WT/L/1012  
 
12 July 2017  
(17-3741) Page: 1/7 
General Council  
26 and 27 July 2017  Original: English  
 
UNITED STATES – CARIBBEAN BASIN ECON OMIC RECOVERY ACT  
REPORT OF THE GOVERN MENT OF THE UNITED S TATES FOR THE YEAR 2 016 
UNDER THE DECISION O F 5 MAY 20151 
The following communication, dated 7 July 2017 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the United States.  
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  On 5 May 2015, the United States was granted a renewal of the waiver (WT/L/950) of its 
obligations under paragraph 1 of Article  I and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article XIII of the GATT 1994 
to the extent neces sary to permit the United States Government to provide duty free treatment to 
eligible products of the Caribbean Basin countries and territories as authorized by the provisions of 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) without being required to exte nd the same duty -
free treatment to like products of any other Member. This waiver expires 31 December 2019.  
1.2.  Under the terms of this waiver, the United States is required to submit to the General Council 
an annual report on the implementation of the trade -related provisions of the CBERA with a view 
to facilitating the annual review provided for in paragraph 4 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement. 
This report covers calendar year 2016.  
2  DUTY FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE CBERA  
2.1.  Section 211 of the CBERA allows the Pres ident of the United States to eliminate duties on all 
products, with certain exceptions2, from those Caribbean countries and territories that he 
designates as beneficiaries. In 2016, 17  countries and territories received CBERA benefits. These 
countries and  territories were: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, 
British Virgin Islands, Curaçao , Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St.  Kitts 
and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.  
2.2.  In 2012, two successor states of the former Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao  and Sint Maarten 
requested benefits under the CBERA, as did The Turks and Caicos Islands and Suriname. Also in 
2012, six countries3 and one dependency, Montserrat, requested expanded benefits available 
under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA).  In December 2013, Curaçao  was 
                                                
1 WT/L/950.  
2 Prior to enactment of the United States -Caribbean Basin Trade Partnersh ip Act (CBTPA) in 2000, the 
products excluded from duty free treatment were: textile and apparel articles which are subject to textile 
agreements; certain footwear which was not eligible for duty free entry under the US  Generalized System of 
Preferences in  1983; prepared tuna in airtight containers; petroleum and petroleum products; watches and 
watch parts if such products contain any material from countries not accorded MFN treatment; and certain 
leather products (handbags, luggage, flat goods, work gloves , and leather wearing apparel). Many of these 
excluded products became  eligible for preferential treatment under CBTPA, Title II of the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000, which amended the CBERA. The Trade Act of 2002, the Haitian Hemispheric 
Opportunity t hrough Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006, and the HOPE II Act of 2008 further 
amended the CBERA.  
3 Aruba, Bahamas, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  WT/L/1012  
 
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  included as an independent beneficiary to both CBERA and CBTPA.  The United States is reviewing 
the request of Sint Maarten for designation as benefi ciary country under CBERA and CBTPA.  
2.3.  On 5 August 2004, the United States signed the Dominican Republic -Central America -United 
States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA -DR) with five Central American countries (Costa Rica, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nic aragua) and the Dominican Republic. The CAFTA -DR 
entered into force for El Salvador on 1 March 2006; for Honduras on 1 April 2006; for Nicaragua 
on 1 April 2006; for Guatemala on 1 July 2006; for the Dominican Republic on 1 March 2007; and 
for Costa Rica o n 1 January 2009. When the CAFTA -DR entered into force for each of these 
countries, the country ceased to be designated as a CBERA and C BTPA beneficiary. On 
31 October  2012, the United States -Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) entered into force 
and Pa nama ceased to be designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary.  
2.4.  The Trade Act of 2002 amended the CBERA to grant additional benefits to Caribbean Basin 
apparel products.  Specifically, these  changes permitted the use of U S and regional knit -to-shape 
compone nts in eligible apparel articles. In addition, the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through 
Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006 amended the CBERA program by establishing 
special new rules of origin that make Haiti eligible for new trade benefits fo r apparel imports and 
that enhance sourcing flexibility for apparel producers in Haiti. The HOPE II Act of 2008 modified 
the existing trade preference programs under HOPE and added other new programs that allow for 
duty-free treatment for qualifying Haitia n-produced apparel. In 2010, the Haiti Economic Lift 
Program (HELP) Act extended the CBTPA and the HOPE Acts through 30  September  2020.  The 
HELP Act also provided duty -free treatment for additional textile and apparel products from Haiti.  
Section 301 of the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 extended preferences for certain 
products of Haiti through  30 September 2025.  
3  CBERA PERFORMANCE  
3.1.  The CBERA program has helped beneficiary countries diversify their exports. On a region -
wide basis, this export dive rsification has led to a more balanced production and export base and 
has resulted in a reduction in the region's vulnerability to fluctuations in markets for traditional 
products.   
3.2.  In 2016, US imports under CBERA preferences fell 43.2 % from the previous year, primarily 
due to a decline in methanol and petroleum imports. In 20 15, US imports under CBERA were 
$1.54 billion. In 2016, US imports under CBERA were $875.7 million.  The value of US imports of 
textile and apparel4 under CBERA was $303  million in 20 16, compared to $416 million in 20 15. 
3.3.  Of the $875.7 million in imports under CBERA in 2016, energy -related products5 accounted 
for 40.7 %, textiles and appare l (almost all apparel) for 34.6% , and agricultural products and 
processed food for 13.2 %. 
3.4.  Trinidad and Tobago became the leading source of US imports entering under CBERA 
preferences in 2005. The United States imported $383 million under CBERA preferences from 
Trinidad and Tobago in 2016. Imports under CBERA preferences from Trinidad and Tobago were 
dominated by methanol and petroleum. Haiti was the second leading supplier of US imports under 
CBERA. US imports from Haiti under CBERA totalled $318 million in 2016, mostly textiles and 
apparel products.  
3.5.  Statistical annexes are provided to present a detailed  description of the trade aspects of the 
CBERA program for the most recent period. Detailed information for previous years has been 
provided in previous reports to the GATT Council or WTO General Council.  
                                                
4 The term "textiles and apparel" used herein encompas ses HTS chapters 50 -63 (based on that used in 
the WTO).  
5 The term "energy -related products" used herein encompasses HTS chapters 27 and 29.  WT/L/1012  
 
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  Table 1 provides summary information on US imports for consumption under CBERA provisions 
during the period 2008 through 2016.  
 
Table 2  provides information on leading US imports for consumption under CBERA provisions, by 
product, during 2014 through 2016.  
 
Table 3  provides information on US trade with CB ERA countries during 2008 through 2016.  
 
 
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  WT/L/101 2 
 
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TABLE 1  
US IMPORTS FOR CONSU MPTION UNDER CBERA P ROVISIONS, BY SOURCE S, 2008 -20166 
Source  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  
  Value (1,000 dollars)  
Trinidad  & Tobago  2,365,386  1,533,7 73 2,207,842  2,589,360  2,171,197  1,640,709  1,234,474  830,265  383,460  
Haiti 405,118  388,854  364,058  474,602  436,783  362,266  405,395  433,411  317,860  
Jamaica  319,600  212,365  83,910  179,186  206,201  90,231  71,779  81,563  75,189  
Bahamas  141,038  96,545  98,975  123,854  130,539  141,654  158,191  88,389  68,403  
Belize  129,517  66,019  61,744  146,045  131,943  104,777  60,582  36,881  17,136  
St. Kitts & Nevis  14,071  8,919  20,466  27,273  22,350  18,933  18,341  10,481  7,304  
Barbados  6,913  4,603  7,233  4,493  3,813  2,081  5,295  22,570 2,254  
Grenada  126 78 150 317 341 295 443 1,728  1,809  
Guyana  20,613  14,418  10,632  11,172  5,315  4,532  11,857  34,912  1,552  
St. Lucia 11,081  10,937  9,199  1,889  1,836  3,210  1,162  1,301  561 
Curaçao  0 0 0 0 0 0 5,365  3 85 
St. Vincent & the 
Grenadines  171 117 124 88 138 141 182 16 45 
Antigua  & Barbuda  94 231 21 23 30 24 19 82 37 
Dominica  200 115 53 149 117 170 66 77 22 
Aruba  229 153 566 249 27 18 75 93 15 
British Virgin Islands  437 26 86 136 451 103 50 9 9 
Costa Rica  1,252,756  0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Panama  46,466  20,607  28,911  54,718  26,308  0 0 0 0 
Montserrat  0 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 0 
Netherlands Antilles  11,933  868 1,193  344 0 0 0 0 0 
Total 4,725,747  2,358,628  2,895,164  3,613,899  3,137,413  2,369,144  1,973,277  1,541,778  875,744  
Note:  Because of rounding, figur es may not add to totals given.  
Source : Compiled from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
                                                
6 CAFTA -DR entered into force for the following countries (date of entry into force), at which time they ceased to be CBERA beneficiaries: El Salvador (1 March  2006), 
Honduras and Nicaragua (1 April 2006), Guatemala (1 July 2006), the Dominican Republic (1 March 2007), an d Costa Rica (1 January 2009). TPA entered into force as of 
31 October 2012, at which time Panama c eased to be a CBERA beneficiary.   
  WT/L/1012  
 
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US IMPORTS FOR CONSU MPTION UNDER CBERA P ROVISIONS, BY SOURCE S, 200 8-2016 
 
Source  2008  2009  2010  2011  2012  2013  2014  2015  2016  
  Per cent of total  
Trinidad  & Tobago  50.05  65.03  76.26  71.65  69.20  69.25  62.56  53.85  43.79  
Haiti 8.57 16.49  12.57  13.13  13.92  15.29  20.54  28.11  36.30  
Jamaica  6.76 9.00 2.90 4.96 6.57 3.81 3.64 5.29 8.59 
Bahamas  2.98 4.09 3.42 3.43 4.16 5.98 8.02 5.73 7.81 
Belize  2.74 2.80 2.13 4.04 4.21 4.42 3.07 2.39 1.96 
St. Kitts & Nevis  0.30 0.38 0.71 0.75 0.71 0.80 0.93 0.68 0.83 
Barbados  0.15 0.20 0.25 0.12 0.12 0.09 0.27 1.46 0.26 
Grenada  (a) (a) 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.11 0.21 
Guyana  0.44 0.61 0.37 0.31 0.17 0.19 0.60 2.26 0.18 
St Lucia  0.23 0.46 0.32 0.05 0.06 0.14 0.06 0.08 0.06 
Curaçao  0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.27 0.00 0.01 
St. Vincent & the Grenadines  (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 0.01 (a) 0.01 
Antigua Barbuda  (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) 
Dominica  (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) 
Aruba  (a) 0.01 0.02 0.01 (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) 
British Virgin Islands  0.01 (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) (a) 
Costa Rica  26.51  0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Panama  0.98 0.87 1.00 1.51 0.84 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Montserrat  0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (a) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Netherlands Antilles  0.25 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Total 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  
(a) Less than 0.005 per cent.   
Source :  Compile d from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
 WT/L/1012  
 
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TABLE 2  
LEADING US IMPORTS F OR CONSUMPTION UNDER  CBERA PROVISIONS, 20 14-2016 
HTS 
Number  Description  2014  2015  2016  Change 
2015 - 
2016  
    Value (millions of dollars)  Per cent  
2905.11.20  Methanol (Methyl alcohol), other than imported 
only for use in producing synthetic natural gas 
(SNG) or for direct use as fuel  1,023.6  650.8  257.8  -60.4 
6109.10.00  T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, 
knitted or crocheted, of cotton  247.0  271.5  206.7  -23.9 
2709.00.20  Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, 
crude, testing 25 degrees A.P.I. or more  192.4  144.9  86.2 -40.5 
6110.20.20  Sweaters, pullovers and similar articles, knitted or 
crocheted, of cotton, nesoi  121.1  121.0  84.3 -30.3 
3903.11.00  Polystyrene, expandable, in primary forms  155.8  86.9 66.6 -23.3 
0714.30.10  Fresh or chilled yams (Dioscorea spp.), whether or 
not sliced or in the form of pellets  18.2 20.4 21.1 3.6 
2106.90.99  Food preparations not elsewhere specified or 
included, not canned or frozen  9.8 13.5 15.9 18.1 
2933.61.00  Melamine  16.9 4.2 12.1 185.8  
6109.90.10  T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, 
knitted or crocheted, of man -made fibres  13.5 17.5 11.9 -32.4 
2103.90.90  Sauces and preparations therefor , neosi  7.2 8.6 8.2 -5.2 
2009.19.00  Orange juice, not frozen, of a Brix value exceeding 
20, unfermented  6.7 7.9 6.5 -18.2 
0804.50.40  Guavas, mangoes, and mangosteens, fresh, if 
entered during the period September 1 through 
May 31, inclusive  8.6 8.2 6.3 -23.2 
2008.99.90  Fruit nesi, and other edible parts of plants nesi, 
other than pulp and excluding mixtures, otherwise 
prepared or preserved, nesi  4.4 4.9 5.8 17.9 
2005.99.97  Vegetables nesoi,& mixtures of vegetables, 
prepared or preserved otherwise than b y vinegar 
or acetic acid, not frozen, not preserved by sugar  4.0 4.1 5.3 29.3 
2009.11.00  Orange juice, frozen, unfermented and not 
containing added spirit  9.1 6.0 4.8 -19.6 
8504.31.40  Electrical transformers other than liquid dielectric, 
having a power h andling capacity less than 1 kVA  0.2 3.0 3.7 21.8 
2103.90.80  Mixed condiments and mixed seasonings, not 
described in add US note 3 to Ch. 21  6.6 4.3 3.3 -23.1 
0807.20.00  Papayas (papaws), fresh  7.9 8.1 3.1 -61.6 
2202.90.90  Non-alcoholic  beverages, nesi,  not including fruit 
or vegetable juices of heading 2009  3.9 4.2 3.0 -27.3 
2202.10.00  Waters, including mineral waters and aerated 
waters, containing added sugar or other 
sweetening matter or flavoured  4.8 2.8 2.6 -9.8 
0406.30.24  Cheddar cheese, processe d, not grated or 
powdered, subject to add US note 18 to chap. 4  2.8 3.8 2.5 -32.1 
 Total of above  1,864.6  1,396.5  817.8  -41.4 
 All other  108.6  145.3  58.0 -60.1 
  Total 1,973.3  1,541.8  875.7  -43.2 
Note:   Because of rounding, figures may not add to total s given.  The abbreviations  "nesoi" and " nesi" 
stand for " not elsewhere specified or otherwise included. " 
Source:  Compiled from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
 
 
 WT/L/1012  
 
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  TABLE 3  
US TRADE WITH CBERA BENEFICIARY COUNTRIE S, 2008 -20167 
Year US Exports8 Share of US 
exports to 
the world  US Imports9 Share of US 
imports to 
the world  US trade 
balance  
 Millions dollars  Per cent  Millions dollars  Per cent  Millions dollars  
2008 23,496.7  2.0 19,296.2  0.9 4,200.5  
2009 14,482.9  1.5 9,350.5  0.6 5,132.4  
2010 18,460.0  1.6 10,082.0  0.5 8,378.1  
2011 19,798.2  1.5 15,268.6  0.7 4,529.7  
2012 20,449.0  1.5 11,939.4  0.5 8,509.6  
2013 11,880.2  0.9 8,925.3  0.4 2,955.0  
2014 12,745.0  0.9 8,484.1  0.4 4,260.9  
2015 11,631.0  0.9 7,046.5  0.3 4,584.4  
2016 10,500.5  0.9 5,322.4  0.2 5,178.0  
Note:  Because of rounding, figures may not add to totals given.  
Source : Compiled from official statistics of the US Department of Commerce.  
 
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7 Includes imports and exports for countries only while they were CBERA beneficiaries.  See CBERA 
Table 1 for program me coverage.  
8 Domestic exports, f.a.s. basis.  
9 Imports for consumption, customs value.