The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs is pleased to advise that Trinidad and Tobago will benefit from zero reciprocal tariffs on several qualifying agricultural products, including critical nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers entering the United States market.
On 14th November, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order modifying the scope of reciprocal tariffs applied under the U.S. tariff regime.
This decision reverses the earlier action of 2nd April, 2025, when these items were removed from Annex II of Executive Order 14257 and subjected to a 15% tariff.
Under the leadership of the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar S.C. M.P., Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs has engaged in sustained, high-level diplomacy with the United States to secure relief for Trinidad and Tobago’s exporters.
President Trump’s decision represents a major win for the global agricultural sector and broader manufacturing industries, as nations worldwide, including Trinidad and Tobago, have been engaged in strategic negotiations surrounding the imposition of increased U.S. tariffs.
Trinidad and Tobago will be among the beneficiaries, as the United States will now impose zero tariffs on key nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, including Anhydrous Ammonia, Urea, and Urea-Ammonium Nitrate (UAN). Trinidad and Tobago maintains a multi-billion-dollar export relationship with the United States, its single largest trading partner for both imports and exports.
In 2024, Trinidad and Tobago 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. These products will now enter the U.S. market duty-free, enhancing the competitiveness of Trinidad and Tobago’s exporters and protecting jobs across the national value chain.
Since the imposition of global U.S. tariffs earlier this year, Trinidad and Tobago has adopted a comprehensive strategy to mitigate negative impacts on both energy and non-energy exports. Over the past four months, several high-level engagements were held to address the issue directly with senior U.S. officials.
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:
• Ambassador Daniel Watson, United States Trade Representative (USTR) for the Western Hemisphere;
• Mr. William Kimmitt, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; and
• Ambassador Jamieson Lee Greer, United States Trade Representative.
In September 2025, the Honourable Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar (S.C. M.P) was invited by U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio to high-level discussions in Washington, D.C. During this visit, the Honourable Sean Sobers (M.P.), Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, and Mr. Randall Karim, Permanent Secretary and Head of the Foreign Service, engaged senior officials within the Office of the USTR to reinforce Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic importance to U.S. energy and food security.
Minister Sobers welcomed the U.S. decision, stating that he is encouraged and grateful for this outcome, which will bring meaningful relief to exporters.
He added: “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 multipronged negotiation strategy to achieve further relief and sustained success.”
Minister Sobers reaffirmed 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 the world’s largest economy.
