WT/L/888  
 
9 July 2013  
(13-3622)  Page: 1/7  
General Council 
24-25 July 2013  Original: English  
 
UNITED STATES – CARIBBEAN BASIN ECONOMIC RECOVERY ACT 
REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE YEAR 2012 
UNDER THE DECISION OF 27 MAY 20091 
The following communication, dated 4 July 2013, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the United States. 
 
_______________ 
 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  On 27 May 2009, the United States was gran ted a renewal of the waiver (WT/L/753) of its 
obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I and paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article XIII of the GATT 1994 
to the extent necessary to permit the United Stat es 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) wi thout being required to extend the same duty-
free treatment to like products of any other Member. This waiver expires 31 December 2014. 
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 2012. 
2  DUTY FREE TREATMENT UNDER THE CBERA 2.1.  Section 211 of the CBERA allows the President of the United States to eliminate duties on all 
products, with certain exceptions
2, from those Caribbean countries and territories that he 
designates as beneficiaries. In 2012, 17 countries and territories received CBERA benefits. These countries and territories were: Antigua and Barb uda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, 
British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Panama, 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 countries
3 and one dependency, Montserrat, requested expanded benefits available 
under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act. The United States is currently reviewing the eligibility of each country for benefits. 
                                               
1 WT/L/753. 
2 Prior to enactment of the United States-Caribbe an Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) in 2000, the 
products excluded from duty free treatment were: textile  and apparel articles whic h are subject to textile 
agreements; certain footwear which wa s not eligible for duty free entry und er the U.S. Generalized System of 
Preferences in 1983; prepared tuna in airtight cont ainers; petroleum and petroleum products; watches and 
watch parts if such products contain any material fro m 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 und er CBTPA, Title II of the Trade and 
Development Act of 2000, which amended the CBERA.   The Trade Act of 2002, the Haitian Hemispheric 
Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006, and the HOPE II Act of 2008 further 
amended the CBERA. 
3 Aruba, Bahamas, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts,  and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. WT/L/888 
 
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  2.3.   On 5 August 2004, the United States sign ed the Dominican Republic-Central America-United 
States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) with five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic. The CAFTA-DR entered into force for El Salvador on 1 March 20 06; 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 on 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 United States-Caribbean Basin 
Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) beneficiary. On 31 October 2012, the United States-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement (TPA) entered into force and Panama ceased to be designated as a CBERA and CBTPA beneficiary. 
2.4.  The Trade Act of 2002 amended the CBERA to grant additional benefits to Caribbean Basin 
apparel products.  Specifically, these changes permitted the use of US and regional knit-to-shape 
components 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 for apparel imports and 
that enhance sourcing flexibility for apparel producers in Haiti. The HOPE II Act of 2008 modified the existing trade preference programs under HOPE and added other new programs that allow for 
duty-free treatment for qualifying Haitian-produc ed 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. 
3  CBERA PERFORMANCE 
3.1.  The CBERA program has helped beneficiary countries diversify their exports. On a region-
wide basis, this export diversification 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.  US imports under CBERA preferences fell 13 per cent since the last report from the United 
States in July 2012 (WT/L/858), primarily due to a decline in petroleum imports under CBERA. In 
2011, US imports under CBERA were $3.62 billion. In 2012, US imports under CBERA were 
$3.14 billion. 
3.3.  The value of US imports of textile and apparel
4 from CBERA beneficiary countries was 
$429 million in 2012, compared to $466 million in 2011. CBERA beneficiary countries’ share of the 
value of total US textile and apparel imports continued to fall from its 2005 levels of 10.6 per cent. 
CBERA beneficiary countries accounted for about 0.6 per cent of the value of total US textile and apparel imports in 2012. Much, but not all of the dec line, is due to the shift of the leading apparel-
supplying countries from the CB ERA program to the CAFTA-DR. 
3.4.  Of the $3.14 billion in imports under  CBERA in 2012, energy-related products
5 accounted for 
71.7 per cent, textiles and apparel (almost all apparel) for 13.7 per cent, and agricultural products 
for 9.1 per cent.  The three leading categories of US imports from CBERA countries in 2012 – 
mineral fuel products (HTS chapter 27), organic chemicals (HTS chapter 29), and knitted or crocheted articles of apparel and clothing (HTS chapter 61) – accounted for 85 per cent of US imports from CBERA countries. 
3.5.  Trinidad and Tobago became the leading source of US imports entering under CBERA 
preferences in 2005. The United States import ed $2.2 billion under CBERA preferences from 
Trinidad and Tobago in 2012. Imports under CBER A preferences from Trinidad and Tobago were 
dominated by petroleum and methanol. Haiti was the second leading supplier of US imports under 
CBERA. US imports from Haiti under CBERA totalled $436.8 million in 2012, mostly textiles and apparel products. 
3.6.  Statistical annexes are provided to present a detailed description of the trade aspects of the 
CBERA program for the most recent period. Deta iled 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 encomp asses chapters 50-63 (based  on that used in the 
WTO). 
5 The term “energy-related pr oducts” used herein encompasses HTS chapters 27 and 29. WT/L/888 
 
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  Table 1 provides summary information on US imports for consumption under CBERA provisions 
during the period 2004 through 2012.  Table 2  provides information on leading US imports for consumption under CBERA provisions, by 
product, during 2010 through 2012. 
 Table 3  provides information on US trade with CBERA countries during 2004 through 2012.  
 
 
_______________ 
 
 
  
  WT/L/888  
 
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US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, BY SOURCES, 2004-20126 
                    
Source 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
  Value (1,000 dollars) 
Trin & Tobago 1,674,430 2,734,524  3,677,726  2,832,296  2,365,386 1,533,773  2,205,811  2,594,465  2,171,207  
Haiti 218,264 303,390  379,321  430,389  405,118 388,854  364,114  474,602  436,783  
Jamaica 166,708 152,163  245,755  235,947  319,600 212,365  83,910  179,045  206,046  
Belize 44,477 54,749  72,221  54,460  129,517 66,019  61,744  146,045  131,898  
Bahamas 92,705 111,345  125,056  137,351  141,038 96,545  98,989  123,854  130,309  
Panama 32,791 40,751  33,828  31,191  46,466 20,607  28,435  55,184  26,319  
St Kitts-Nevis 29,663 25,211  24,750  16,189  14,071 8,919  20,466  27,273  22,350  
Guyana 21,048 6,721  5,098  10,099  20,613 14,418  10,632  11,129  5,300  
Barbados 3,513 3,859  4,765  7,100  6,913 4,603  7,233  4,493  3,812  
St Lucia Is 5,836 6,353  7,076  8,594  11,081 10,937  9,199  1,889  1,836  
Br  Virgin Is 319 198 223 65 437 26 86 136 451 
Grenada Is 11 9 56 25 126 78 150 257 341 
St Vinc & Gren 2,925 521 210 216 171 117 124 88 138 
Dominica Is 369 79 66 45 200 115 53 149 117 
Antigua Barbuda 51 34 23 132 94 231 21 23 30 
Aruba 29 30 171 295 229 153 566 249 27 
Netherlands Ant 5,206 6,763  2,157  3,598  11,933 868 1,193  344 0 
El Salvador 1,125,843 1,226,033  154,121  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Honduras 2,314,464 2,372,315  555,925  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Costa Rica 1,078,966 1,157,763  1,382,065  1,417,864  1,252,756 0 0 0 0 
Nicaragua 331,229 403,798  110,981  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Dominican Rep 2,598,254 2,483,579  2,481,035  310,104  0 0 0 0 0 
Guatemala 1,189,520 1,246,183  652,845  0 0 0 0 0 0 
Total 10,936,621 12,336,372 9,915,473 5,495,960 4,725,747 2,358,628 2,892,726 3,619,227 3,136,962 
Note:  Because of rounding, figure s may not add to totals given. 
Source:  Compiled from offi cial 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 bene ficiaries: El Salvador (1 March 2006), 
Honduras and Nicaragua (1 April 2006), Guatemala (1 July 2006), th e Dominican Republic (1 March 2007), and Costa Rica (1 Januar y 2009).  TPA entered into force as of 
31 October 2012, at which time Panama ceased to be a CBERA beneficiary.  
  WT/L/888  
 
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TABLE 1 – CONTINUED 
US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, BY SOURCES, 2004-2012 
 
Source 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
  Per cent of total 
Trin & Tobago 15.31  22.17  37.09  51.53  50.05 65.03  76.25  71.69  69.21  
Haiti 2.00 2.46 3.83 7.83 8.57 16.49  12.59  13.11  13.92  
Jamaica 1.52 1.23 2.48 4.29 6.76 9.00 2.90 4.95 6.57 
Belize 0.41 0.44 0.73 0.99 2.74 2.80 2.13 4.04 4.20 
Bahamas 0.85 0.90 1.26 2.50 2.98 4.09 3.42 3.42 4.15 
Panama 0.30 0.33 0.34 0.57 0.98 0.87 0.98 1.52 0.84 
St Kitts-Nevis 0.27 0.20 0.25 0.29 0.30 0.38 0.71 0.75 0.71 
Guyana 0.19 0.05 0.05 0.18 0.44 0.61 0.37 0.31 0.17 
Barbados 0.03 0.03 0.05 0.13 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.12 0.12 
St Lucia Is 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.16 0.23 0.46 0.32 0.05 0.06 
Br  Virgin Is (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) 0.01 
Grenada Is (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 0.01 0.01 
St Vinc & Gren 0.03 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 
Dominica Is (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 
Antigua Barbuda (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) (a) (a) 
Aruba (a) (a) (a) 0.01 (a) 0.01 0.02 0.01 (a) 
Netherlands Ant 0.05 0.05 0.02 0.07 0.25 0.04 0.04 0.01 0.00 
El Salvador 10.29  9.94 1.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Honduras 21.16  19.23  5.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Costa Rica 9.87 9.38 13.94  25.80  26.51 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Nicaragua 3.03 3.27 1.12 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Dominican Rep 23.76  20.13  25.02  5.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Guatemala 10.88  10.10  6.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
Total 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00 100.00  100.00  100.00  100.00  
a Less than 0.005 per cent. 
Source:  Compiled from offi cial statistics of the US Department of Commerce. WT/L/888 
 
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  TABLE 2 
LEADING US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION UNDER CBERA PROVISIONS, 2010-2012 
  
HTS  
Number  Change 
Description 2010 2011 2012 2011 - 
2012 
    
Value (millions of dollars)   
    Per cent 
2709.00.20 Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, crude, 
testing 25 degrees A.P.I. or more 1,249.5 1,273.9 1,163.7 -8.7 
2905.11.20 Methanol (Methyl alcohol), other than imported only for 
use in producing synthetic natu ral gas (SNG) or for direct 
use as fuel 889.8 1,096.8 1,022.3 -6.8 
6109.10.00 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, knitted 
or crocheted, of cotton 203.6 213.1 224.6 5.4 
6110.20.20 Sweaters, pullovers and simi lar articles, knitted or 
crocheted, of cotton, nesoi 125.1 220.7 176.1 -20.2 
2207.10.60 Undenatured ethyl alcohol of 80 percent vol. alcohol or 
higher, for nonbeverage purposes 10.3 239.5 149.8 -37.5 
3903.11.00 Polystyrene, expandable, in primary forms 95.4 122.2 129.4 5.9 
2710.19.06 Distillate and residual fuel oil (including blends) derived 
from petroleum or oils from bi tuminous minerals, testing 
> 25 degrees A.P.I. NV NV 34.8 NA 
2933.61.00 Melamine 6.1 23.7 21.5 -9.0 
0714.30.10 Fresh or chilled yams (Dioscorea spp.), whether or not 
sliced or in the form of pellets NV NV 15.8 NA 
6109.90.10 T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, knitted 
or crocheted, of man-made fibers 19.8 18.0 15.6 -13.3 
1701.14.10 Other cane sugar, raw, in so lid form, w/o added flavoring 
or coloring, subject to add. US 5 to Ch.17 NV NV 12.7 NA 
8525.50.30 Transmission apparatus for television, nesoi 11.0 15.7 12.2 -22.5 
0807.20.00 Papayas (papaws), fresh 12.1 12.7 11.1 -12.8 
2009.19.00 Orange juice, not frozen, of a Brix value exceeding 20, 
unfermented 5.6 4.6 8.1 75.2 
2009.11.00 Orange juice, frozen, unfermented and not containing 
added spirit 6.7 6.5 7.9 22.5 
0804.30.40 Pineapples, fresh or dried, not reduced in size, in crates or 
other packages 8.1 7.2 6.2 -13.4 
0804.50.40 Guavas, mangoes, and mangos teens, fresh, if entered 
during the period September 1 through May 31, inclusive 1.3 7.1 6.1 -14.6 
2106.90.99 Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included, not 
canned or frozen 5.5 3.8 6.0 59.0 
2103.90.80 Mixed condiments and mixed seasonings, not described in 
add US note 3 to Ch. 21 4.8 5.6 5.8 3.0 
2202.10.00 Waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, 
containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or 
flavored 5.8 6.5 5.4 -18.1 
2008.99.90 Fruit nesoi, and other edible parts of plants nesoi, other 
than pulp and excluding mixtures, otherwise prepared or 
preserved, nesoi 4.5 5.1 5.0 -0.2 
  Total of above 2,664.8 3,282.6 3,040.1 -7.4 
  All other 227.9 336.7 96.9 -71.2 
  Total  2,892.7 3,619.2 3,137.0 -13.3 
Note:  Because of rounding, figures ma y not add to totals given.  The abbreviation “nesoi” stands for “not 
elsewhere specified or otherwise included.”  NV indicates the tariff line was not valid in that year.  NA indicates a calculation was not applicable. 
 
Source:  Compiled from offi cial statistics of the US Department of Commerce. WT/L/888 
 
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  TABLE 3 
US TRADE WITH CBERA BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES, 2004-20127 
 
Share of US 
exports to 
the world Share of US 
imports to 
the world Year US Exports8 US Imports9 US trade 
balance 
Millions dollars Per cent Millions dollars Per cent Millions dollars 
2004 22,993.2 3.2 27,428.2  1.9 -4,435.0  
2005 26,056.6 3.2 31,626.6  1.9 -5,570.0  
2006 30,999.9 3.3 32,623.8  1.8 -1,624.0  
2007 24,639.7 2.4 22,509.9  1.2 2,129.8  
2008 23,488.7 2.0 19,295.9  0.9 4,192.8  
2009 18,821.4 2.0 14,940.4  1.0 3,881.0  
2010 18,478.6 1.6 10,074.3  0.5 8,404.3  
2011 19,837.2 1.5 15,290.4  0.7 4,546.9  
2012 20,708.4 1.5 11,938.5  0.5 8,769.8  
Note: Because of rounding, figure s may not add to totals given. 
Source: Compiled from offici al statistics of the US Department of Commerce. 
 
 
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7 Includes imports and exports for countries on l y  w h i l e  t h e y  w e r e  C B ERA beneficiaries.  See CBERA 
Table 1 for programme coverage. 
8 Domestic exports, f.a.s. basis. 
9 Imports for consumption, customs value.