As American meat exporters ramp up efforts to flood Caribbean markets with pork, Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) CEO James Paul is sounding the alarm – warning that the local pork industry will be decimated if the government yields to mounting pressure.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY at BAS headquarters, Paul cautioned that further reductions in tariffs on imported pork products, particularly spare ribs and pork chops, could devastate the sector.
His comments came in response to recent statements by United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom, who urged Caribbean governments to dismantle trade barriers hindering US red meat exports.
Halstrom criticised high tariff rates, some as steep as 184 per cent, and dismissed disease mitigation requirements as unnecessary and costly. Meanwhile, a document is being prepared to request that Congress review and amend provisions of the decades-old Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI).
But Paul firmly rejected the proposal, pointing to a dramatic surge in pork imports over the past decade.
“If you look at our trade statistics from 2011 to 2024, you will see that the value of pork imports increased by more than $7 million. In 2011, we spent just over BDS$13 million on imported pork. By 2024, that figure climbed to BDS$20.8 million. That is a massive increase,” he said.
Even more alarming, Paul noted, is that Barbados imported no spare ribs in 2011, yet by 2024, that figure had skyrocketed to 3.8 million kilogrammes. He warned that this growing reliance on foreign pork has already strained domestic production.
“We’ve seen a considerable decline in local production. Any further liberalisation would be tantamount to decimating the industry. The Americans and Canadians have already benefited significantly from increased pork imports into this market. Now they want more. That is unreasonable,” Paul said.
He argued that the US exporters’ demands contradict the spirit of the CBI, which was designed to foster mutual benefit, not undermine Caribbean industries.
“Trade negotiations are not supposed to give one country an overwhelming advantage over another. The Caribbean Basin Initiative was never meant to destroy local businesses. It was meant to create opportunity, and we must not lose sight of that,” Paul said.
The BAS head countered claims that Barbados’ pork tariffs are excessive, noting that the US itself employs complex tariff structures to safeguard its agricultural sector.
“The US places some of its highest tariffs in what they call green boxes. These are nonnegotiable because they protect their national security and food sovereignty. We must think the same way.”
Paul revealed that agricultural and trade stakeholders recently met with Ministry of Agriculture officials to address the latest US lobbying efforts. The consensus, he said, was clear: further tariff reductions would cripple an already struggling industry.
“We are hoping that the government listens. They told us they would review the tariff arrangements. We’re expecting that they will revert to the original 184 per cent on all relevant products, including spare ribs and pork chops.”
Despite current tariffs on some pork products being slashed to 40 per cent, Paul noted that consumers haven’t seen lower prices.
“The ordinary consumer is not benefiting,” he contended. “Prices in supermarkets haven’t gone down, and neither have food prices for tourists.”
He questioned why local producers should make further concessions when US exporters already enjoy favourable access.
“If we listen to this gentleman and give him what he wants, that would put a damper on everything we’ve worked to build. Confidence in the local sector would collapse,” Paul warned.
He added that young farmers who invested heavily in pork production through the government’s $2 million loan scheme would be hardest hit.
“We have farmers right now with 300 pigs, with 50 coming off each week. HIPAC, the main buyer, only takes about 100 pigs weekly – and that has to be divided among multiple farmers. If we can’t move those pigs, there’s going to be a serious backlog,” Paul said.
With upcoming public holidays, including Emancipation Day and Grand Kadooment, processing plants will halt operations for two weeks, leaving over 200 pigs unsold and growing beyond market specifications.
Paul also dismissed the notion that Crop Over significantly boosts local pork sales.
“That’s a fallacy. People spend their money on alcohol and entertainment, not local food. Even if they do eat, they’re not eating locally. We keep promoting this idea that events bring big sales to farmers. It just isn’t true,” he said.
If the government caves to US pressure, Paul warned, the winners would be local importers and processors, not everyday Barbadians.
Ultimately, he stressed, Barbados’ tariff regime must be viewed as an economic safeguard, not just trade policy.
“We talk about employment and saving foreign exchange. Well, the pork industry offers both. If we reduce tariffs and continue to import at this rate, we’re not just hurting farmers – we’re weakening our economy,” Paul said. sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb