KINGSTON, Jamaica — Countering arguments presented by Opposition Spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade Lisa Hanna, who has called for immediate action in light of the
United States’ tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, Portfolio Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Government “will not adopt ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to the management of our trade exports”.
Johnson Smith, in a statement today, reminded that “Jamaica does not currently produce and export neither aluminium nor steel and would therefore not be directly impacted by the new regulations.
“We also wish to advise that bauxite and alumina, which are major exports for us and are inputs in the manufacture of aluminium, are not subject to the tariffs imposed. They are in fact both tariff exempt under the CBI, which governs our trade with the USA.”
In response to Hanna’s concern that the tariffs could have serious direct and indirect economic implications for Jamaica, the minister said the tariffs would affect the aluminium exports of certain countries such as EU Member States, however, there appears to be a limited likelihood of impact on Jamaica’s exports of alumina to them.
