Cabinet Zero-Rated Import Duties on Basic Food Items to Ease Cost of Living

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved a major policy shift aimed at bringing down food prices across the country, granting zero-rated import duties on a wide range of essential food items for one year.

The initiative, which takes effect from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, was introduced on the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, following a decision of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) to suspend the Common External Tariff (CET) on selected staples.

Under the approved measure, importers will benefit from a 0% duty rate on items including:
Butter (salted and unsalted)
Potatoes
Cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli
Dry peas and beans such as split peas, lentils, chickpeas, pigeon peas, and black-eye peas
Fresh fruits including apples, oranges, limes, and kiwis
Cereals and oats
Cooking oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil, and other vegetable oils
Canned meats and fish like corned beef, sardines, and mackerel
Baby foods and infant preparations

Government’s Intent
The move is part of a wider regional strategy to cushion consumers from rising global food prices and to support vulnerable households.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs, Hon. E.P. Chet Greene, said the decision underscores the government’s ongoing commitment to protecting citizens from cost-of-living pressures.

“This is a decisive step to ease the cost of living for our people,” Greene stated. “By applying a zero rate of duty on essential food imports, the government is ensuring that price relief reaches households directly, while strengthening our food and nutrition resilience.”

The suspension of the CET was endorsed by other CARICOM Member States, allowing Antigua and Barbuda to act within a coordinated regional framework. Officials say the measure will be monitored closely to ensure its impact is felt in local supermarkets and not absorbed by middlemen or importers.

The Cabinet also reaffirmed its intention to collaborate with regional and international partners to track price trends, evaluate market stability, and explore additional interventions to protect consumers and sustain the national economy.

Economists have welcomed the move as a temporary but important relief for low-income households, especially amid rising import costs and global supply chain pressures. The government has indicated that this policy could be extended or expanded if price stabilization goals are achieved.