Antigua and Barbuda is looking to fulfill its CARICOM treaty obligations by
implementing the latest version of the Harmonised Coding System, HS 2022, a
tariff regime that is being standardized across the region.
Members of the WTO Trade Facilitation Committee convened a meeting in St.
John’s on Tuesday when members were updated on move to implement the tariff
regime effective January 1, 2025.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Ambassador Clarence Pilgrim,
reported that the Antigua and Barbuda lags behind most of the region in
implementing the new tariff regime. The last regime that was implemented was the
HS 2007.
“We stand on the brink of transformative changes with the imminent
implementation of the HS 2022 Tariff, scheduled for January 1, 2025.
Transitioning from the outdated HS 2007 will not only modernize our tariff system
but also enhance trade classifications and international trade statistics. Recognizing
the challenges associated with this shift, particularly the impact on essential goods,
the Cabinet’s decision to phase its implementation reflects a balanced approach to
safeguarding our economy and citizens,” Ambassador Pilgrim stated.
He explained that it has been recognized that implementing HS 2022 will have an
impact on most goods given the fact that Antigua and Barbuda imports so much of
what it consumes. “The Cabinet in its wisdom decided that all goods entering the
country will not be charged a rate under the new regime higher that what they paid
under the previous regime, thus no increases in the percentage of the tariff will be
passed on to the consumer for the first year,” he explained.
In the second year of the three-year implementation cycle, the pending increase
will be a fraction of the full rate and in the third it goes down further.
“Equally pivotal is the progress toward the Electronic Single Window. While
financial constraints have slowed its rollout, our proactive engagement with
international partners, such as the WCO and governments of China, South Korea,
and India, underscores our commitment to achieving this milestone. However, we
must address the associated IT infrastructure upgrades to ensure its full
functionality,” he explained further.
Ambassador Pilgrim urged all stakeholders to continue fostering collaboration and
innovation. “Together, we can achieve our shared vision of a modernized trade
environment that drives growth and prosperity for Antigua and Barbuda,” he
added.
