Bahamas Facing Significant Challenges From U.S. Tariffs, Says PM

smb('loadExternalVideo', 'watch', 'https://player.vimeo.com/external/1074435874.m3u8?s=f1d3a2256e6253b7a532c84bdc8f84e0be7736f4&logging=false', 740, 416, 'my_frame', 0);

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Prime Minister Philip Davis laying out the grim reality of the impact new U.S. trade policies will have on The Bahamas.

Davis says the government is collaborating with regional partners and is aggressively finding ways to diversify trade.

Amid global instability following the tariff war started by U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Davis says The Bahamas is facing new and very significant challenges due in part to those tariffs.

In a video message Wednesday evening, Davis said he’s exploring various avenues to minimize the blow to the local economy.

The Bahamas is among the countries saddled with a 10% base rate on goods exported to the United States.

On Wednesday, Trump announced a 90-day pause for countries facing higher U.S. tariffs.

According to the Prime Minister, it seems the region is banding together on this matter.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis

“I have been talking to leaders of other countries, reaching out to executives in our business community, and consulting with economists and trade experts to assess the likely impact and to plan for multiple scenarios.”

Trump’s new trade policies have sparked a great deal of uncertainty and widespread fear of a looming us economic recession.

More than 100 countries have been impacted by these tariffs.

Should the 10% tariff on Bahamian goods imported into the U.S. Remain, Davis warned that Bahamian exporters in multiple industries will soon feel the impact.

Prime Minister Phillip Davis

“We have been in contact with us officials regarding the change in policy, and we are working with fellow Caribbean countries on collective diplomatic efforts. We are also speaking with Bahamian exporters and working to understand whether there are short-term policies we could enact to cushion the fallout.”

Davis also admitting that the new tariffs will likely cause new inflationary pressures, meaning higher prices for Bahamians.