And turning now from crime news to trade….
Belize's exports to the US were slapped with a 10% tariff one week ago on August 7th. Most critically, this tariff affect pepper, rum and sugarcane.
Minister of Foreign Trade Francis Fonseca told us what they are doing about it:
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs
"Yeah. The 10%, is in effect. So that's something that we've been working on for a long time with the private sector, engaged with. So, you know, as you, as you rightly pointed out, it's an across the board 10% tariff. We are concerned here in Belize about really about, peppers, pepper sauces, rum and, of course, sugar. We're always concerned about sugar. But again, they're, we're we're working with them, talking to them, you know, and especially through Caricom, we're still trying to get the CBI waiver. Caricom is working very effectively and aggressively on that issue. That looks very promising. So, you know, we we, we feel, you know, good about where we are on that issue."
Trump's new tariffs target nearly all U.S. trading partners and start at 15 percent for some countries, including Bolivia and Nigeria, and increase to 50 percent for others, including Brazil.
