WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/L/545 
17 November 2003 
 (03-6155) 
General Council 
15-16 and 18 December 2003 Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
CANADA – TARIFF TREATMENT FOR COMMONWEALTH 
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES 
 
2003 Report of the Government of Ca nada on the Trade-Related Provisions  
of CARIBCAN under the Decision of 14 October 19961 
  
 The following communication, dated 10 N ovember 2003, has been received from the 
Permanent Mission of Canada. 
 
 
_______________ 
 
 
1. Introduction 
1. CARIBCAN is an economic and trade de velopment assistance program for the 
Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories esta blished as a result of a commitment by Canada 
at the Commonwealth Heads of Governme nt meeting in Nassau in October 1985. 
2. The objectives of CARIBCAN are to enhance Commonwealth Caribbean trade and export 
earnings, improve the trade and economic development prospects of the region, promote new 
investment opportunities, and encourage enhanced economic integration and co-operation.  The main 
feature of CARIBCAN is the unilateral extension by  Canada, beginning on June 15, 1986, of duty-
free access to the Canadian market for most co mmodities originating in Commonwealth Caribbean 
countries. 
3. On November 28, 1986, a decision by the Contr acting Parties to the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade (GATT) waived until June 15, 1998,  the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 1 of 
the General Agreement, "only to th e extent necessary to permit the Government of Canada to provide 
duty-free treatment to eligible imports of Comm onwealth Caribbean countries benefiting from the 
provisions of CARIBCAN, without being required to extend the same duty- free treatment to like 
products of any other contracting party."  (L/6102) .  On October 14, 1996, the WTO extended the 
CARIBCAN waiver until December 31, 2006. (W T/L/185).  The conditions associated with the 
CARIBCAN waiver remain unchanged. 
4. This report is being made in accordance with pa ragraph 3 of the WTO waiver of October 14, 
1996 and Article IX of the WTO Agreement. 
                                                     
 
1 WT/L/185. WT/L/545 
Page 2  
 
 2. Country Coverage 
5. The Customs Tariff  lists 18 countries or dependent territori es which are eligible to receive the 
duty-free benefits accorded under CARIBCAN:   Anguilla, Antigua-Barbuda, The Bahamas, 
Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Is lands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, 
Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.  No addi tions or deletions from 
this list have occurred since CARIBCAN was enacted on June 15, 1986.  
3. Product Coverage 
6. There have been no amendments to CARIBCAN product coverage since the changes made in 
February 1998.  
7. Today, product exclusions from the duty-free provisions of CARIBCAN are:  
- Goods of HS Chapters 50 to 65 inclusive; 
 - Goods covered by tariff items with “over acc ess commitment” rates of duty established in the 
“tariffication” process . 
 
4. Rules of Origin 
8. The rules of origin for the purposes of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff 
(CCCT) treatment are set out in regulations  enacted pursuant to Section 24 of the Customs Tariff . 
9. To qualify for the duty-free treatment accorded  to Commonwealth Caribbean countries, at 
least sixty per cent of the ex-factory price of th e goods as packed for shipment to Canada must 
originate in one or more beneficiary countries or  Canada.  The sixty per cent qualifying content may 
be cumulated from various CARIBCAN  beneficiary countries or Canada.  The goods must be finished 
in the beneficiary country in the form in which they  are imported into Canada.  Pursuant to the Proof 
of Origin Regulations, either a duly completed Certif icate of Origin, Form A, or a written statement of 
origin signed by the exporter, must be presented to Customs at the time of release, accounting or 
refund. 
5. Trade under CARIBCAN 
10. Canada-CARIBCAN trade statistics are annexed in a series of tabl es to this report and include 
2002 trade data.  In general, these trade statistics indicate that: 
- In 2002, almost Can$695 million or 97 per cent of total Canadian imports from CARIBCAN 
beneficiaries entered Canada free of duty.  Can$152.8 million of this trade entered under 
preferential CARIBCAN tariffs.  Annex V s hows the top twenty-five commodity imports 
benefiting from the CARIBCAN preference.  As  shown in Annex III, Can$524.6 million of 
this trade entered under MFN free rates wh ile Can$17.5 million entered duty-free under 
General Preferential Tariff (GPT).  
 
- Total Canada-CARIBCAN trade (exports pl us imports) has grown from Can$570 million in 
1992 to just over Can$1.2 billion in 2002.  The value of Canadian impor ts from the region has 
risen from Can$329 million in 19 92 to Can$716 million in 2002.  The value of Canadian 
exports to CARIBCAN countries has risen fro m Can$243 million in 1992 to Can$552 million 
in 2002. 
  WT/L/545 
 Page 3 
 
 
 6. Statistical Annexes: 
Annex I:  Total Imports form CARIBCAN Beneficiaries 1992 - 2002 
 Annex II:  Total Canadian exports to CARIBCAN Beneficiaries 1992- 2002 
 
Annex III:  2002 Imports from CARIBCAN Be neficiaries by Tariff Treatment   
 Annex IV: Top 25 Merchandise Imports from CARIBCAN Beneficiaries which entered 
Canada under the CARIBCAN Duty-Free Tariff Treatment (CCCT) in 2002 
  
 WT/L/545 
Page 4 
Total Canadian Imports from CARIBCAN Beneficiaries 1992 – 2002 Annex I 
 
(thousands of Canadian dollars) 
 
Country 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
Anguilla - - 5 - 11 41 7 8 9 10 13 
Antigua – Barbuda 394 393 368 389 1,857 1,256 2,698 402 10,380 340 954 
Bahamas 50,097 34,806 44,867 16,715 23,432 8,056 22,002 25,959 14,003 13,785 16,941 
Barbados 6,025 9,594 14,098 16,990 15,703 13,736 11,722 10,652 7,375 9,118 7,543 
Belize 6,634 11,419 17,686 11,688 7,953 12,737 8,263 14,027 9,868 3,739 6,381 
Bermuda 20,378 4,315 13,988 4,173 2,317 3,751 7,602 19,689 17,614 2,369 3,803 
British Virgin Islands 10 44 37 91 1,299 199 615 614 1,376 1324 501 
Cayman Islands 489 1,628 586 638 1,968 624 1,070 654 522 27,571 3,818 
Dominica 67 206 423 2,381 1,180 1,390 1,910 1,642 1,698 775 944 
Grenada 321 337 440 639 559 1,112 1,067 1,602 1,523 1037 1,476 
Guyana 39,018 152,172 203,865 171,208 204,033 203,375 203,107 192,020 197,800 209.474 225,368 
Jamaica 166,546 181,495 211,328 199,952 239,135 257,507 256,384 201,074 197,727 324,783 270,927 
Montserrat 120 15 78 18 203 341 28 248 94 113 267 
St. Lucia 350 245 463 1,222 1,602 1,287 1,595 580 1,413 237 411 
St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis - 225 1,888 2,937 2,958 4,426 4,494 5,120 4,399 6,121 7,458 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 387 210 247 183 138 137 200 152 404 310 619 
Trinidad & Tobago 38,101 23,108 16,122 18,469 46,599 26,215 34,157 73,688 72,327 195,141 166,704 
Turks & Caicos Islands - - 66 17 93 338 686 1,823 1,647 1,007 2,347 
Total: 328,937 420,212 526,555 447,890 551,046 536,630 557,608 549,954 540,178 797,254 716,475 
            
Source:  Statistics Canada           
Notes:  A dash (-) indicates that an amount is nil or negligible.   
  
  WT/L/545
 Page 5Total Canadian Exports to CARIBCAN Beneficiaries 1992 – 2002 Annex II 
 
(thousands of Canadian dollars) 
 
Country 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
Anguilla 331 272 127 548 588 881 1,007 673 651 2,802 1,301 
Antigua - Barbuda 9,326 9,014 6,022 6,160 28,133 9,384 8,492 11,402 10,727 10,434 7,970 
Bahamas 20,870 16,949 15,170 15,231 19,292 21,610 24,513 26,301 26,018 27,706 33,245 
Barbados 20,469 20,490 33,459 31,554 35,872 37,193 36,396 41,087 33,783 29,104 33,629 
Belize 3,532 12,543 4,776 4,232 2,586 9,847 3,760 3,332 2,598 3,505 5,079 
Bermuda 38,472 41,891 22,004 34,302 33,453 39,177 40,165 42,973 34,540 34,715 107,599 
British Virgin Islands 1,435 1,010 4,551 1,381 898 3,417 2,628 28,743 60,187 2,240 2,167 
Cayman Islands 4,601 1,885 4,483 11,490 7,281 1,369 12,266 8,127 8,286 63,858 6,807 
Dominica 1,368 1,672 1,613 1,891 2,238 1,840 3,236 5,560 4,436 2,671 2,614 
Grenada 2,656 3,863 1,936 3,789 4,649 3,321 4,901 4,839 4,023 3,142 4,450 
Guyana 6,034 9,118 5,517 8,144 11,171 10,671 9,968 14,655 8,073 8,068 10,373 
Jamaica 64,940 85,549 89,578 96,645 90,784 86,937 98,032 96,699 99,815 121,933 158,212 
Montserrat 301 248 208 128 185 149 81 83 289 214 291 
St. Lucia 6,811 7,400 10,425 12,521 5,426 8,729 11,493 12,524 9,683 7,375 7,804 
St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis 1,531 1,680 4,098 2,498 2,560 2,011 5,675 10,646 9,633 16,147 27,036 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 3,277 2,630 3,015 2,815 3,116 4,063 3,676 4,633 4,906 3,941 3,743 
Trinidad & Tobago 55,646 53,023 65,192 94,658 83,913 102,544 129,703 161,936 110,822 156,222 136,808 
Turks & Caicos Islands 1,287 557 387 654 514 537 1,379 2,357 2,341 2,366 2,933 
Total: 242,887 269,794 272,561 328,641 332,667 343,680 397,371 476,570 430,811 496,443 552,061 
            
S o u r c e :   S t a t i s t i c s  C a n a d a            
Notes:  A dash (-) indicates that an amount is nil or negligible.  Includes Canadian domestic exports only.    
 WT/L/545 
Page 6  
 
 Duty Free  2002 Imports from CARIBCAN Beneficiaries by Tariff Treatment Annex III(i) 
 (in Canadian dollars) 
 
Country Total 
Imports MFN Free GPT Free Caribcan 
(CCCT) 
Free Total Free Total 
Free as 
% of 
Total 
Imports
Anguilla 13,075 2,126 - - 2,126 16%
Antigua and Barbuda 954,364 147,392 - - 147,392 15%
Bahamas 16,490,867 6,504,680 10,800 7,253,696 13,769,176 83%
Barbados 7,543,211 2,158,524 1,907,141 1,663,256 5,728,921 76%
Belize 6,381,267 4,312,372 304,715 308,391 4,925,478 77%
Bermuda 3,803,527 3,423,120 16,319 2,329 3,441,768 90%
Br. Virgin Is. 500,930 342,063 60,153 - 402,216 80%
Cayman Islands 3,818,133 3,787,583 - - 3,787,583 99%
Dominica 944,507 708,923 - 38,599 747,522 79%
Grenada 1,476,621 1,472,359 1,323 - 1,473,682 100%
Guyana 225,367,965 221,038,887 2,446,393 512,516 223,997,796 99%
Jamaica 270,927,043 244,054,211 6,622,562 11,800,613 262,477,286 97%
Montserrat 267,435 267,435 - - 267,435 100%
St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis 7,457,786 5,496,348 - 4,627 5,500,975 74%
Saint Lucia 411,095 321,266 368 59,369 381,003 93%
Saint Vincent/Gren. 618,927 618,799 - - 618,799 100%
Trinidad and Tobago 166,704,296 27,876,537 6,089,321 130,884,397 164,850,255 99%
Turks/Caicos Is. 2,346,828 2,057,223 - 280,105 2,337,328 100%
Total 716,027,877 524,589,848 17, 459,095 152,807,898 694,856,741 97%
         
Source: Statistic Canada      
Notes:  A dash (-) indicates that an amount is nil or negligible.     
   WT/L/545 
 Page 7 
 
 
 Dutiable  2002 imports from CARIBCAN Beneficiaries by Tariff Treatment Annex III(ii) 
 (in Canadian dollars) 
Country Total 
Imports MFN 
Dutiable GPT 
Dutiable Caribca
n 
Dutiable Total 
Dutiable Total 
Dutiable 
as % of 
Total 
Imports 
Anguilla 13,075 10,949 - - 10,949 84%
Antigua and Barbuda 954,364 806,972 - - 806,972 85%
Bahamas 16,490,867 2,577,115 144,576 - 2,721,691 17%
Barbados 7,543,211 513,630 982,241 318,419 1,814,290 24%
Belize 6,381,267 627,198 91,847 - 1,455,789 23%
Bermuda 3,803,527 226,376 135,383 - 361,759 10%
Br. Virgin Is. 500,930 82,609 16,105 - 98,714 20%
Cayman Islands 3,818,133 28,352 2,198 - 30,550 1%
Dominica 944,507 195,252 1,733 - 196,985 21%
Grenada 1,476,621 2,939 - - 2,939 0%
Guyana 225,367,965 709,441 203,728 - 1,370,169 1%
Jamaica 270,927,043 6,799,251 1,405,771 244,735 8,449,757 3%
Montserrat 267,435 3,110 - - 3,110 1%
St. Christopher (Kitts) and Nevis 7,457,786 1,956,811 - - 1,956,811 26%
Saint Lucia 411,095 28,048 2,044 - 30,092 7%
Saint Vincent/Gren. 618,927 128 - - 128 0%
Trinidad and Tobago 166,704,296 1,187,222 610,898 55,921 1,854,041 1%
Turks/Caicos Is. 2,346,828 9,500 - - 1,854,041 79%
Total 716,027,877 15,764,903 3,596,524 619,075 23,018,787 3%
       
Source: Statistic Canada      
Notes:  A dash (-) indicates that an amount is nil or negligible.     
 WT/L/545 
Page 8  
 
   Annex IV 
 Top 25 Merchandise Imports from CARIBCAN Beneficiaries which entered Canada Under  
CARIBCAN Duty-Free Tariff Treatment in 2002 
 (in Canadian Dollars)
 
HS Tariff Description Imports 
under 
CARIBCAN 
Treatment 
72031000 Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore 95,226,039 
29051100 Methanol (methyl alcohol) 18,591,748 
72139190 Other [Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of iron or non-alloy 
steel, of a circular cross-section measuring less than 14 mm in diameter] 8,069,327 
03061100 Rock lobster and other sea crawfish ( Palinurus spp ., Panulirus spp. , Jasus spp. ) 7,598,224 
72139110 Of a diameter not exceding 9.525 mm, for use in the manufacture of wire 3,526,356 
07149090 Other [Arrowroot, salep, Jerusalem artichokes and similar roots and tubers with 
high starch or inulin content, fresh, chilled or dried, whether or not sliced or in the 
form of pellets; sago pith] 1,938,397 
72072090 Other [Containing by weight 0.25% or more of carbon, other than blooms, billets, 
rounds, slabs and sheet bars] 1,703,045 
22084010 Rum 1,620,713 
20059090 Other [Other vegetables and mixtures of vegetables] 1,390,189 
20089930 Akalas, akees, anchovy pears, apple-pears, avocados, bananas, banana chips (thin 
banana slices fried or otherwise prepared whether or not salted, sweetened or 
otherwise flavoured), bread fruit, caram bolas, chayotes, cherimoyas (Jamaica 
apples)…. 1,208,693 
85369091 Other: Junction boxes; 
Receptacle boxes of metal 1,205,457 
22021000 Waters, including mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or 
other sweetening matter or flavoured 1,059,060 
07142000 Sweet potatoes 1,010,592 
21039020 Mixed condiments and mixed seasonings 790,736 
19019020 Food preparations of flour, meal, starch or malt extract 668,280 
04063010 Within access commitment [Process cheese, not grated or powdered] 490,388 
19059049 Other biscuits [Containing less than 25% by weight of wheat] 449,680 
19053192 Other: Wafers and frozen waffles containing 25% or more by weight of wheat, in 
packages of a weight not exceeding 454 g each, and sweet biscuits containing 25% 
or more by weight of wheat, in packag es of a weight not exceeding 1.36 kg each, 
over access.... 446,697 
21039090 Other [Sauces and preparations] 362,811 
19059020 Bread, leavened  with yeast; Unleavened bread for sacramental purposes and 
communion wafers 332,217 
09109990 Other spices 284,101 
07099090 Other [Vegetables , fresh or chilled, not including: glove artichokes, asparagus, 
Aubergines (egg-plants), celery, mushrooms and truffles, fruits of the genus Capsicum or the genus Pimenta , spinach, New Zealand spinach and orche spinach 
(garden spinach)] 250,276 
08129010 Akalas, akees, anchovy pears, apple-pears, avocados, bananas, bread fruit, 
carambolas, chayotes, cherimoyas (Jamaica ap ples), citris fruit, dates, durians, 
feijoas, figs, fu quas (alsam pears) genipes, guavas, imbus, jujubes, kiwi fruit,… 248,132 
17049090 Other [Sugar confectionery (including white chocolate), not containing cocoa , not 
including chewing gum, whether or not sugar-coated] 246,406 
20089210 Mixtures of akalas, akees, anchovy pears, apple-pears, avocados, bananas, bread 
fruit, carambolas, chayotes, cherimoyas (Jamai ca apples), citris fruit, dates, durians, 
feijoas, figs, fu quas (alsam pears) genipes, guavas, imbus, jujubes, kiwi fruit… 245,445 
Source: Statistics Canada import data  
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