Limited Impact of U.S. China Crane Ban on Antigua and Barbuda

The recent announcement from the U.S. Administration regarding a ban on cranes manufactured in China has raised concerns across the Caribbean. 

However, the Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Port Authority, Darwin Telemaque, has assured that this ban will have minimal to no impact on the operations in Antigua and Barbuda.

Telemaque explained that while the U.S. government is implementing a 100 percent tariff on all cranes and freight-handling equipment imported from China, the Port Authority does not currently utilize any of the affected cranes.

The Port Authority’s recent acquisition includes a German crane fabricated in the UK, thereby exempting it from the new restriction.

Telemaque says, apart from one forklift sourced from China, all our other equipment, including stackers, has been procured from different suppliers.

While there are concerns that these measures—part of the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China—could increase prices for various goods throughout the Caribbean, the waiver on the operation of Chinese-built ships in U.S. ports and the region offers some relief.