Trinidad and Tobago has revised its trade facilitation framework for Sugar, Bananas, Coffee through two official notifications.
Trade Rules Updated for Sugar, Bananas, and Coffee
Customs procedures and documentation requirements are being standardized for key agricultural imports.
What changed
Trade facilitation framework revised under Article 22.3 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
Customs procedures aligned for imports and cross-border documentation under Article 12.2.2.
Measures apply to specific HS codes for sugar, bananas, and coffee.
Who it affects
Importers of sugar, bananas, and coffee must follow updated customs procedures.
Traders handling HS codes 170114, 170191, 170199, 170111, 170112, 170113, 170290, 080390, 090121, and 090111 must adhere to new standards.
Compliance Analysis: Revised Trade Facilitation Framework for Sugar, Bananas, and Coffee in Trinidad and Tobago
The user’s question refers to a revised trade facilitation framework for sugar, bananas, and coffee in Trinidad and Tobago, as reflected in two official notifications under the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA). However, the provided regulation sources1 and2 do not contain specific provisions, requirements, or regulatory changes directly related to sugar, bananas, or coffee. Instead, these notifications pertain to contact points for customs cooperation and trade facilitation assistance coordination under the TFA.
Accordingly, this answer clarifies:
- What the notifications actually address under Trinidad and Tobago’s trade facilitation obligations.
- The authorities and contact points established for customs cooperation and capacity-building support.
- The absence of commodity-specific regulations (e.g., sugar, bananas, coffee) in the provided sources.
1. Notification Under Article 12.2.2 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement2
This notification designates the contact point for customs cooperation in Trinidad and Tobago, as required by Article 12.2 of the TFA.
Key Requirements:
- Authority: The Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance is the designated contact point for customs cooperation2.
- Responsibility: Facilitates information exchange, mutual administrative assistance, and cooperation with other customs authorities under the TFA2.
- Contact Details:
> Note: This notification does not introduce new regulations for sugar, bananas, or coffee. It establishes a procedural contact point for customs-related cooperation.
2. Notification Under Article 22.3 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement1
This notification identifies contact points for coordinating and prioritizing trade facilitation-related assistance and capacity-building support, as required by Article 22.3 of the TFA.
Key Requirements:
- Purpose: To streamline requests for technical assistance, donor coordination, and capacity-building initiatives related to trade facilitation1.
- Designated Authorities and Roles:
| Name | Title | Role | Agency | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ms. Krystal Harrylal | Senior Economist | Coordinator of National Trade Facilitation Committee | Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism | Krystal.Harrylal@gov.tt1 |
| Ms. Kaanita Shah | Programme Coordinator | Government Official (Donor Coordination) | Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism | kaanita.shah@gov.tt1 |
| Ms. Hemawatee Sharma | Assistant Director | Government Official (Donor Coordination) | Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development | Hema.Sharma@planning.gov.tt1 |
| Ms. Devala Gosine | Collector, Customs & Excise | National Transit Coordinator | Customs and Excise Division | devala.gosine@customs.gov.tt1 |
| Ms. Allison E. St. Brice | Chargé d’Affaires a.i. | Geneva Delegate | Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN, Geneva | bricea@foreign.gov.tt1 |
> Note: This notification focuses on institutional coordination for trade facilitation support. It does not impose new regulatory requirements on sugar, bananas, or coffee.
3. Absence of Commodity-Specific Regulations in Provided Sources
The user’s question references a revised trade facilitation framework for sugar, bananas, and coffee. However:
- Neither source1 nor2 contains specific regulations, tariffs, quotas, licensing requirements, or procedural changes for these commodities.
- The notifications are procedural (contact points and coordination mechanisms) under the Trade Facilitation Agreement, not substantive trade measures for agricultural products.
> Conclusion: The provided sources do not evidence any revisions to the trade facilitation framework for sugar, bananas, or coffee. They establish administrative contact points for customs cooperation and capacity-building support.
Regulation Analysis (Tabular Summary)
| Regulation | Key Requirement | Deadline/Threshold | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| TFA Article 12.2.22 | Designates Customs and Excise Division as contact point for customs cooperation2. | Not specified | Ministry of Finance |
| TFA Article 22.31 | Establishes contact points for trade facilitation assistance and donor coordination1. | Not specified | Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism; Ministry of Planning; Customs and Excise Division |
Summary Answer
Trinidad and Tobago’s notifications under Article 12.2.22 and Article 22.31 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement do not introduce new trade regulations for sugar, bananas, or coffee. Instead, they:
- Designate the Customs and Excise Division as the contact point for customs cooperation2.
- Identify government officials responsible for coordinating trade facilitation assistance and donor engagement1.
No commodity-specific revisions (e.g., tariffs, licensing, or procedural changes for sugar, bananas, or coffee) are included in the provided sources. For substantive trade measures, additional regulations outside these notifications may apply.
Sources
- ↩ Committee on Trade Facilitation – Notification under Article 22.3 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation – Communication from Trinidad and Tobago – Revision https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TFA/NTTO3R1.pdf&Open=True
- ↩ Committee on Trade Facilitation – Notification under article 12.2.2 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation – Communication from Trinidad and Tobago https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TFA/NTTO7.pdf&Open=True