T&T Trade Minister meets with TTMA, ExportTT to discuss drugs exported to US

File: Trade Miniser Vasant Bharath

Trade Minister Vasant Bharath met on Monday with senior executives of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) and exporTT Limited to discuss growing concerns on the $640 million drug bust in the United States.

The drugs were packed in juice containers and shipped from Port of Spain to Norfolk, Virginia in a 20-foot container.

Bharath discussed with the official a strategy for implementing measures to prevent this from happening in the future. 

The officials discussed the Certificate of Origin procedure and the possibility of instituting a more rigorous verification exercises by Customs and Excise, in instances when the commercial shipment is being exported by an agent other than the manufacturer.

The minister was careful to make the point that whatever measures are taken must not have a negative effect on trade and harm the reputation of local manufacturers. The point, he said, is to ensure that legitimate businesses are protected from unscrupulous criminal elements. 

The group would meet again on Wednesday with representatives of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) and the Comptroller of Customs wo.

The minister hopes that the meeting would develop a robust plan of action with a view to immediate implementation to protect this country’s local manufacturers and the country’s international image.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, through it agency exporTT Limited, has already confirmed that the shipment in question was not exported by Trinidad Juice Company Limited and reaffirmed its commitment in supporting the legitimate operations of all local manufacturers.