VIDEO: Trade Minister Says Steps Taken to ‘Ease the Squeeze’ on Families

The government says it has removed import duties on selected goods and expanded state-backed food distribution in an effort to cushion rising living costs, as officials defended their handling of trade policy during a town hall meeting in St John’s Rural South.

Speaking at the forum, E. P. Chet Greene said the administration has eliminated the Common External Tariff (CET) on a range of items to help reduce retail prices.

“We have removed the CET from a slew of items,” Greene said, adding that the government will continue monitoring the cost of living despite not controlling global food and shipping prices.

He noted that while Antigua and Barbuda cannot influence international supply chains, it does control domestic tax policy, including the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST).

“What we can control is the ABST,” Williams said, adding that the government’s priority is to “ease the squeeze” on consumers.

The discussion formed part of a broader cost-of-living debate at the meeting, where residents raised concerns about wages and rising food prices.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the government has also expanded operations at the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) to improve food affordability and support local farmers.

He disclosed that the administration purchased the former Kennedy’s building at Cassada Gardens for approximately $9 million to create a larger retail and distribution facility for CMC. The expansion is expected to include cold storage and improved intake systems for locally grown produce.

“We have invested in excess of $5 million in agricultural equipment,” Browne said, outlining efforts to strengthen domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports.

Officials said the strategy combines tax relief, agricultural investment and expanded state-backed retail distribution to mitigate external price shocks.

Greene acknowledged that imported inflation remains a challenge but said the government would continue to intervene where possible to keep essential goods affordable.

“Our mission is to impact and to help to ease the squeeze,” he said.

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