Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago seek stronger trade and investment ties
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KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug. 30, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to Jamaica, Deborah Thomas-Felix, says the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have moved beyond previous trade tensions and should now focus on strengthening business ties, investment and access to each other’s markets.
Thomas-Felix said her role includes identifying opportunities in both countries and connecting businesses and other stakeholders to turn the improving bilateral relationship into greater commercial activity.
“One of the things I want is to — and I spoke to your Government about it — I want us to have more trade missions,” she told a Jamaica Observer Press Club meeting.
“We have a very strong relationship and I want to continue strengthening that relationship, not only in trade and culture and everything, [but] the mark that I leave should be a mark of strengthening and building the relationship that we have.”
Trade relations between Kingston and Port of Spain have previously been strained by complaints from Jamaican exporters about access to the Trinidad and Tobago market and a significant imbalance in merchandise trade.
In August 2022, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a Trade Complaints Mechanism to help resolve trade-related disputes.
However, Thomas-Felix said figures provided to her showed Jamaica’s reach into the Trinidad and Tobago market increased by 170 per cent between 2019 and 2025.
“So I would say that some of the issues before would not be issues now,” she said.
The diplomat acknowledged that a substantial merchandise trade imbalance remains. Jamaica exported approximately US$36.6 million in goods to Trinidad and Tobago in 2024, compared with about US$249.7 million flowing in the opposite direction.
She attributed some of the disparity to Trinidad and Tobago’s traditionally strong manufacturing and energy sectors.
“I don’t think we should ever look at it as one having more and one having less, but how do we help each other to be out there and be large or big in trade,” Thomas-Felix said.
She said Jamaica’s expanding financial, professional, digital, technology and tourism services offered opportunities to broaden commercial ties beyond manufactured goods.
Thomas-Felix noted that Jamaica exported approximately US$5.6 billion in services globally, compared with imports of about US$3.46 billion, and said the country’s services strength should be considered in discussions about the overall trading relationship.
The high commissioner called for more trade missions and lasting connections among entrepreneurs, investors and private-sector organisations.
A Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association delegation visited Jamaica in May 2025 to explore market and investment opportunities, following a Jamaican trade mission to Trinidad and Tobago in September 2024.
Thomas-Felix said the relationship between the two countries extends beyond government agreements and trade figures, pointing to connections created through families, employment, education, music and culture.
“The relationship is way beyond government to government, it’s really about people,” she said, adding that she intends to identify and share opportunities that could benefit both countries.
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