PNCR calls on govt. to have a holistic response plan to Trump’s 38% tariff on Guyanese goods
Apr 06, 2025
…warns of economic fallout
Kaieteur News- The opposition People’s National Congress Reform and the A Partnership for National Unity (PNCR-APNU) in a statement on Saturday called on the government to devise a holistic response plan to address the 38% reciprocal tariff imposed on Guyanese goods by the Donald Trump administration.
PNCR and Opposition leader Aubrey Norton
On Wednesday, Trump announced a 38% tariff on goods from Guyana and stated that this country is charging the United States (U.S.) 76% tariffs in currency manipulation and trade barriers.
The PNCR-APNU accused the government of failing to adequately prepare for the new trade measures and neglecting critical diplomatic engagements.
“The Trump administration’s recent announcement of a 38% tariff for most Guyanese goods has exposed the unpreparedness and negligence of the PPP regime,” it was stated.
The Opposition party noted that, despite claims by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo that the government anticipated the move, there was “no evidence that it engaged in any diplomacy with the US government, in any scenario planning, and in any risk assessment and management.”
The opposition noted their concern about the absence of discussions on the tariff during the recent visit of the U.S Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. They suggested that the government was instead preoccupied with unrelated matters. “We are not surprised that the PPP government did not raise this matter during the recent visit of the US Secretary of State, as it was more enthusiastic about receiving the dossier of evidence on the Mohameds,” it was stated.
As such, the PNCR-APNU urged the government to take swift and strategic action to shield the country’s economy from the possible fallout. They said, “Given the urgency of the matter, we call on the government, in its last remaining months, to implement a holistic response plan that includes sensible financial and other measures to cushion these impacts.”
The opposition further argued that any effort to address the tariff must go beyond reconciling historical trade data and instead factor in future economic developments, including oil revenues, LNG exports, and new industries. They stressed the need for the government to seek alternative arrangements with Washington and rely on expert advice. The PNCR-APNU warned that if the tariff remains in place, it could deal a severe blow to Guyana’s non-oil economy, potentially triggering higher unemployment, weakened consumer demand, and broader economic instability.
For their part, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has assured Guyanese exporters that the government will work to clarify differences in trade surplus data with the United States government, which he believes played a role in the 38% reciprocal tariff on Guyanese products. In Guyana’s case, he said the US trade figures suggest a substantial trade surplus that Guyana exports more to the US than it imports, while Guyana’s data differs significantly. As a result, he assured Guyanese exporters that the government will seek to clarify the difference in the trade surplus data with the aim of potentially lowering the tariff.
(PNCR calls on govt. to have a holistic response plan to Trump’s 38% tariff on Guyanese goods)
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