Antigua & Barbuda Workers’ Union Reiterates Urgent Call for Broad-Based Stakeholder Consultation Amid Looming U.S. Tariff Threat

St. John’ s, Antigua & Barbuda — 8 April 2025 — The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) is again calling on the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to urgently convene a broad-based stakeholder consultation to develop concrete strategies for mitigating the imminent economic fallout from U.S.-imposed shipping tariffs.

Despite a growing chorus of concern both locally and across the region, the Government has yet to initiate any meaningful engagement with the public or key sectors of society on this looming crisis. The ABWU is deeply troubled by the government’s inaction in the face of what could become one of the most significant economic shocks to impact Antigua and Barbuda in recent times.

“These measures will challenge the ability of many people to meet the basic needs for their households,” ABWU General Secretary Senator David Massiah said. “We cannot afford to treat this issue as business as usual. We need action, we need dialogue, and we need to act together — now.”

The tariffs, which could add up to US$1.5 million in fees per port call for Chinese-built vessels, are expected to drastically inflate the cost of importing goods into Antigua and Barbuda. The result will be an unavoidable cascade of price increases affecting many goods from groceries to building materials.

The ABWU is deeply concerned that without a coordinated, transparent, and inclusive approach to addressing this issue, the country risks a dramatic acceleration of poverty among already vulnerable groups such as pensioners, single mothers, and low-income households.

“Social safety nets are already stretched thin. Without urgent government-led consultations, supported by input from trade unions, private sector stakeholders, and civil society, the working class will bear the brunt of this crisis,” Massiah warned.

Over the weekend, Chair of the Caribbean Community, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, in lamenting the spillover effect of these tariffs on the region’s tourism industry, urged private sector stakeholders to come together and to work with governments to develop an immediate tourism strategy to ensure that the region maintains market share numbers.

Similarly, the ABWU is urging the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda to engage stakeholders across critical industries and sectors. “This is a time for decisive, people-centered leadership,” Massiah asserted.

The ABWU also believes that these events present an opportunity for the nation to reimagine national importation models and strengthen domestic production and food security. However, none of this can occur without clear, inclusive leadership from the Government.

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union stands ready to participate in any forum that advances the national interest and protects the well-being of workers and citizens across the country.