the Companies Act: 30% on income from sales to the domestic and OECS markets; 25% on 
income from exports to non-OECS markets; and 15% on income from exports to other markets. 
2.11.  Investment incentives are offered through a range of tax concessions (section 3.3.1); there 
are no free zones in operation. Offshore entities incorporated under the International Business Companies Act are exempt from taxes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
16 These entities may 
irrevocably opt to pay income tax at a rate of 1% in order to benefit from the CARICOM Double 
Taxation Agreement.  
2.12.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not entered into new double taxation treaties or 
investment  protection agreements during the review period. Since 2009, it has concluded 22 tax 
information exchange agreements (TIEAs),  13 of which have entered into force.17  
2.4  International Relations 
2.4.1  World Trade Organization 
2.13.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an origin al Member of the WTO. It made sector-specific 
commitments in five of the 12 areas18 under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), 
but did not participate in the extended negotiations on telecommunications or on financial 
services. It has presented an initial offer in the DDA negotiations on services, but has not made a 
revised offer.  
                                               
12 A company is considered alien-controlled if: at least half of its directors are unlicensed 
non-OECS/CARICOM nationals; at least half of its votes are exercisable by unlicensed non-OECS/CARICOM 
nationals; at least half of its shares are held by unlic ensed non-OECS/CARICOM nationals; or at least half of 
the nominal value of its outstanding debentures is held by unlicensed non-OECS/CARICOM nationals. 
13 A non-refundable fee of EC$2,500 (approximately US$926) is payable to the Treasury upon filing the 
application; the associated legal representation co sts (local lawyers) generally amount to US$1,500.  
14 The registration fee is calculated as follows: EC$10,000 for plots valued up to EC$100,000; 
EC$10,000 plus 6% of the value in excess of EC$100,000 for plots in the EC$100,001 - EC$3 million range; and EC$184,000 plus 4% of the value in excess of EC$3 million for plots valued above EC$3 million.  
15 Consulate of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in Northern Ireland online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.svgconsulate.co.uk/forms/SVG-Work-Permit-Requirements.pdf . 
16 International Business Companies Act, as amended by Act No. 34 of 31 December 2007. 
17 TIEAs are in force with: Aruba, Austria, Canada , Curaçao, Denmark, Finl and, France, Ireland, 
Netherlands, St. Martin, Norway, Sweden, and the Unit ed Kingdom. TIEAs have also been signed with: 
Australia, Belgium, Faroe Islands, Germany, Green land, Iceland, Liechtenst ein, and New Zealand. 
18 Commitments were in: financial serv ices (reinsurance); tourism and travel related services (hotel and 
resort development); transport services (maritime transport services, and services auxiliary to all modes of 
transport); health-related and social  services (hospital serv ices); and recreational, cultural and sporting 
services (entertainment and sporting services). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  2.14.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines was not involved in any dispute settlement cases during the 
review period. It has made a few notifications to the WTO since 2007 (Table 2.1), in areas such as agriculture, customs valuation, technical barriers to  trade, intellectual property, and subsidies. No 
notifications have been made with respect to SPS measures or anti-dumping. 
Table 2.1 Selected notifi cations to the WTO, 2007-13 
WTO Agreement & description Document symbol 
Agriculture 
Export subsidies, 1995-2011; domestic support, 1995–2011 G/AG/N/VCT/1 (27 June 2011); G/AG/N/VCT/4 
(30 July 2013); G/AG/N/VCT/2 (9 January 2012); G/AG/N/VCT/3 (30 July 2013) 
Customs Valuation 
Checklist of issues on implementation; laws 
and regulations G/VAL/N/2/VCT/1 (29 January 2009); G/VAL/N/1/VCT/1 
(3 April 2009) 
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Checklist of issues on enforcement; laws and regulations IP/N/6/VCT/1 (6 June 2011); IP/N/1/VCT/1/Rev.1 
(16 December 2009); IP/N/1/VCT/C/1, IP/N/1/VCT/D/1, IP/N/1/VCT/T/1 and IP/N/1/VCT/T/2 (30 November 2009); IP/N/1/VCT/1 (24 November 2009) 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 
Subsidy notification and extension of transition 
period for the eliminatio n of export subsidies  G/SCM/N/253/VCT and G/SCM/N/260/VCT 
(7 October 2013); G/SCM/N/243/VCT (9 October 2012); 
G/SCM/N/226/VCT (21 September 2011); 
G/SCM/N/211/VCT (8 July 2010); G/SCM/N/186/VCT 
(21 June 2010); G/SCM/N/192/VCT (11 August 2009); 
G/SCM/N/163/VCT (16 November 2007); 
G/SCM/N/155/VCT and G/SCM/N/160/VCT 
(2 November 2007) 
Technical Barriers to Trade 
Brown (raw) sugar; carbonated beverages; fruit and vegetable juices and drinks, and fruit nectars; prepackaged f oods; packaged water; 
white sugar; evaporated milk; wheat flour; milk powders and cream powders; spices and sauces; sweetened condensed milks; wet seasoning  G/TBT/N/VCT/7, G/TBT/N/ VCT/8, G/TBT/N/VCT/9, 
G/TBT/N/VCT/10, G/TBT/N/VC T/11, G/TBT/N/VCT/12, and 
G/TBT/N/VCT/13 (2 July 2010); G/TBT/N/VCT/1, G/TBT/N/VCT/2, G/TBT/N/ VCT/3, G/TBT/N/VCT/4, 
G/TBT/N/VCT/5, and G/TBT/N/VCT/6 (28 January 2009) 
 Source: WTO Secretariat. 
2.4.2  Preferential agreements and arrangements 
2.15.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a Member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States 
(OECS) since its creation in 1981. The Revised Tr eaty of Basseterre (RTB) Establishing the OECS 
Economic Union was signed on 18 June 2010 in St. Lucia. The RTB created a single financial and 
economic space within which goods, people and capital move freely, monetary and fiscal policies 
are harmonized (Common Report). The Revised Trea ty of Basseterre was ratified by St. Vincent 
and the Grenadines on 20 January 2011; it came into force the day after, when five of six 
Members States had completed ratification. 
2.16.  As a founding member of both CARICOM and the OECS, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is a 
party to the free-trade agreements signed by thes e regional blocks (Common Report). St. Vincent 
and the Grenadines is also a member of the A ssociation of Caribbean States (ACS). Products 
originating in St. Vincent and the Grenadines be nefit from preferential access to the U.S. and 
Canadian markets under CBI and CARIBCAN; they are also eligible for the GSP schemes of Australia, Canada, the European Communities, Japa n, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland, and the 
United States.  
2.17.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as part of CARIFORUM (a negotiating partnership involving 
CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the 
EU in 2008 (Common Report). The EPA, although in force, is still in the process of full 
implementation by St. Vincent and the Grenadin es and other OECS countries, requiring a number 
of legal and institutional changes. As at March 2014, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had administratively implemented and legislatively completed the tariff reductions corresponding to 
2011. Further reductions will require new administrative and legislative measures. 
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  3.1.1  Procedures 3.1.  Commercial imports are cleared on the basis of a single administrative document (import 
declaration); suppliers' invoices; and a bill of ladi ng or airway bill. Imports may be declared as 
uninsured, but the Customs and Excise Department will augment the cost of freight and any other costs incurred by the importer by 1% to arrive at  the c.i.f. value. Where applicable, the supporting 
documentation must also include: an import licence or permit; a certificate of origin; and a 
veterinary or health certificate. Only non-commercial imports are eligible for simplified declaration and clearance procedures. 
3.2.  Importers must register with the Customs and Excise Department to obtain an importer 
number and access the automated customs clearance system. St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
implemented ASYCUDA ++ in October 2007; since th en all importers are required to submit 
declarations electronically. According to the authorities, the submission of supporting documents is 
not fully paperless, as hard copies must be submitted for scanning and uploading into the system. 
Migration to the internet-based version, ASYCUDA World, was launched in October 2013 with a view to achieving automation of all customs-related processes and improving user accessibility.  
3.3.  Imports may be released on provision of adequate security for the settlement of payable 
duties; the security should be no less than 1.5 times the estimated duty obligation. Importers and 
customs brokers may set up a pre-payment account with Customs to expedite the settlement of liabilities and refunds; funds deposited in the account may also be used as security for the release 
of goods pending proper processing of the custom s declaration. There are no formal mechanisms 
for pre-arrival processing of import-related documentation or the delivery of advance rulings. VAT-registered importers with an importation history of at least three years may qualify for 
expedited customs clearance under a Gold Card programme, which became operational in 
December 2013: Gold Card holders' consignments will not be subjected to  systematic physical 
import inspections. Other prerequisites for participation in the programme include: membership of 
a reputable trade association, such as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Chamber of Industry 
and Commerce; and a favourable business practice review by the Customs and Excise Department.  
3.4.  Importers are not formally required to enga ge the services of customs brokers. According to 
the authorities, decisions on the licensing of cust oms brokers are made on a case-by-case basis by 
the Comptroller of Customs, taking into a ccount the applicant's general background and 
experience. Most successful applicants are nation als of St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a 
certain level of relevant experience, but nationals of other OECS/CARICOM countries are also 
eligible. The authorities have drafted a bill aimed at establishing a formal licensing and regulatory framework for customs brokers; the proposal includes specific provisions governing brokerage 
fees, which are currently unregulated. 
3.5.  Import declarations may be assigned into one of four lanes: green (immediate release), blue 
(post-clearance check), yellow (documentary check) and red (documentary and physical checks). According to the authorities, the green lane is primarily used for non-commercial imports, while 
most commercial imports are channelled into either the yellow or the red lane. In principle, the 
relevant selectivity criteria are reviewed at least once a year. A 2012 evaluation using the Customs Assessment Trade Toolkit (CATT) found that the ri sk management system was weak and physical 
inspections remained excessive; deficiencies were also flagged in cargo control, standard 
operational rules, internal and external feedback mechanisms, and information sharing with other government agencies (Inland Revenue, Immigration, Health and Agriculture).
19  
                                               
19 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3.6.  No time-release studies have been carried out at Customs; according to the authorities, 
imports are typically cleared within 48 hours. The 2013 World Bank Doing Business survey estimates the average time for customs clearance and technical control at 2 days.
20  
3.1.2  Tariffs 
3.7.  Import duties remain an important source  of revenue in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 
representing about 10% of current revenue throughout the review period (Table 3.1). The VAT, customs service charge, and excise duties levied on imports are also important revenue sources. 
Overall, taxes on international trade accounted  for more than a third of current revenue 
during 2007-12. 
Table 3.1 Tax revenue by main sources, 2007-12 
(EC$ million and %) 
 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Current revenue 433.4 489.5 466.5 490.0 462.5 471.4 
 (%) 
Taxes on income and profits 23.9 22.6 23.7 22.2 24.7 26.0 
Taxes on property  0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 
Taxes on domestic transactions 23.6 24.4 22.5 21.6 21.4 22.6 
 VAT (domestic) 7.3 13.8 13.9 12.8 13.2 13.8 
 Excise duties (domestic) 3.2 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 
Taxes on international trade 38.7 38.5 41.2 36.4 37.3 36.7 
 Import duties 10.1 9.3 9.9 9.8 10.2 10.1 
 Customs service charge (imports) 6.6 6.3 6.8 6.0 6.6 6.4 
 VAT (imports) 13.0 17.6 17.2 15.1 15.4 14.6 
 Excise duties (imports) 0.0 4.2 6.3 4.6 4.4 4.8 
 Vehicle surcharge 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.5 0.5 
Licenses, permits, fees, and fines 10.5 9.3 8.8 9.6 8.9 9.3 
Other Revenue 2.8 4.8 3.2 9.6 7.1 4.9 
 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
3.8.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines applies the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) with 
some COTED-approved exceptions (Common Report). Its 2013 applied MFN customs tariff is based 
on the 2007 version of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS), and comprises 6,333 lines at the 13-digit level. Some 99.8%  of all tariff lines, including duty-free lines, 
have ad valorem  rates (Table 3.2); the remaining 0.2% (13 lines) carry specific rates. The 
non-ad valorem  duties apply to imports of alcoholic beverages, such as wine (HS 2204), vermouth 
(HS 2205), and distilled spirits (HS 2208). There ar e no seasonal tariffs, or tariff quotas. 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines grants at least MFN treatment to all its trading partners.  
Table 3.2 Structure of MFN Tariff, 2006 and 2013 
 2006 2013 
Total number of tariff lines 6,274 6,333 
Non-ad valorem  tariffs (% of all tariff lines) 0.8 0.2 
Non-ad valorem  with no AVEs (% of all tariff lines) 0.8 0.2 
Duty-free tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 7.2 8.8 
Dutiable lines tariff average rate (%) 11.7 12.0 
Simple average tariff (%) 10.9 10.9 
 WTO agriculture 18.0 17.6 
 WTO non-agriculture (including petroleum) 9.6 9.6 
 Agriculture, hunting, forestry  and fishing (ISIC 1) 24.6 22.3 
 Mining and quarrying (ISIC 2) 6.9 6.2 
 Manufacturing (ISIC 3) 10.1 10.2 
 First stage of processing 18.4 17.6 
 Semi-processed products 5.5 5.6 
 Fully processed products 12.0 12.2 
Domestic tariff "peaks" (% of all tariff lines)a 6.2 6.6 
International tariff "peaks" (% of all tariff lines)b 27.3 27.7 
                                               
20 World Bank online information. Viewed at: http://www.doingbusiness.o rg/data/exploreeconomies/  st-
vincent-and-the-grenadines #trading-across-borders . WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 349 - 
 
   2006 2013 
Overall standard deviation 10.1 10.3 
Bound tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 99.7 99.7 
 
a Domestic tariff peaks are defined as those exc eeding three times the overall average applied rate. 
b International tariff peaks are defined as those exceeding 15%. 
 Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
3.9.  The computed average tariff rates for St. Vincent and the Grenadines are biased downwards, 
due to the lack of ad valorem  equivalents of non- ad valorem  duties and the exclusion of the 4% 
customs service charge (see below), which continues to boost the overall level of border protection. Subject to these limitations, the simple average applied MFN tariff remains at 10.9%. 
Some 8.8% of tariff lines are duty free (up from 7. 2% in 2006) and 7.7% of all lines carry rates of 
over 25% (Chart 3.1). Overall tariff dispersion remains unchanged, with ad valorem  rates ranging 
from zero to 40% (Table 3.3); some 53.8% of tari ff lines carry rates of 5% (one line has a 4% 
rate). Tariff protection remains most pronounced  in agriculture: the average applied rate on 
agricultural products (WTO definition) is 17.6% (down from 18% in 2006), whereas the corresponding average for non-agricultural products is at 9.6%. About one half of the tariff lines 
on agricultural products (ISIC definition) carry rates greater than 25% (Chart 3.2). 
3.10.  In aggregate, the tariff depicts mixed escalation: semi-processed products are subject to a 
lower average applied rate than fully processed products, whereas raw materials attract the highest average rate (Table 3.3). Although this ma inly reflects the higher protection accorded to 
agriculture, the high overall protection of raw materials may render some competitive inputs 
inaccessible, which tends to discourage investme nt in processing industries. Thus, the tariff 
structure may not be conducive to diversification of economic activity through value addition at the 
semi-processed stage. 
Chart 3.1 Frequency distribution of MFN tariff rates, 2013 
(8.8%)(53.8%)
(4.3%)(5.2%)(18.7%)
(1.3%)(7.7%)
(0.2%)
0102030405060708090100
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,000
D u t y  f r e e 5 1 0 1 52 02 5 > 2 5 S p e c i f i cNumber of tariff lines %Cumulative %
Number of lines (% of total)
 
 
Note: One line has a duty rate of 4%.  Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data pr ovided by the authorities of Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Table 3.3 Summary analysis of MFN tariff, 2013 
Description MFN 
Final bound 
average 
(%) No. of 
lines Average 
(%) Range 
(%) Coefficient 
of variation 
(CV) 
Total 6,333 10.9 0 - 40 0.9 66.1 
HS 01-24 1,134 19.8 0 – 40 0.8 118.1 
HS 25-97 5,199 9.0 0 – 35 0.8 55.0 
By WTO category      
WTO Agriculture 1,037 17.6 0 - 40 0.9 116.3 
 - Animals and products thereof 151 15.7 0 - 40 1.0 121.1 
 - Dairy products 33 5.5 0 - 20 1.0 100.0 
 - Fruit, vegetables and plants 306 23.3 0 - 40 0.7 117.8 
 - Coffee and tea 28 17.7 0 - 40 0.8 102.1 
 - Cereals and preparations 125 15.4 0 - 40 0.8 110.2 
 - Oil seeds, fats and oils and their products 95 15.7 0 - 40 1.1 125.9 
 - Sugars and confectionary 21 18.1 0 - 40 0.9 108.6 
 - Beverages, spirits, and tobacco 119 23.9 5 - 40 0.5 127.2 
 - Cotton 6 5.0 5 - 5 0.0 100.0 
 - Other agricultural products n.e.s. 153 9.6 0 - 40 1.3 106.8 
WTO Non-agriculture (including petroleum) 5,296 9.6 0 - 40 0.9 56.3 
 - WTO Non-agriculture (excluding petroleum) 5,270 9.6 0 - 40 0.9 56.2 
 - - Fish and fishery products 175 26.8 0 - 40 0.6 120.0 
 - - Minerals and metals 1,125 7.6 0 - 30 0.9 52.8 
 - - Chemicals and photographic supplies 1,006 6.9 0 - 30 0.8 52.5 
 - - Wood, pulp, paper and furniture 329 10.1 0 - 25 0.7 65.8 
 - - Textiles 638 7.7 0 - 30 0.7 52.4 
 - - Clothing 280 19.9 5 - 20 0.1 53.2 
 - - Leather, rubber, f ootwear and travel goods 179 10.2 0 - 25 0.7 51.4 
 - - Non-electric machinery 589 6.2 0 - 35 0.9 51.4 
 - - Electric machinery 276 10.5 0 - 35 0.7 54.5 
 - - Transport equipment 186 10.2 0 - 35 1.0 65.6 
 - - Non-agriculture articles, n.e.s. 487 13.4 0 - 35 0.7 56.4 
 - Petroleum 26 8.1 0 - 35 0.9 70.0 
By ISIC sectora      
Agriculture and fisheries 414 22.3 0 - 40 0.8 112.6 
Mining 107 6.2 0 - 25 0.8 52.1 
Manufacturing 5,811 10.2 0 - 40 0.9 63.1 
By HS section      
01 Live animals & prod. 342 20.5 0 - 40 0.9 116.7 
02 Vegetable products 381 21.0 0 - 40 0.8 117.9 
03 Fats & oils 53 23.8 5 - 40 0.7 146.9 
04 Prepared food etc. 358 17.4 0 - 40 0.6 115.7 
05 Minerals 187 6.4 0 - 35 0.7 54.5 
06 Chemical & prod. 937 6.8 0 - 30 0.8 54.9 
07 Plastics & rubber 244 7.6 0 - 25 0.9 51.8 
08 Hides & skins 80 10.5 5 - 20 0.7 56.4 
09 Wood & articles 133 10.8 0 - 20 0.5 53.6 
10 Pulp, paper etc. 172 8.4 0 - 25 0.8 55.0 
11 Textile & articles 905 11.1 0 - 20 0.7 54.1 
12 Footwear, headgear 60 16.1 0 - 20 0.4 50.0 
13 Articles of stone 185 10.1 0 - 25 0.7 52.0 
14 Precious stones, etc. 73 16.6 0 - 25 0.6 73.9 
15 Base metals & prod. 712 6.8 0 - 20 0.8 50.8 
16 Machinery 885 7.8 0 - 35 0.9 52.6 
17 Transport equipment 197 10.1 0 - 35 1.0 64.7 
18 Precision equipment 229 11.3 0 - 30 0.8 56.8 
19 Arms and ammunition 24 24.2 0 - 35 0.5 77.4 
20 Miscellaneous manufactures 167 15.0 0 - 20 0.4 75.3 
21 Works of art, etc. 9 20.0 20 - 20 0.0 50.0 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Description MFN 
Final bound 
average 
(%) No. of 
lines Average 
(%) Range 
(%) Coefficient 
of variation 
(CV) 
By stage of processing      
First stage of processing 800 17.6 0 - 40 1.0 96.6 
Semi-processed products 1,860 5.6 0 - 40 0.8 53.2 
Fully-processed products 3,673 12.1 0 - 40 0.8 65.9 
a ISIC (Rev.2) classification, excluding electricity (1 line). 
Source: WTO Secretariat calculations, based on data provided by the authorities of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
3.11.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has bound 99.7%  of its tariff lines. Tariffs on agricultural 
products are mostly bound at a ceiling rate of  100%, with some exceptions that range between 
107% and 250%. The predominant bound rate for tariffs on non-agricultural products is 50%, 
although there are over 200 exceptions and bound ra tes as high as 140% (certain motor vehicles). 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines left blank the colu mn "other duties and charges" in its schedule, 
which, in practice, is equivalent to having entered "zero". 
3.12.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines grants du ty-free access to goods originating from other 
CARICOM countries, in accordance with the relevant rules of origin. The authorities estimate that imports receiving preferential treatment accounted for EC$228.4 million in forgone tariff and tax 
revenue for the 2008-12 period. Customs duties and other taxes on imports may also be reduced 
or waived under a multitude of programmes, which accounted for some EC$469.1 million in forgone revenue during 2008-12; forgone tariff revenue represented approximately a third 
(EC$172 million). A number of tariff concessions target particular groups of economic operators, 
such as farmers, operators of school buses, and fishing industry stakeholders. Several investment, 
production, and export promotion programmes also contain customs duty relief provisions. The 
particular focus on inputs under certain schemes de facto  enhances tariff escalation, and thereby 
increases the effective protection of selected economic activities and companies.  
Chart 3.2 Distribution of the MFN tariff by ISIC sector, 2013 
Duty free4-510152025>2505001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,500
All products a
Manufactures a
Mining
AgricultureNumber of lines
1.28.853.8
4.35.28.055.4
4.5 5.5
3.7
1.286.0
3.7
0.920.323.2
5.61.72.91.3
0.20.020.318.7
50.5 0.04.87.7
 
 
a Totals do not add up to 100% because the 13 lines with specific duties are not included.  Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data provided by the authorities of Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3.1.3  Other charges affecting imports 
3.13.  A customs service charge (CSC), at the rate of 4% on the c.i.f. value of imports, remains in 
place; goods originating from other CARICOM countries are not exempt. Statutory exemptions for imports of non-food items have been granted to two companies that operate resorts (i.e. the 
Mustique Company and Canouan Development Company).  
3.14.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines introduced value-added tax (VAT) in May 2007, as a 
replacement of five different taxes.
21 VAT is charged at 15% on the supply of services and goods, 
including imports; a reduced rate of 10% applies to hotel and holiday accommodation. Some 
essential items, international financial services, and exports are zero-rated, and certain goods and services are exempted.
22 During the review period, exports of unprocessed agricultural products 
were transferred from the list of  VAT-exempt goods to that of zero-rated goods; a number of 
products were transferred from zero-rated to ex empt status, including cooking oils, salt, yeast, 
baking powder, shortening, sanitary napkins, baby diapers, toilet tissue, and undergarments. VAT on imports is levied on the c.i.f. value plus customs duties and all other duties and charges 
payable upon importation; imports benefiting from tariff concessions are assessed VAT only on 
their c.i.f. value.  
3.15.  Excise tax, instituted at the same time as the VAT, applies to aerated and alcoholic 
beverages, tobacco products, fuels, vehicles, used tyres, and incandescent bulbs.
23 Excise taxes 
are specific or ad valorem , depending on the good. In the latter case, the tax base for domestically 
manufactured goods is the sale price net of VAT, whereas imports are taxed on the sum of their 
c.i.f. value and any duties, taxes, and charges (other than VAT and excise tax) payable on 
importation.24 During the review period, St. Vincent an d the Grenadines increased the excise tax 
rates on a number of products, including alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, and vehicles.  
3.16.  A vehicle surcharge is levied on all imported motor vehicles older than four years. The 
surcharge ranges between EC$3,000 and EC$4,500, depending on the vehicle's seating capacity, 
engine capacity, fuel type, and purpose (transport of passengers or goods).25  
3.17.  Beverages imported in non-returnable bottles or cans are subject to a bottle deposit levy of 
EC$0.50 per bottle or can. The deposit is refundable to traders upon presentation of proof that the 
bottles or cans have been exported or destroyed.  
3.1.4  Customs valuation and rules of origin 3.18.  The WTO Customs Valuation Agreement has, in principle, been in effect in St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines since 2000. Notifications containing the relevant national legislation and responses 
to the checklist of issues were submitted to th e WTO in 2009; no subsequent notifications have 
been received.
26 The methods of valuation follow the or der prescribed in the Agreement. The 
authorities note that the transaction value is used for about 95% of imports. No minimum or 
reference prices are used for valuation purposes.  
3.19.  As from November 2009, invoices for imported motor vehicles, motorcycles and parts 
thereof27 must be approved by the Customs and Excise Department's valuation section prior to 
submission of the relevant customs declaration.28 The same valuation approval requirement also 
applies to invoices presented for imports of boats and boat engines; goods consigned from China, Curacao, Panama, and St. Martin; goods acquired at an auction or a close-out sale; and used or 
damaged goods bought for commercial purpose.
29 The importer may be asked to provide 
                                               
21 VAT registration with the Inla nd Revenue Department is compul sory for business es whose annual 
gross turnover reaches the threshold of EC$180,000. 
22 WTO document WT/TPR/S/190/VCT/Rev.1, 21 April 2008. 
23 WTO document WT/TPR/S/190/VCT/Rev.1, 21 April 2008. 
24 Excise Tax Act No. 16 of 2007, as amended by Act No. 1 of 2008 and Statutory Rules and Orders 
No. 41 of 2007, No. 63 of 2008, No. 2 of 2009, No. 18 of 2011, No. 2 of 2012, and No. 2 of 2013. 
25 Act No. 25 of 15 December 2008. 
26 WTO document G/VAL/W/232, 16 September 2013. 
27 Tariff headings 8701-8705, 8708, 8709, 8711, and 8714. 
28 Online information. Viewed at: http://asyweb.svgcustoms.net /asyvc/NoticeRead.jsp?id=663 . 
29 Customs and Excise Department online information. Viewed at: http://www.customs.gov.vc/ 
downloads/valuation-approval-guide.pdf . WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  additional evidence, such as records of payment,  with a view to ascertaining that the invoice 
reflects the amount actually paid. The statutory mechanism for resolving valuation disputes comprises first-instance appeals to the Comptroller, and subsequent recourse to a tribunal of Customs Appeal Commissioners (appointed by Cabinet); matters involving a question of law or of 
mixed fact and law may be further appealed before the High Court, and ultimately before the 
Court of Appeal. 
3.20.  No notifications on rules of origin have been submitted to the WTO.
30 According to the 
authorities, rules of origin are not applied fo r non-preferential purposes. St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines applies CARICOM preferential rules of origin (Common Report), with certain derogations concerning imports from the more developed CARICOM countries. Such derogations remain in place for imports of rice and coniferous wood for the manufacture of furniture. In order 
to qualify for duty-free treatment, imports of originating merchandise must be shipped directly 
from the producing member state. Certificates of  origin for goods exported from St. Vincent and 
the Grenadines are issued by the Customs and Excise Department. 
3.1.5  Import prohibitions, restrictions and licensing 
3.21.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not submitted to the WTO any notifications regarding its 
import licensing system. Licensing requirements  continue to apply on a number of goods, 
depending on their country of origin (Box 3.1). The granting of licences is administered by the 
Ministry responsible for trade; prior approval by th e Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 
is required for all meat and fishery products, and by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of 
Standards for beers, stouts and malts. Although importers are expected to apply for the relevant 
licence prior to the goods' arrival, most applications are submitted ex post . Licences are issued 
within 48 hours of application and are valid for three months.
31  
Box 3.1 Import licensing requirements 
Goods originating outside the OECS and Belize 
Curry powder (HS 0910.99.30); wheat flour (HS 1101.00); margarine (HS 1517.10.00); shortening 
(HS 1517.90.10); pasta products (HS 1902); aerated beverages (HS 2202.10.10); malt (HS 2202.90.20); 
beer (HS 2203.00.10); stout (HS 2203.00.20); oxygen (HS 2804.40.00); carbon dioxide (HS 2811.21.00); 
acetylene (HS 2901.00.20); candles (HS 3406.00); toilet paper (HS 4818.10.00); paper bags 
(HS 4819.30.00-4819.40.00)a; solar water heaters (HS 8419.19.00)a; chairs and other seats 
(HS 9401.61.00); other furniture of wood and upholstered fabric (HS 9403)a. 
Goods originating outside the CARICOM 
Live poultry (HS 0105); meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS 0201-0204); edible offal (HS 0206); meat and 
edible offal (except liver) of fowl (HS 0207); other meat and edible offal (HS 0208); fish, frozen (HS 0303); 
salmon, trout and other fish except codfish, macker el, herring, hake, saithe, haddock and pollock dried, 
salted or in brine (HS 0305)a; milk and cream not concentrated (HS 0401); natural honey (HS 0409.00.00); 
parts of trees and other plants suitable for use as Christmas trees (HS 0604)a; tomatoes (HS 0702.00.00); 
onions (HS 0703.10.10); cabbage (HS 0704.90.10); carrots (HS 0706.10.10); sweet pepper 
(HS 0709.60.10);okra (HS 0709.90.20); pumpkin (HS 0709.90.30); other vegetables (HS 0709.90.90); 
dried vegetables broken or in powder (HS 0712); co conut, Brazil nuts and cashew nuts fresh or dried 
(HS 0801); bananas, plantains fresh or dried (HS 0803); pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes and 
mangosteens fresh or dried (HS 0804)a; peppers dried, crushed or ground (HS 0904); cinnamon (HS 0906)a; 
cloves (HS 0907.00.00); rice (HS 1006); starches (HS 1108); groundnuts, shelled or unshelled (HS 1202)a; 
edible vegetable oils (HS 1507-1515); sausages and similar products of meat, meat offal or animal blood 
(HS 1601.00); beet and cane sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form (HS 1701); cheezees and corn 
curls (HS 1904)a; bread, pastries, cakes, etc. (HS 1905); jams, fruit jellies, marmalade (HS 2007); fruit and 
vegetables juices (HS 2009); ice cream (HS 2105.00.10); water and other non-alcoholic beverages 
(HS 2202); over proof rum (HS 2208.40.90); paints and varnishes (HS 3208-3210); shampoos 
(HS 3305.10.00); hair conditioners (HS 3305.90.00)a; deodorant (HS 3307.20.00); household soaps 
(HS 3401.19.10); medicated soaps (HS 3401.11.10); toilet soaps (HS 3401.11.20); plastic tubing for the 
banana industry (HS CH 39)a; PVC pipes (HS 3917.23.00)a; poly foam (HS 3920-3921)a; plastic bags 
                                               
30 WTO document G/RO/W/144, 20 September 2013. 
31 A revenue stamp of EC$5 is requ ired for each new application. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  (HS 3923.20.00)a; rethreaded and remolded tyres (HS 4012)a; wooden doors (HS 4418.20.00); grass mats 
(HS 4601)a; corrugated cartons (HS 4819.10.00)a; exercise books (HS 4820.20.00); carpets, carpeting, rugs 
and mats of vegetable plaiting materials (HS 5720)a; T-shirts (HS 6109)a; bed linens (HS 6302)a; mattresses 
and mattress supports (HS 9404)a. 
 
a Applies only to the named goods, not the general class of goods identified by that tariff heading. 
 Source: Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 55 of 11 November 2008. 
3.22.  According to the authorities, the import licensing regime is automatic and is maintained 
mainly for statistical purposes; the granting of licences is not subject to local purchase requirements. Import licences stipulating quantita tive restrictions continue to apply on some 
imports, including beer and malt, from more developed CARICOM countries and third countries. 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is reviewing the list of goods subject to licensing in order to comply 
with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. 
3.23.  Import prohibitions are maintained for: jet skis, toy guns, chemical weapons, swords, tear 
gas, and camouflage material or uniforms (unless imported for use by police or military personnel). A licence to import firearms and ammunition must be obtained from the Firearms 
Licensing Board prior to importation. Imports of fireworks and face masks require the permission 
of the Commissioner of Police and must remain in police custody until the day of the event for 
which they would be used. Left-hand drive vehicles  may only be imported under a special permit 
issued by the Ministry of Finance.
32 Chain saws may be imported under a permit from the Ministry 
in charge of forestry.  
3.1.6  Contingency measures 3.24.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not su bmitted to the WTO any notifications regarding 
anti-dumping and countervailing measures or and the relevant legislation, which was last amended 
in 1980.
33 According to the authorities, no anti-dumping or countervailing actions were taken 
during the review period. 
3.25.  No notifications on safeguards legislation or actions taken have been made to the WTO 
Committee on Safeguards. St. Vincent and the Grenadines did not avail itself of the special safeguard provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agricu lture, or of the right to use the transitional 
safeguard mechanism in the Agreement on Textiles  and Clothing. Quantitative restrictions are 
maintained through import licensing on certain imports from more developed CARICOM countries 
and third countries, under CARICOM safeguard provisions (section 3.1.5).  
3.1.7  Technical regulations, conf ormity assessment, and standards 
3.26.  The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Bureau of Standards (SVGBS) is the national standards 
body and the enquiry point for standards, technical regulations, certification, conformity assessment procedures, and metrological services.
34 It is responsible for the preparation, 
adoption, and review of national standards, and th e provision of testing and calibration services; it 
may also provide advice on quality control issues.35 The SVGBS has accepted the Code of Good 
Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards contained in Annex 3 to the TBT Agreement.
36 Policy guidelines for the bureau's work are formulated by a National Standards 
Council, an intergovernmental body with broad st akeholder representation appointed by Cabinet. 
The SVGBS is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT), the CA RICOM Regional Organization for Standards 
and Quality (CROSQ), and the Inter-American Metr ology System (CARIMET/SIM). It is also the 
national contact point for the Codex Alimentarius Commission.  
                                               
32 Customs (Control & Management) Act No. 14 of 1999. 
33 Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act No. 21 of 1958, as amended by Statutory Rules and 
Orders No. 38 of 1980. 
34 WTO document G/TBT/2/Add.71, 10 December 2002. 
35 Standards Act No. 70 of 1992, as amended by Act No. 28 of 2001. 
36 WTO document G/TBT/CS/N/150, 9 September 2002. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3.27.  Proposals for elaboration of a new standard  may be made by the general public. National 
standards are prepared by technical committees within the SVGBS and, where applicable, they replicate or are based on regional and international standards. In principle, the elaboration process includes a three-month period of public consultations, and standards are normally reviewed every 
five years; however, no specific time frames are stipulated in the national legislation. Authority to 
declare a standard compulsory (technical regulation ) is vested in the Minister in charge of the 
SVGBS (presently, the Minister of Agriculture); typically, decisions to that effect are taken in 
consultation with other relevant ministries. Notices of all technical regulations and standards are 
published in the Government Gazette . 
3.28.  According to the authorities, the primary purpose of technical regulations is to ensure 
protection of health and safety, prevention of fr aud or deception, and quality maintenance. During 
the review period, St. Vincent and the Grenadines  notified 13 proposed technical regulations to 
the WTO; two of which prescribed requirements for the labelling of pre-packaged foods. At end 2013, there were 69 standards and six technica l regulations in force in St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines; as at the time of the previous review, five of the technical regulations concerned 
labelling requirements and one was a specificat ion for tyres. During 2007-13, 34 new standards 
were adopted, of which 27  were adaptations of international standards.  
3.29.  The importation of goods subject to technical regulations is conditional on presentation of a 
certificate of examination and conformity, issued by a SVGBS-recognized certifying body; otherwise samples are taken for examination by the SVGBS. The producer's declaration of conformity is generally accepted for the purpose of importation into St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. Domestic market surveillance for compliance with technical regulations is on the basis 
of random samples; inspections at ports of entry are carried out on notice of suspicious goods from the Customs and Excise Department. There are no accreditation procedures and no 
accredited certifying bodies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but the SVGBS is authorized to 
certify products and services. Apart from the ag reement establishing CROSQ, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines is not a party to any cooperation or mutual recognition agreements in the area of 
technical barriers to trade.  
3.1.8  Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 3.30.  No notifications we re made to the Committee
 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) 
during the review period.  
3.31.  The Ministry of Agriculture, Industry, Fo restry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation remains 
the principal competent authority for plant and an imal health, and phytosanitary protection. The 
Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment retains responsibility for sanitary protection in 
relation to health and food safety. According to the authorities, the national SPS system is based 
on risk analysis; determinations are scientifically justified and grounded in the relationship between the pest status of the country of origin and the pest status of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines. 
3.32.  In general, imports of agricultural and fishery commodities, including food items, must be 
accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. Cons ignments of lumber and used tyres must be 
fumigated prior to their release from customs, unless a certificate of treatment at the country of 
origin is presented. Import licences (section 3.1.5) and permits are required for live animals, eggs, 
birds, plants, and seeds. A permit from the Pesticides Control Board is necessary for importation of approved pesticides; some pesticides are prohibited, based on the active ingredients. A licensing 
regime, administered by the Ministry of Health, governs the importation of controlled drugs. The 
lists of controlled and prohibited substances were not made available. 
3.33.  According to the authorities, import permits issued by the Ministry in charge of agriculture 
are free of charge. St. Vincent and the Grenadines recognizes phytosanitary certificates issued by 
bodies accredited in other signatory countries of  the International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC). While the authorities do not carry out systematic testing at points of entry into the country, they routinely inspect agricultural imports to ascertain their integrity and quality. 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has not signed  any mutual recognition agreements on SPS 
matters. During the review period there were no new developments in SPS-related import 
prohibitions.  WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3.1.9  Other measures  
3.34.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines applies th e international trade sanctions adopted by the 
United Nations and regional bodies to which it belongs. According to the authorities, during the review period there were no barter trade transactions, and no agreements have been signed with 
foreign governments or companies with a view to influencing the volume or value of exports to 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The national legislation does not contain provisions requiring the maintenance of reserve stocks of any commodity.  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports 
3.2.1  Export procedures, taxes, and levies 3.35.  Exporters must obtain a tax registration number from the Inland Revenue Department and 
an exporter number from the Customs and Excise Department. Exports are subject to the same 
customs documentation requirements as imports (section 3.1.1), requiring notably a declaration, 
suppliers' invoices, a bill of lading or airway bill, and, where applicable, original export permits and origin, phytosanitary or health certificates. Exports may be selected for physical inspection on 
suspicions of illicit trade (drugs) and VAT fraud.  
3.36.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines applies no export taxes or levies; exports are exempt from 
internal taxes and zero-rated for VAT purposes (section 3.1.3). Pre-shipment inspection of exports 
is not generally required. All agricultural exports are inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture prior 
to the delivery of a phytosanitary certificate, which is required for export clearance.  
3.2.2  Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing 3.37.  A licence is required for exports of frozen lobsters (HS 0306.12.00), as well as live, fresh or 
chilled, and prepared or preserved lobsters, and fresh or chilled conch
37; the relevant licence fees 
are: lobster, EC$1 per 2.2kg; and conch EC$0.5 per unit. Export licensing requirements are also in place for endangered plant species, wildlife (birds, animals, and products thereof), and bananas. 
The granting of export licences is administered by the competent departments of the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and Rura l Transformation. According to the authorities, 
seasonal bans on the hunting or harvesting of certai n birds (wild pigeons, dove s, etc.), turtles, and 
oysters remain in place, but do not constitute export prohibitions. 
3.38.  As from August 2012, exports of copper requ ire permission from the Minister responsible for 
trade.
38 In principle, permission is granted after the consignment is inspected to ascertain its 
legitimate provenance. According to the authorities, this measure is aimed at tackling the theft 
and vandalizing of equipment containing copper.  
3.2.3  Export subsidies, financing, insurance, and promotion 3.39.  National Investment Promotion Inc., doing business as Invest SVG, acts as an investment 
promotion and export development agency. St. Vinc ent and the Grenadines still lacks a national 
export strategy; the authorities continue to seek technical assistance for its elaboration. Priority sectors for export development include: tourism; information and communication technologies; 
light manufacturing; agriculture/agri-processing; creative industries; international financial 
services; and renewable energy. During the review  period, the export promotion activities of 
Invest SVG were limited to funding local companies' participation in trade fairs and organizing training events; these activities were mainly funded by overseas donors. 
3.40.  Although the relevant legislation dates from 1999
39, there are still no free zones in 
operation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 
                                               
37 Except for frozen lobsters, the li censing requirements are not applie d on the basis of tariff headings 
but as per the items' specification (Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 55 of 11 November 2008. 
38 Customs (Restriction of Exportation) Order No.  19 of 14 August 2012. 
39 Export Free Zones Act No. 15 of 1999. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  3.41.  During the review period, St. Vincent and the Grenadines maintained the export subsidy 
provisions of its Fiscal Incentives Act40, and provided regular notifications to the Committee on 
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.41 Accordingly, enterprises producing exclusively for export 
(enclave enterprises) remained eligible for exemption from import duties and certain taxes for up 
to 15 years.42 In addition, companies that had exhausted their tax holiday period (granted on the 
basis of export, local value added or investment size) may still qualify for income tax relief calculated as an increasing function of their pr ofits and the share of exports in their total sales.
43 
During 2007-13, fiscal incentives were granted to 25 companies, of which nine were first-time 
beneficiaries. St. Vincent and the Grenadin es should phase out export subsidies by 
31 December 2015.44 According to the authorities, an amen dment to the Fiscal Incentives Act is 
being drafted by the Attorney General's office; however, a similar correction does not seem to be 
envisaged for the Companies Act, which provides for reduced corporate tax rates on manufacturing 
enterprises' profits derived from export sales (section 2.3).  
3.42.  No risk-mitigation facilities for exporters are in place at the national level. Vincentian 
exporters have access to the ECCB export credit  guarantee scheme, which may cover up to 80% 
of political and commercial risks. Export support  may also be provided by the OECS Export 
Development Unit (EDU).  
3.3  Measures Affecting Production and Trade 
3.3.1  Incentives 3.43.  In addition to export-related incentives  (section 3.2.3), St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
continues to offer tax and tariff concessions to enterprises that meet certain local value added or 
investment size criteria
45; to the hotel industry (section 4), and to farmers. Incentives are granted 
by Cabinet, up on recommendation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Industry, Forestry, Fisheries and 
Rural Transformation or the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, which review applications and 
decide on the level and type of concessions to be granted. Comprehensive statistics on forgone 
revenue under these initiatives were not made available, except for some figures on the taxation of imports (section 3.1.2). 
3.44.  In 2012, the Government proposed to waive import duties on raw materials, plant, and 
equipment imported by manufacturing and agri-pro cessing enterprises, under the same conditions 
as those set out in the Fiscal Incentives Act.
46 Another initiative envisaged a tax credit for 
businesses investing more than EC$5 million in any project contributing to the development of 
information and communication technologies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; a 2007 Bill 
proposing an incentives package for the subsector has not yet been passed in Cabinet. 
3.45.  The state-owned Agricultural Input Warehouse continues to sell farm inputs, mainly fertilizer 
and diothene sheeting, at subsidized prices (secti on 3.3.3). In March 2012, the price of electricity 
for industrial consumers was reduced by EC$0.03 per kWh; the associated cost, estimated at some 
                                               
40 Fiscal Incentives Act No. 5 of 1982, as amended by Act No. 20 of 1987 and Act No. 16 of 1991. 
41 WTO documents G/SCM/N/260/VCT, 7 October 2013; G/SCM/N/243/VCT, 9 October 2012; 
G/SCM/N/226/VCT, 21 September 2011; G/SCM/N/211/VCT,  8 July 2010; G/SCM/N/186/VCT, 21 June 2010; 
G/SCM/N/192/VCT, 11 August 2009; and G/SCM/N/177/VCT, 18 July 2008. 
42 The length of the tax holiday dependents on exportation or local value added. Companies are 
classified as: (i) Group 1 en terprises, where local value is 50% or mo re of sales, and which may enjoy a tax 
holiday of up to 15 years; (ii) Grou p 2 enterprises, with local value of  between 25% and 50% of sales, and 
which are granted concessions for up to 12 years; (iii) Group 3 enterprises, with local value of between 10% 
and 25% of sales, and which can benefit from a tax ho liday period of up to 10 years; and (iv) enclave 
enterprises, which produce only for export, and may benefit from a tax holiday of up to 15 years. 
43 Relief is provided for non-traditional exports; it  may not extend beyond five years, counted from the 
tax holiday's expiry, for exports to Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Fiscal Incentives Act 
No. 5 of 1982, as amended by Act No. 20 of 1987 and Act No.16 of 1991, provides for income tax relief in the form of tax credits to enterprises once the tax holiday  period has expired. This relief is contingent on 
exportation and is granted on export  profits of an enterprise accruing  from its exports of the approved 
products. Relief is granted if export  profits amount to 10% or more of the enterprise's total profits, in 
accordance with the following scale: ≥10% but <21%, 25%; ≥21% but <41%, 35%; ≥41% but <61%, 45%; 
≥61%, 50%. 
44 WTO document WT/L/691, 31 July 2007. 
45 WTO document G/SCM/N/260/VCT, 7 October 2013. 
46 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  EC$250,000 per year, is borne by the state-owned enterprise St. Vincent Electricity Services 
(VINLEC). Additionally, the authorities announced plans to introduce volume discounts for commercial and industrial consumers of electricity.  
3.46.  Concessionary funding and guarantee facilities are available through the Caribbean 
Development Bank. No such facilities with st ate involvement exist at the national level.
  
3.3.2  Competition policy and price controls 3.47.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have a functioning competition regime. The 
relevant national legislation, adopted in 1999
47, has never been enforced and the Fair Trading 
Commission stipulated therein has not been established. The authorities intend to adopt the CARICOM model competition law and consolidate enforcement authority at OECS level; the CARICOM model legislation on consumer protection  is also being considered by the Attorney 
General's office.  
3.48.  Price controls continue to apply, de jure , to approximately 100 goods.
48 According to the 
authorities, price controls are de facto  enforced for motor vehicles and parts thereof, fuels, 
stationery and hardware products, prescription drugs, and essential food products (e.g., milk, 
flour, sugar, rice). The principal interventi on method is setting a maximum mark-up for 
wholesalers and/or retailers; fixed retail prices are also used for sugar (section 3.3.3), petrol, 
diesel, and kerosene.  
3.3.3  State-trading and state-owned enterprises 
3.49.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has subm itted only one notification on state-trading 
enterprises to the WTO, dating back to December 200049; no updates have been provided. State 
participation in the economy during the period under review was also difficult to ascertain 
(Table 3.4). No comprehensive list of state-owned enterprises, details on their commercial activities, or state support received were made available. 
Table 3.4 State participation in  the economy, 2007 and 2013 
Enterprise State 
participation 
(%) Area(s) of activity Prerogatives 
2007 2013 
National Properties Limited (NPL) 100 100 Marketing of fresh produce .. 
VincyFresh Limited 100 100 Agri-processing .. 
Agricultural Input Warehouse 
(AIW) 100 100 Import and sale of agricultural inputs Legal monopoly on 
bulk sugar imports 
Central Water and Sewerage 
Authority (CWSA) 100 100 Water and sewerage services .. 
St. Vincent Electricity Services 
(VINLEC) 100 100 Electricity generation/ transmission/ 
distribution .. 
St. Vincent Postal Services 100 100 Communication services .. 
National Commercial Bank 100 100 Financial services .. 
International Airport Development 
Company (IADC) 100 100 Construction and management of 
Argyle International Airport .. 
Bank of St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines 100 100 Financial services .. 
National Commercial Bank 100 100 Financial services .. 
Housing and Lands Development 
Corporation (HLDC) 100 100 Construction; field sanitation .. 
 
.. Not available. 
Source: WTO secretariat, based on information contai ned in annual Budget Addr ess statements  (2007-13). 
3.50.  According to the authorities, state-trading is carried out only by the Agricultural Input 
Warehouse (AIW), which has had a monopoly on imports of bulk sugar since 2005; there are no 
exclusive rights on the importation of packaged  sugar. The AIW awards importation contracts, 
                                               
47 Fair Trade Act No. 23 of 1999. 
48 Price and Distribution of Goods Act, Cap. 161. 
49 WTO document G/STR/N/6/VCT, 19 December 2000. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  usually for one-year periods, through competitive tenders. While any fluctuations in the price of 
white sugar are passed on to the domestic market, retail prices for brown sugar (sold in bags of 
one, two, and five pounds) are set by Cabinet decision and the AIW absorbs any increases in international prices. The AIW also imports agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizer blends and diothene 
sheeting (protective bags for bananas), for onward sale to farmers at subsidized prices; the same 
items may be freely imported by other companies. The AIW is entitled to import agricultural inputs duty free; the price subsidy, which it offers in onward trading, is financed only by profits made on 
bulk sugar imports and is not subject to Cabinet approval.  
3.51.  The Banana Growers Association (BGA), a quasi-governmental organization with exclusive 
rights on the marketing (including exports) of domestically produced bananas, was dissolved in 2009. During its existence, the BGA was exempt from payment of import tariffs and other duties 
and taxes on all materials, equipment, and vehi cles it acquired. Between 2001 and 2009, the State 
assumed BGA debts amounting to some EC$43 million.
50 Since its dissolution, a private company, 
WINFARM, has had a de facto  monopoly on banana exports to the United Kingdom under a 
marketing arrangement with WINFRESH (formerly WIBDECO).  
3.52.  The authorities continue to inject public funds into (and arrange concessionary loans for) 
the International Airport Development Company (IAD C), which coordinates all matters relating to 
the construction and subsequent management of th e Argyle International Airport (section 4.3.3). 
Significant public investments have also been ma de in National Properties Limited, St. Vincent 
Electricity Services, the Central Water and Sewerage Authority, and the Housing and Lands Development Corporation. 
3.3.4  Government procurement 
3.53.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not a party to the WTO Plurilateral Agreement on 
Government Procurement.  
3.54.  There were no major changes in the legal and institutional framework governing public 
procurement during the review period.
51 The Central Supplier Tenders Board continues to act on 
behalf of government contracting entities fo r procurement contracts exceeding the EC$20,000 
threshold52; the relevant tender notices must be published in the Government Gazette  and at least 
three suppliers must be short-listed. Invitation to tender is the principal method of awarding 
contracts for the procurement of goods, construction works, or services. Admissible grounds for the adoption of alternative methods are stipulated in a convention, which is not legally binding. All 
tenders are open for international bidding, although decisions to advertise internationally are made 
on a case-by-case basis. According to the auth orities, in 2013 the breakdown of contracts by 
procurement method was: competitive, 98; selective, 18; sole, 18; and other, 43. More detailed 
statistics were not available. 
3.55.  No appeals mechanism is stipulated in the procurement legislation; in the context of the 
present Review, the authorities indicated that an  amendment aimed at addressing this gap is 
being drafted. 
3.56.  According to the authorities, there are no le gal provisions for the granting of preferences to 
local or regional (CARICOM/OECS) suppliers. Procurement contracts funded by the Caribbean Development Bank may grant a margin of preference  (8% of offer price) for regional suppliers, as 
per the Bank's Procurement Guide . 
3.3.5  Intellectual property rights 3.57.  During the period under review, trademarks remained the most commonly used form of 
intellectual property protection in St. Vincent an d the Grenadines (Table 3.5). No information was 
made available on enforcement actions. 
                                               
50 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012). 
51 The procurement regime is described in WTO document WT/TPR/S/190/VCT/Rev.1, 21 April 2008. 
52 The procurement legislation does not apply to state-owned enterprises; these enterprises have 
individual procurement rules, but some use the Central Supplier Tenders Board. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Table 3.5 IPRs granted by St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 2007-13 
 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 
Patents 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
Industrial designs 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 
Layout designs of integrated circuits 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Trademarks 246 354 225 260 309 166 32 
Geographical indications 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
 
Source: Commerce and Intellectual Property  Office, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 
3.58.  There have been no institutional changes in the administration and processing of intellectual 
property in St. Vincent and the Grenadines since its previous Review.53 National laws and 
regulations related to intellectual property have been notified to the WTO (Table 3.6); the TRIPS 
Council reviewed the legislation in 2009 and St. Vincent and the Grenadines responded to the 
checklist of enforcement-related issues in 2011.54 St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have 
legislation for the protection of plant varieties or undisclosed information. 
3.59.  Only the Patents Act makes provision for compulsory licensing of intellectual property. A 
non-voluntary licence may be granted on the grounds that a market for the patented invention in 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is not being supplied on reasonable terms or at all55; the licence 
may not be issued within three years of the patent's granting or four years of the date of its filing, 
whichever is later. The Act also provides for the use of patented inventions for the services of the 
Crown where the public interest so requires or where the Minister responsible for legal affairs 
decides that the manner of exploitation by the owner or his licensee is anti-competitive. According to the authorities, the compulsory licensing provisions were not used during 2007-13. 
Table 3.6 National IP R legislation, 2013 
Legislation  
(entry into force) Term of protection Coverage Sanctions 
Patents 
Patents Act No. 39 of 2004 
(4 August 2008); Patents 
Regulations 2009 
(8 July 2009) 20 years from filing. New and useful invention or new and 
useful improvement of existing 
invention. An invention is defined as an 
idea that permits the solution to a 
specific problem in the field of 
technology; it may include: art, 
process, machine, manufacture, 
composition of matter. Monetary 
compensation for 
damages 
Industrial designs 
Industrial Designs Act 
No. 20 of 2005 
(4 August 2008); Industrial 
Designs Regulations 2009 
(8 July 2009) Five years, renewable for 
another consecutive 
period of five years. A composition of lines or colou rs, or a 
three-dimensional form or a material 
(whether or not associated with lines or 
colours); such composition, form or 
material should: give a special 
appearance to a product of industry or 
handicraft, serve as a pattern for that 
product, and appeal to and be judged 
by the eye. Fines up to 
EC$10,000 or 
imprisonment for up 
to five years 
Layout designs of integrated circuits 
Layout-Designs of 
Integrated Circuits Act 
No. 18 of 2005 (4 August 
2008); Layout-Designs of 
Integrated Circuits 
Regulations 2009 
(8 July 2009) Ten calendar years from 
the date of 
commencement of 
protection; non-
renewable. The three-dimensional disposition of the 
elements (at least one of which is an 
active element) and of some or all of 
the interconnections of an integrated 
circuit.  Fines up to EC$5,000 
or imprisonment for 
up to three years 
Geographical indications  
Geographical Indications 
Act No. 24 of 2004 
(30 November 2004); 
Geographical Indications 
Regulations 2008 
(16 September 2008) Indefinite protection. An indication which identifies a good as 
originating in the territory of a country, 
or a region or locality in that territory, 
where a given quality, reputation or 
other characteristic of the good is 
essentially attributable to its 
geographical origin. Geographical Fines up to 
EC$10,000 and/or 
imprisonment for up 
to two years 
                                               
53 WTO document WT/TPR/S/190/VCT/Rev.1, 21 April 2008. 
54 WTO documents IP/N/1/VCT/1/Rev.1, 16 December 2009; IP/Q4/VCT/1, 25 February 2009; and 
IP/N/6/VCT/1, 6 June 2011. 
55 This compulsory licensing provision does not apply to any patent relating to an integrated circuit. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Legislation  
(entry into force) Term of protection Coverage Sanctions 
indications are protected, whether or 
not they are registered.  
Trademarks 
Trade Marks Act No. 46 of 
2003 (18 May 2004); Trade 
Marks (Amendment) Act 
No. 50 of 2004 
(31 December 2004); 
Trade Marks Regulations 
2004 (18 May 2004) Ten years from filing; 
renewable. Trade mark is defined as: a sign used 
(or intended to be used) to distinguish 
goods or services dealt with or provided 
in the course of trade by a person from 
goods or services so dealt with or 
provided by any other person. Fines up to 
EC$250,000 
Copyright and related rights 
Copyright Act No. 21 of 
2003 (30 November 2004); 
Copyright (Specified 
Countries) Order 
(2 August 2005) Literary, dramatic, 
musical or artistic work, 
75 years from author's 
death (if authorship 
unknown, 50 years after 
first public availability); 
sound recordings and 
films, 50 years from 
creation or 75 years after 
first public availability; 
broadcasts and cable 
programmes, 50 years 
from broadcasting; 
typographical 
arrangements of editions, 
25 years from first 
publication. Original literary, dramatic, musical or 
artistic works; sound recordings, films, 
broadcasts or cable programmes; 
typographical arrangements of 
published editions. Works are not 
subject to registration. Fines up to EC$5,500 
for each article to 
which the offence 
relates or 
imprisonment for up 
to two years 
 
Source: Information provided by the author ities of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 
3.60.  The Patents Act and the Industrial Designs Act contain explicit provisions on parallel 
importation. The Patents Act provides for regional  exhaustion of rights, whereby the intellectual 
property owner may not oppose and parallel imports from other CARICOM countries. In contrast, 
the Industrial Designs Act provides for national exhaustion of rights; the domestic intellectual property owner may restrict the importation of original goods marketed abroad.  
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
4.1  Agriculture 4.1.1  Overview 4.1.  Traditionally concentrated on the island of St . Vincent, agricultural activity continues to face a 
number of structural constraints. The sector's key characteristic is its small scale, with total arable 
land of approximately 20,000 acres and total labour  force of less than 50,000 workers, employed 
in fragmented production units. Other important constraints include the limited access to credit 
facilities and poor transportation infrastructure. The agriculture sector is still adjusting to a 
preference-free trading environment for Vincentian exports of bananas, a key crop; this challenge has been exacerbated by its vulnerability to external shocks. 
4.2.  During the review period, the sector's performance was affected by several adverse events, 
including plant pests and harsh climatic conditions, which translated into erratic growth. The 
sector's overall contribution to GDP remained mo dest (Table 1.1). The crops segment continued to 
dominate agriculture output, although it was affected by the continued contraction of banana 
production and relatively slower diversification into non-banana crops. St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines remains a net food importer; its agricultural trade deficit increased during the review period.  
4.1.2  Border measures 
4.3.  Agriculture and food processing continue to receive the highest levels of import tariff 
protection (section 3); non- ad valorem  tariffs apply exclusivel y to alcoholic beverages 
(HS chapter 22). Subsectors that are protected by MFN tariffs relatively higher than the sectoral 
average include fruit, vegetables and plants, and sugars and confectionary. St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines continues to require import licenc es, including for the purpose of quantitative 
restrictions, for a range of agricultural products (section 3.1.5). Export licensing requirements are 
in place for bananas, lobsters, and conch (section 3.2.2). 
4.1.3  Domestic measures 4.4.  Domestic support to the agriculture sector takes various forms, including: subsidized inputs 
(fertilizers, plant material, and feed); tax concessions; field sanitation (spraying with pesticides); 
technical assistance; and financial transfers to producer associations. Farmers have traditionally been exempt from income tax, and are eligible for a 75% import duty relief on farm vehicles. Import tariff concessions may also be granted on items used in the fishing industry (fishing nets, 
marine engines, and other equipment). Statistical information on domestic support to the 
agriculture sector and estimates of forgone fiscal revenue were not available.  
4.5.  The Banana Growers Association, which co ntrolled banana production and marketing, was 
dissolved in 2009; a considerable portion of its debts were assumed by the state (section 3.3.3). 
The provision of extension and disease-control services was transferred to a newly established Banana Services Unit in the Ministry of Agriculture; the Unit received some EC$4 million from the 
state budget in fiscal year 2012. In parallel, the Windward Islands Banana Development Company 
(WIBDECO), partially owned by the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has been restructured and rebranded as WINFRESH, to market fresh agricultural produce, including bananas. Under its expanded mandate, WINFR ESH will operate as a strategic partner in 
agricultural diversification and agri-processing in the Windward Islands. WINFRESH and the 
state-owned National Properties Limited have en tered into an agri-processing joint venture, 
VincyFresh Limited, in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  
4.6.  The Agricultural Input Warehouse (AIW) retains a legal monopoly on the importation of bulk 
sugar; it also trades in agricultural inputs without any exclusive rights. Profits from AIW's sugar operations are used to subsidize the prices of the agricultural inputs it sells to farmers 
(section 3.3.3).  WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 363 - 
 
  4.2  Manufacturing 
4.7.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines remains a net importer of manufactures (section 1). Its 
manufacturing sector is relatively small, as domestic demand is not conducive to economies of scale. Locally manufactured goods include steel rods , PVC pipes, galvanized sheets, animal feed, 
card-board boxes, door frames, flour, soft-drinks, and beer. The sector's contribution to GDP 
contracted from 4.3% in 2007 to 3.1% in 2012. Domestic manufacturing enterprises continue to struggle with high electricity, transport and telecommunications costs, as well as the erosion of 
preferential access to key export markets. Acco rding to the authorities, fiscal incentives and 
protected national and sub-regional markets are essential for the survival of most manufacturers based in the country.
56 
4.8.  The average tariff on imports of manufactured goods was 10.2% in 2013 (up from 10.1% 
in 2006); the average bound tariff is 63.1% (Table 3.3). Clothing, electric machinery, transport 
equipment, and footwear have continued to benefit from some of the highest tariff protection levels. Tariff and tax concessions may be granted to approved manufacturers for the production of 
specific goods; some incentives are conditional on local value addition (section 3.3.1). There are 
no operational free-trade zones, although the relevant legislation dates from 1999.  
4.3  Services 
4.3.1  Telecommunications 
4.9.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreig n Trade, Commerce and Information Technology has 
overall responsibility for the telecommunications sector. The National Regulatory Telecommunications Commission (NTRC), the sectoral regulator, works in conjunction with the 
Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL) to ensure policy harmonization on a 
regional level (Common Report). The NTRC is responsible for setting technical standards; reviewing applications for licences
57; monitoring licensees' compliance with relevant terms; 
approving interconnection agreements; resolving interconnection and infrastructure-sharing 
disputes; regulating prices for telecommunications services; and managing the universal service fund. The NTRC also shares competence with ECTEL over the management of radio frequency 
spectrum. According to the authorities, telecommunications licences and spectrum authorizations 
are technology-neutral.  
4.10.  In addition to a non-refundable application fee (EC$1,000) and a one-time initial 
fee (EC$20,000), telecommunication providers are required to pay a 3% licence fee and a 1% 
contribution to a universal service fund (USF), based on their annual gross revenues.
58 Frequency 
authorizations are subject to an application fee an d an annual fee depending on the type of service 
provided and the bandwidth.59 During the review period, the authorities contemplated introducing 
incentives for the ICT subsector (section 3.3.1).  
4.11.  No universal service obligations are imposed on incumbent operators. The USF is used to 
finance relevant projects; project proposals may be put forward by the general public and must be 
approved by the NTRC. Contracts for the implem entation of approved projects are generally 
awarded through an open bidding procedure; although not part of the selection criteria, winning bidders must hold a telecommunications licence at the time of signing the contract.  
4.12.  All radio or telecommunications equipment, whether used in the deployment of networks or 
by end-users, requires type approval before it may be sold, imported, installed, or used in 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Virtually all such  equipment is imported; consignments without 
type approval would normally be held at cust oms and undergo a documentary check by the NTRC 
before clearance is authorized. Type approvals are issued by the NTRC within six weeks of 
                                               
56 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012). 
57 In cases involving the provision of a public telecommunications service through a proprietary 
network/facility, licence applications are forwarded for evaluation to ECTEL; applications for provision of a 
public telecommunications service th rough non-proprietary infrastructure and applications for private use of 
own network/facility are evaluated by the NTRC. 
58 Universal service fund contributions for the first an d second year of obtaining a licence are 0.25% and 
0.5%, respectively. 
59 Telecommunications (Fees) Regulations No. 3 of 9 January 2007. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  submission of the application60; once granted, the approval is valid for subsequent importations of 
the same equipment. Exemptions from local type approval may be granted for equipment certified 
under recognized overseas regulations (e.g., those issued or applied by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Industry Canada, and the European Telecommunications Standards 
Institute), but importers are required to apply for recognition of the overseas approval.
61 All 
resellers of telecommunications equipment require a dealer's licence issued by the NTRC.  
4.13.  There was no competition in the fixed-line telephony segment until the entry of a second 
operator in 2009. According to the available statis tics, mobile and internet penetration rates rose 
during 2008-13, whereas fixed-line subscriptions declined; investment in the sector seems to have contracted significantly (Table 4.1). A price cap plan, similar to those implemented in other ECTEL states, continues to apply to certain fixed-line services provided by the incumbent operator; the 
plan was last renewed in 2010. All interconnection rates, as well as wholesale mobile telephony 
(call and SMS) rates, are regulated at ECTEL level (Common Report); retail mobile telephony rates are not regulated. According to the authorities, wholesale mobile telephony rates have been 
declining, but the decline has not been fully passed on to consumers. 
Table 4.1 Telecom mark et evolution, 2008-13 
 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Subscriptions (including pre-paid) per 100 inhabitants   
  Fixed-line telephony 23 23 23 22 22 19 
  Mobile telephony 110 118 118 119 122 121 
  Internet 10 11 13 13 14 14 
Telecom sector revenue (EC$ million) 148 123 159 134 129 126 
Investment (EC$ million) 25 23 17 11 11 15 
 
Note: Information is provided for year ending on 31 March.  Source: ECTEL, Electronic Communications Sector Review 2011-12. Viewed at: http://ectel.int/index.php/ 
resources/publications . 
4.14.  Liberalization of the telecommunications sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines started 
in 2001; by 2003, all market segments were open to competition. No overseas ownership 
restrictions are applied, and foreign and domestic operators benefit from the same rights. According to the ITU, all major telecommunication markets are fully open to competition.
62 
Nevertheless, additional regulatory provisions could foster competitive dynamics in the sector by 
establishing or clarifying, inter alia : (fixed and mobile) number portability; domestic mobile 
roaming; local loop unbundling; secondary spectrum trading; and independent carrier selection for 
certain types of calls. The authorities are developing legislation that would enable the entry of 
virtual network operators; it is expected to be enacted in the near future.  
4.3.2  Financial services 4.15.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines' GATS commitments are limited to reinsurance services.
63 
Commercial presence is subject to the Insuranc e and Insurance Premium Acts, the Commercial 
Code, and the Exchange Control Act (listed as limitations on market access), and a withholding tax (listed as a limitation on national treatment). Its horizontal commitments specify that insurance 
business on the domestic market may only be conduc ted by corporate entities; all entities must be 
registered by the Registrar of Insurance. 
4.16.  The Financial Services Authority (FSA), operational since November 2012, supervises the 
offshore financial services segment, domestic non-bank financial institutions (NBFI) and domestic 
insurance companies.
64 Previously, regulatory competence ov er these segments was exercised by 
                                               
60 Applications for type approval are subject to a fee: EC$100 for local applicants and EC$117 for 
overseas applicants. 
61 NTRC online information. Viewed at: http://www.ntrc.vc/index.php/type-approval . 
62 ITU (2012). 
63 WTO document GATS/SC/74, 15 April 1994. 
64 Financial Services Authority Act No. 31 of 2011. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 365 - 
 
  the International Financial Services Authority and the Ministry of Finance. There were no other 
changes to the legislation governing onshore and offshore financial institutions during the review period. Domestic (onshore) commercial banks remain regulated by the ECCB; and the Financial Intelligence Unit, a statutory body reporting to the Minister of Finance, remains in charge of 
investigating money laundering and terrorism financing.  
4.3.2.1  Onshore financial services 4.17.  At end-September 2013, the onshore segmen t comprised four banks, one building society, 
eight credit unions, 16 motor and short-term (general) insurance companies (four local and 
12 CARICOM) and six long-term (life in surance) companies (all CARICOM).
65 
4.18.  The ECCB continues to supervise commercia l banks operating on the domestic market and 
non-bank financial institutions carrying on banking business on behalf of member countries' 
governments (Common Report). There are no limitations on foreign investment in onshore banks 
in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; licensing and prudential supervision requirements apply equally to all locally incorporated banks, including fore ign-owned banks. When applying for a licence, 
branches of foreign banks must provide evidence th at they are subject to effective supervision in 
their home jurisdiction and that the relevant regulator does not object to the application. No residency or citizenship requirements apply to bank managers or directors.  
4.19.  All onshore insurance companies must be registered with the FSA and comply with the 
deposit and insurance fund requirements corresponding to the type of insurance provided. There have been no modifications to deposit and insuranc e fund requirements or licence fees during the 
review period. According to the authorities, ther e are no restrictions on the type of insurance 
business for which a foreign company may register. Minimum paid-up share capital thresholds vary 
for local and foreign firms seeking registration: EC$2 million and EC$5 million, respectively, for long-term insurance business; and EC$1 million and EC$2.5 million, respectively, for general 
insurance business.  
4.20.  In general, non-registered insurers may not insure risks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; 
exceptions may be made when it is impossible to obtain similar protection at a comparable cost 
from a registered insurer. 
4.3.2.2  Offshore financial services 4.21.  At end-September 2013, the international financial services (offshore) segment comprised 
four international banks, two international insurance companies, one international insurance 
broker, one international insurance manager, 134 international trusts, 6,706 international business 
companies (IBC), 14 limited liability companies (LLC), 103 mutual funds (public, private, and 
accredited managers), and 16 registered agents.
66 The international entities registered in 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are not subject to taxation.  
4.22.  International banks are precluded from conducting banking business with residents of 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from investing in any asset that represents a claim on any 
resident, and from buying bonds or other securities issued by the State. In order to obtain 
a licence, they must establish a physical presence in the country, have at least two local employees (one at management level), and have at least one resident director approved by the FSA. There are two kinds of licence: class A imposes no restrictions on the international bank's 
offshore business activities; class B allows the international bank to conduct business only with 
non-resident persons specifically named in an undertaking accompanying the licence application. All international banks are subject to onsite inspections at least once every 18 months. Minimum 
paid-up capital and deposit requirements, as well as  licence fees, remain unchanged since the last 
TPR of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  
                                               
65 Building societies are self-contained entities  formed for the purpose of accepting member 
subscriptions and extending loans to their own members in return for real property pl edged as collateral; they 
may not conduct any other forms of business. 
66 Registered agents and trustees provide corporate services to the other en tities in the offshore 
segment; they are subject to income tax and must be licensed under the Registered Agent and Trustee 
Licensing Act No. 15 of 27 June 1996. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 366 - 
 
  4.23.  There are no nationality or residency requirements for managers or directors of 
international insurance companies. International insurers are precluded from providing insurance for residents or onshore companies; property in transit to or from St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and vehicles, vessels, aircraft or  other moveable property based in the country. There are five 
classes of international insurer licences, granted for up to one year (renewable); there have been 
no changes to the corresponding licence fees or  capital and solvency requirements during the 
review period. A decision to refuse a licence is final; it cannot be appealed and no reason for 
refusal need be given. 
4.3.3  Transport 4.3.3.1  Air transport 4.24.  There were no changes to the legal and institutional framework governing air transport 
services during the review period. Most international air transport agreements concluded by 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are bilateral and are based on reciprocity. Information on these 
agreements and the terms stipulated therein was not made available. According to the authorities, 
cabotage is restricted to St. Vincent and the Grenadines carriers. 
4.25.  Air transport licences are granted at the discr etion of the Ministry in charge of civil aviation, 
which takes into account, inter alia , the conditions in which the applicant intends to operate 
(number of flights, type of aircraft), and insurance and financial soundness criteria. In principle, 
the granting of a licence is not conditional on nationality or domestic incorporation considerations. Applicants must demonstrate that maintenance of their aircraft would be carried out by 
OECS-certified mechanics. Regulatory oversight for safety and security issues is provided by the 
Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA). 
4.26.  In 2013, two privately owned air carriers were incorporated in St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines (St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ai r and Mustique Airways). The Government is a 
shareholder in LIAT, along with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados. At end-2012 
the average age of LIAT's fleet was 19 years, implying high maintenance costs.
67 According to the 
authorities, ground-handling services are generally open to competition, but lack of space at the 
current main airport (E.T. Joshua) effectively restricts entry until the new international airport 
opens for operations.  
4.27.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has five public airports, four of which are owned and 
operated by the State. There are no direct f lights to major international hubs, although the 
completion of Argyle International Airport, currently under construction, is expected to greatly 
improve international air links. The new airport would be able to handle the types of large aircraft commonly used on long-haul routes. Once that airport is operational, the authorities plan to 
discontinue flights to E.T. Joshua Airport and build a city at its site through a public-private 
partnership. 
4.28.  The Airports Department, within the Ministry of National Security, Air and Sea Port 
Development, is responsible for the regulation of public airports, as well as the provision of air 
traffic and meteorological services. The construction and subsequent management of the Argyle International Airport are primarily the responsib ility of the International Airport Development 
Company (IADC), whereas negotiations on its prospective international routes are led by the 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority. In January 2013, the IADC lacked an estimated 
US$80 million to finish the construction of the ai rport and equip it for operation; the authorities 
have secured the requisite resources and envisage completion by the end of 2014.
68  
4.3.3.2  Maritime transport 
4.29.  There were no changes to the legal an d institutional framework governing maritime 
transport during the review period. Cabotage rema ins reserved for domestically registered ships 
that have a trading licence; details on licensing requirements were not available.  
                                               
67 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013). 
68 Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2014). WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
- 367 - 
 
  4.30.  Domestically registered ships may be owned by nationals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; 
CARICOM citizens resident in a CARICOM state where the ship is engaged in international voyages; individuals or corporations owning ships hired out on bareboat charter to nationals; individuals or corporations in joint-venture shipping enterprise relationships with nationals; a body corporate, 
partnership or other association of individuals registered in accordance with the domestic laws and 
having their main office in St. Vincent and the Gr enadines; and such other persons as the Minister 
may by Order determine.  
4.31.  Port management and regulation is the re sponsibility of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Port Authority, a statutory body, which has a monopoly on the provision of port services, and sets fees. Pilotage is compulsory for vessels exceeding 100 gross registered tonnes; pilots are employees of the Port Authority. According to the authorities, domestic and foreign companies 
may provide certain auxiliary services under licensing arrangements; such arrangements are at 
the discretion of the Port Authority and the Go vernment. One company has been licensed as a 
monopoly tugboat operator; the licence also regulates the fees for tugging services and stipulates 
exemptions for certain types of ships. The use of tugboats is mandatory for container ships but 
optional for cruise ships. Stevedoring services  h a v e  b e e n  o u t s o u r c e d ;  n o  d e t a i l s  w e r e  m a d e  
available on the licensing arrangement. 
4.32.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines has several ports. According to the authorities, around 95% 
of cargo arrives at the two main commercial port s, Kingstown port and Campden Park. Kingstown 
Port is the property of the Government as set out in Port Authority Act, No. 26 of 1987, and 
Campden Park is partly owned by the private sector (49% of shares) and partly by the 
Government. While annual cargo volumes remained relatively stable during the review period, 
average container movement increased from 12/hr. to 18/hr. due to the installation of a new gantry crane at Campden Park port in 2008, with lifting capacity of 100 tonnes. A recent port 
rationalization study has recommended building a new port facility on reclaimed land, as the 
Campden Park port is far away from the island's main commercial district and its road link is of limited capacity. The authorities also plan to relocate and upgrade Kingstown port through a 
public-private partnership.  
4.3.4  Tourism 4.33.  An archipelago of 32 islands, of which only nine are inhabited, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines has a rich diversity of flora and fauna across rainforests, mountains, and coral reefs 
that make it an interesting eco-tourism destination. Visitors are also drawn by annual regattas, 
music festivals, etc. Tourism has the potential to be come the central pillar of the economy, as well 
as a primary source of foreign exchange and empl oyment. Accordingly, the sector was one of the 
main recipients of public and private sector investment during the review period.  
4.34.  Limited and expensive air access remains a core constraint to the development of the 
tourism industry. Additional drawbacks are the relatively undeveloped tourism product and the 
existing accommodation limitations (both in te rms of quality and number), particularly on 
St. Vincent. During the review period, the sector 's performance was also affected by the global 
economic crisis, which caused a marked decline in stay-over visitors. 
4.35.  Conscious of these limitations, the authorit ies have persevered in their efforts to upgrade 
tourism sites and facilities, and to build an inte rnational airport capable of handling long-range 
aircraft (section 4.3.3). Plans to construct a Hospitality and Maritime Training Institute are also at an advanced stage. In 2009, the Government es tablished the St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Tourism Authority with a mandate to manage the sector and to bring marketing efforts into focus. 
The Tourism Authority is expected, inter alia , to develop: codes of practice, standards and 
licensing requirements for accommodation provider s, tour operators, travel agents, and taxi 
drivers; and grading scales for accommodation facilities. At end 2013, the hospitality industry 
remained largely unregulated, the only requiremen t being the presentation of proof of liability 
insurance upon registering a business. 
4.36.  A lower VAT rate (10%) is imposed on hotel and holiday accommodation; accommodation 
for a continuous period of 45 days is VAT-exempt (section 3.1.3). Other sector-specific incentives 
include the waiver of customs duties and other taxes on imports of building materials and WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  equipment, as well as on tourism-related advertising and promotional material.69 Income tax 
holidays are available for the development of new hotels and apartment-hotels (of not less than five rooms for citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and not less than ten rooms for other persons) or for improvement and expansion. The income tax holiday is for 9 to 15 years, 
depending on the number of rooms created. Income  tax exemptions for expansion of hotels apply 
only to the profits attributable to the expansion. Applications for fiscal incentives are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and Culture, which forwards them to Cabinet 
for approval.  
4.37.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines continues to levy: a travel tax of 5% of the cost of passage 
(by air or sea) for travel originating from its territory; a departure tax of EC$40 on passengers leaving the country by air (included in the airfar e); and a head tax of US$10 per cruise passenger.  
4.3.5  Professional services 
4.38.  St. Vincent and the Grenadines does not have overarching legislation governing the 
regulation and licensing of professional services; service providers may have to comply with 
profession-specific requirements upon registrati on with Inland Revenue. An Act regulating the 
architecture profession, based on the CARICOM mo del bill, was passed in 2011; the authorities are 
planning to apply the same model in adopting pr ofession-specific laws for nurses, accountants, and 
engineers.  
4.39.  Apart from a legal obligation to comply with anti-money-laundering requirements, there are 
no statutory provisions regulating accountants, auditors or lawyers.
70 According to the authorities, 
the licensing of lawyers is carried out by the Ba r Association, and the licensing and practice of 
medical doctors is overseen by the Medical Board.  In principle, no professions are explicitly 
reserved for nationals of St. Vincent and the Gren adines, and no residence requirements apply to 
professional service providers. St. Vincent an d the Grenadines has not signed any mutual 
recognition agreements on professional services with any third country.  
4.40.  CARICOM nationals who are university graduate s, as well as media workers, sportspersons, 
artists, musicians, artisans, and domestic workers (with a CARICOM vocational qualification), may 
enter and work in St. Vincent and the Grenadines  without a work permit, but need to obtain a 
skills certificate (EC$250). Certain foreign accountancy and actuarial bodies in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and the Caribbean have been approved by the 
Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to provide auditing and actuarial services as 
required under St. Vincent and the Grenadines' offshore legislation.  
                                               
69 Hotels Aid Act No. 16 of 1988. 
70 Lawyers and accountants who act as financial fiduci aries for offshore financia l services entities are 
required to obtain licences from th e FSA and are simi larly regulated. WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  REFERENCES 
 
Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2012), Budget Address 2012 . Viewed at: 
http://www.finance.gov.vc/images/stor ies/pdf/budget%20a ddress%2 02012.pdf . 
 
Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2013), Budget Address 2013 . Viewed at: 
http://www.star983fm. com/budget2013.pdf . 
 
Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2014), Budget Address 201 4. Viewed at: 
http://www.star983fm.com/2014BUDGET.pdf . 
 
IMF (2011), St . Vincent and the Grenadines — Request for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit 
Facility , IMF Country Report No. 11/349, December. Viewed at: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ 
ft/scr/2011/cr11349.pdf . 
 
ITU (2012), Country and Regional profiles . Viewed at: http://www.itu.int/net4/itu-d/icteye/ 
CountryProfileReport.aspx?countryID=246 .  
 
 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  5  APPENDIX TABLES 
Table A1.1 Merchandise exports and re -exports by SITC section, 2006-12 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total exports and re-exports 38.1 47.7 52.2 50.1 41.1 38.3 42.6 
  Domestic exports 33.8 36.4 38.4 39.3 34.7 33.0 38.3 
  Re-exports 4.3 11.3 13.8 10.7 6.3 5.4 4.4 
(% of total exports and re-exports) 
0 Food and live animals  72.6 62.0 57.5 60.5 64.2 63.5 65.1 
1 Beverages and tobacco  4.5 4.0 4.2 5.9 6.3 7.7 10.3 
2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels  0.5 0.5 0.7 1.4 2.2 3.4 2.6 
3 Mineral fuels and related materials  0.1 - 1.4 0.7 - 0.2 0.2 
4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes  - - - - - - - 
5 Chemicals and related products  0.6 0.6 0.3 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.4 
6 Manufactured goods classified by material  8.8 8.7 9.1 10.5 12.8 13.3 11.7 
7 Machinery and transport equipment  9.2 20.4 23.0 16.7 10.4 7.6 5.9 
8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles  3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.8 
9 Commodities and transactions not classified 
 elsewhere in SITC  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
 
.. Not available. - Trade share less than 0.05%.  Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank  online information. Viewed at: http://www.eccb-centralbank.org/ 
Statistics/index.asp . 
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  Table A1.2 Merchandise imports by SITC section, 2006-12 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total imports 269.3 326.8 373.1 333.6 338.0 331.7 357.2 
(% of total imports) 
0 Food and live animals  17.2 18.5 19.7 19.4 20.3 23.1 23.0 
1 Beverages and tobacco  2.7 2.8 3.0 3.5 3.7 3.9 3.7 
2 Crude materials, inedible, except fuels  2.7 2.8 2.7 2.4 2.5 2.3 2.2 
3 Mineral fuels and related materials  14.7 16.1 14.8 18.1 14.7 17.8 21.0 
4 Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.5 
5 Chemicals and related products  8.0 7.6 7.7 8.2 7.9 7.6 7.5 
6 Manufactured goods classified by material  19.9 19.1 18.0 18.2 16.8 16.9 16.4 
7 Machinery and transport equipment  23.2 21.7 23.1 18.4 21.5 17.8 16.4 
8 Miscellaneous manufactured articles  11.1 11.0 10.7 11.2 12.2 10.2 9.4 
9 Commodities and transactions not classified 
 elsewhere in SITC  0.1 - - - - - .. 
 
.. Not available. - Trade share less than 0.05%.  Source: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank  online information. Viewed at: http://www.eccb-centralbank.org/ 
Statistics/index.asp . 
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  Table A1.3 Merchandise exports and re -exports by trading partner, 2006-12 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Total exports and re-exports 38.1 47.7 52.2 50.1 41.1 38.3 42.6 
(% of total exports and re-exports) 
 America 73.3 79.0 89.5 91.0 86.7 95.5 95.7 
 United States 5.0 4.2 3.9 5.8 4.2 4.8 3.4 
 Other America 68.4 74.8 85.6 85.2 82.4 90.7 92.4 
  St Lucia 12.0 22.5 14.7 18.5 20.6 22.2 25.6 
  Trinidad and Tobago 14.7 14.7 17.4 20.6 16.1 15.3 15.7 
  Barbados 13.9 9.6 10.7 9.5 11.3 11.9 14.3 
  Antigua and Barbuda 7.9 8.0 8.4 7.9 7.4 11.8 12.4 
  Dominica 4.6 4.0 5.0 4.2 6.5 8.5 7.6 
  St Kitts and Nevis 4.1 3.9 5.3 5.2 6.8 6.7 6.3 
  Grenada 4.0 6.2 18.2 12.6 3.3 3.7 3.5 
  Suriname 0.5 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 2.6 1.8 
  Jamaica 2.3 2.2 2.6 1.4 1.9 2.1 1.5 
  Guyana 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.2 2.2 2.7 1.0 
  British Virgin Islands 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.6 1.0 0.9 1.0 
  Montserrat 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8 0.7 
  Canada 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.6 0.2 
  Haiti 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 
  Anguilla 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.1 
  Turks and Caicos Islands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
  Dominican Republic 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.0 0.1 
  Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 1.8 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 
 Europe 26.0 20.2 9.8 8.0 12.5 2.9 2.0 
 EU(27) 26.0 20.2 9.6 8.0 12.4 2.9 2.0 
  United Kingdom 25.4 19.7 9.0 7.5 10.9 2.4 1.8 
  France 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 
  Belgium-Luxembourg 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 
  Latvia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
  Netherlands 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
 EFTA 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
 Other Europe 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Commonwealth of Inde pendent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Africa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 
 Middle East 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
  United Arab Emirates 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
 Asia 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.6 1.0 1.6 
 China 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 
 Japan 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Six East Asian Traders 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.7 1.2 
  Thailand 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 
  Malaysia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.4 
  Chinese Taipei 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.1 
  Singapore 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
  Hong Kong, China 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
  Korea, Republic of 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Other Asia 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.4 
  Viet Nam 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.2 
  Indonesia 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 
 Other 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.0 0.4 0.4 
 
a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mold ova, Russian Federation, Tajikist an, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and 
Uzbekistan. 
 Note: 0.0% in the table represents negligible trade. 
 
Source: UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Re v.3); and Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. 
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  Table A1.4 Merchandise imports by trading partner, 2008-12 
(US$ million and %) 
Description 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
Total imports (authorities) 368.4 332.4 340.1 328.9 355.7 
Total imports (Comtrade) 373.2 333.5 379.5 383.5 403.2 
Total imports (ECCB) 373.1 333.6 338.0 331.7 357.2 
(% of total imports) 
 America 76.6 77.7 78.9 81.2 82.6 
 United States 38.0 34.9 36.8 40.1 40.1 
 Other America 38.6 42.9 42.1 41.0 42.5 
  Trinidad and Tobago 22.0 25.8 21.3 24.5 22.6 
  Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 3.3 1.6 2.6 1.7 5.6 
  Barbados 2.7 3.4 2.9 3.0 2.4 
  Canada 2.1 2.1 5.6 3.0 1.7 
  Jamaica 0.6 0.8 1.4 0.8 1.4 
  Guyana 1.1 0.9 1.5 1.2 1.2 
  Brazil 1.1 1.2 0.7 1.0 1.1 
  Colombia 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.4 1.0 
  Dominican Republic 0.6 1.5 1.1 0.5 1.0 
  Mexico 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 
  St Lucia 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 
  Guatemala 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.4 
  Peru 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 
  British Virgin Islands 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 
  Grenada 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.3 
  Panama 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 
  Argentina 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
  Bahamas 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 
  Dominica 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 
  Chile 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 
  Costa Rica 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Europe 13.4 13.4 10.5 11.1 10.0 
 EU(27) 13.0 12.5 10.2 9.8 9.8 
  United Kingdom 6.0 6.3 5.9 5.9 5.0 
  Italy 1.6 2.3 0.9 0.7 2.1 
  France 0.6 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.5 
  Netherlands 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.5 
  Germany 2.2 0.7 0.9 0.9 0.4 
 EFTA 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.1 
  Switzerland 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 Other Europe 0.1 0.7 0.2 0.9 0.1 
  Turkey 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.9 0.1 
 Commonwealth of Inde pendent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 Africa 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 
  Swaziland 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
  South Africa 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
 Middle East 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
 Asia 9.5 8.3 10.4 7.6 7.3 
 China 2.7 3.0 5.8 3.4 3.6 
 Japan 2.8 2.7 2.2 1.5 1.3 
 Six East Asian Traders 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.7 0.9 
  Korea, Republic of 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 
  Hong Kong, China 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.2 
  Thailand 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 
  Chinese Taipei 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 
  Malaysia 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 
  Singapore 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 WT/TPR/S/299/Rev.1 • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
 
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  Description 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
 Other Asia 3.1 1.7 1.3 2.0 1.4 
  New Zealand 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.5 
  Australia 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.3 
  India 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 
  Indonesia 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2 
 Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 
a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mold ova, Russian Federation, Tajikist an, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and 
Uzbekistan. 
 Note: 0.0% in the table represents negligible trade.  Source: UNSD, Comtrade database (SITC Re v.3); and Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. 
 
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