Caribbean Tourism Leaders Push Back on Proposed US Port Fees
Caribbean Tourism Leaders Push Back on Proposed US Port Fees Highlighting tourism's significant shared economic benefits to both the Caribbean and the United States—especially Florida—the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the region’s foremost private-sector tourism organization, is urging alternative approaches to the proposed U.S. port service fees and tariffs. The association is pushing for changes to the port-related policies under review by the U.S. government and is urging a fresh strategy to reinforce and protect the reciprocal trade and travel relationship between the Caribbean and the U.S. In a formal submission to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the CHTA argued against a new rule that would impose service fees of up to $1.5 million for each port call made by vessels built or flagged in China. The association emphasized that the ripple effect of this policy, combined with tariffs, would significantly raise the cost of goods imported to the region—costs that would ultimately be [...]