This is a useful case study of how the Trump Administration conducts foreign policy. Tariffs, rather than being seen as a form of protection for U.S. domestic industries, are now used as leverage to change foreign country behaviours.
November 17, 2025 by Sherlan Ramsubhag
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is being lauded for her role in persuading the United States to remove reciprocal tariffs for several qualifying agricultural exports, particularly important nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers destined for the United States market.
The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs announced via a media release yesterday that on November 14, US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to modify the scope of reciprocal tariffs under the US tariff regime.
According to the ministry, this decision reverses the earlier action of April 2, 2025, when the items were removed from Annex II of Executive Order 14257 and subjected to a 15% tariff.
The release also underscored the crucial role of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in collaboration with the ministry, in pursuing sustained, high-level diplomacy with the United States to secure relief for Trinidad and Tobago’s exporters.
Trade Minister Kama Maharaj joined in praising the Prime Minister, saying in a social media post: “When the United Sates imposed 15% tariffs on our exports of methanol, ammonia and urea—products that entered from Russia and Canada at zero duty-it posed a serious threat to our economy and our largest trading relationship.
“The Prime Minister intervened personally. She lobbied relentlessly for these tariffs to be removed and for a level playing field to be restored. She even travelled by train to Washington to raise the matter directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“This decision to lift the tariffs is a direct result of her intervention. That is what world-class leadership looks like-when a leader puts country before comfort, and people before politics.”
Major win
In its release, the Foreign Affairs ministry described President Trump’s decision as a major win for global agriculture and manufacturing and noted that countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, have been engaged in strategic negotiations over higher US tariffs.
It further stated that Anhydrous Ammonia, Urea, and Urea-Ammonium Nitrate (UAN) will be included in the key nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers on which the US will no longer impose tariffs.
Trinidad and Tobago maintains a multi-billion-dollar export relationship with the United States, its single largest trading partner for both imports and exports, stated the ministry.
The ministry also reported that in 2024, T&T exported approximately TT$3 billion in Anhydrous Ammonia, Urea, and UAN under tariff codes 2814.10.00, 3102.10.00, and 3102.80.00 to the United States.
It stated that the recent move will now allow these products to enter the US market duty-free and by extension enhance the competitiveness of Trinidad and Tobago’s exporters thereby protecting jobs across the national value chain.
Trade Minister Kama Maharaj
The ministry said that since the imposition of global US tariffs earlier this year, Trinidad and Tobago has adopted a comprehensive strategy to mitigate negative impacts on both energy and non-energy exports.
And over the past four months, several high-level engagements were held to address the issue directly with senior US officials, said the Ministry.
It stated that in August 2025, the Ministers of Foreign and Caricom Affairs; Energy and Energy Industries; Finance, Planning, Economic Affairs and Development; and Trade, Investment and Tourism met with a number of high-level officials on the issue.
Those included United States Trade Representative (USTR) for the Western Hemisphere, Ambassador Daniel Watson; Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, William Kimmitt and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Lee Greer.
And in September 2025 the Prime Minister was invited by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to high-level discussions in Washington, DC.
The ministry added that, during that visit, Foreign Affairs Minister Sean Sobers and permanent secretary and head of the Foreign Service Randall Karim engaged senior officials within the Office of the USTR to reinforce Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic importance to US energy and food security.
Sobers grateful
Commenting on the decision by the US to remove the tariffs, Sobers said that it was a welcome one and added that he was “encouraged and grateful for this outcome, which will bring meaningful relief to exporters.”
He said that, “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago understands the serious impact of increased tariffs. We will continue to work tirelessly with the United States, pursuing a multi-pronged negotiation strategy to achieve further relief and sustained success.”
Sobers also assured that the Government, led by the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs in collaboration with partner ministries, will continue strengthening engagement with the United States to secure even more favourable market access for Trinidad and Tobago’s energy and non-energy exports into what he said was the world’s largest economy.
Source: Daily Express