The Bahamas government is stepping up negotiations with Washington seeking to have the tariff on Bahamian goods entering the United States reduced from 12.5% back to 10%. The 12.5% rate took effect July 24 after U.S. concerns over enforcement of prohibitions involving goods produced with forced labor.
The immediate concern is the fishing industry. The U.S. is an essential export market for Bahamian seafood, and the government has specifically sought relief for crawfish and stone crab. Commercial fishermen have warned that the tariff could reduce lobster prices and squeeze already-tight margins.
