WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett has lauded the passage of the Caribbean Trade Resolution in the US House of Representatives, which reaffirms the economic partnership between the United States and the Caribbean.

“This resolution is the product of a year’s worth of work by my office, and today would not be possible without the bipartisan support of my colleague, Representative Wenstrup, and his leadership, for agreeing with me that it is appropriate for there to be a focus on US trade re-engagement with the Caribbean,” said Plaskett, a member of the House of Representatives’ Ways and Means, Budget and Agriculture Committees.

“The United States has a duty to support these neighbouring nations, and reciprocal trade relations is one of the mechanisms to do that,” added Plaskett, who is currently serving her fourth term in the US Congress as representative for the United States Virgin Islands’ at-large Congressional District.

She said the resolution emphasises and commits to enhancing the economic partnership between the United States and the Caribbean region through strengthened trade engagement. This includes promoting equitable economic growth and development across the region, engaging directly with diverse stakeholders from the Caribbean, and supporting “critical” trade policies and preference programs.

“The Caribbean, along with Latin America, has been severely tried in recent years,” Plaskett said. “According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we’ve seen a larger GDP (gross domestic product) contraction from the Caribbean and Latin America than any other region in the world.

“Simultaneously, the per capita deaths from COVID have been greater from the Caribbean and Latin America than any other region in the world,” she added. “Furthermore, many of the islands and countries in the Caribbean have recently experienced severe natural disasters, such as the recent earthquake in Haiti, and numerous other extreme weather events like hurricanes.

Plaskett said the House Ways and Means Committee will now be taking “a hard look at what is needed for the Caribbean.

“As this resolution provides, we will engage with diverse stakeholders, including Caricom (Caribbean Community) Trade Ministers, policymakers, as well as labour, business, and civil society representatives, to dialogue and develop a shared multilateral trade agenda,” she said.

“This posture of strengthening US trade and investment with the Caribbean is now the position of the US House of Representatives concerning trade engagement with the Caribbean,” the congresswoman added. “I would like to thank my colleagues for their hearty support of this bill.”