By Belize Live News Staff: The Government of Belize is strengthening its approach to expand sugar exports within the CARICOM market. The Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Dr. Osmond Martinez, met with representatives from Belize Sugar Industries (BSI) to discuss solutions for overcoming trade barriers and maximizing opportunities in regional markets.
Key topics during the meeting included leveraging the Common External Tariff (CET) suspension regime, improving compliance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, and enhancing Belize’s competitive standing within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The discussions highlighted the importance of a unified strategy to meet the evolving demands of the regional sugar trade.
“We are committed to ensuring Belize’s sugar industry remains competitive and contributes meaningfully to the CARICOM market,” Dr. Martinez stated. “Our efforts will focus on collaboration, compliance, and growth to benefit Belize and the wider region.”
The Directorate General for Foreign Trade (DGFT) emphasized Belize’s active engagement in CARICOM’s Monitoring Mechanism for Sugar (MMS) and the Technical Working Group (TWG) for CET-related standards. These measures aim to promote transparency and fairness in regional trade, strengthening economic ties among member states.
BSI representatives expressed optimism about the partnership with the government, pledging to work collaboratively to address challenges while capitalizing on export opportunities.
This initiative aligns with Belize’s broader goals of deepening trade relationships and fostering sustainable economic development through regional cooperation.
