The special relationship between Canada & the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains a critical component for the development of the region.
In addition to being a result of regional foreign policy and a source of development assistance, Canada and CARICOM have maintained their connection over the years through shared ideals such as democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights, and adherence to a rules-based international system.
When combined, these ideals allow for policy alignment, where Canada and CARICOM can be strategic partners in charting a path through complex geopolitical issues. However, domestic constraints often challenge CARICOM’s ability to realise the benefits of programs and partnerships.
CARICOM, however, must overcome the inertia that plagues the region and actively seek to operationalise the 2023 Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership.
Regarding partnering beyond development assistance, the 2023 Canada-CARICOM Strategic Partnership is a cooperative framework that allows for consistent & structured dialogue that supports collaborative action by both Canada & CARICOM in the specified areas of health, environment, defence, trade, development & finance.
As the then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, noted, the Strategic Partnership allows for both Canada & CARICOM to address important challenges together. His remarks emphasised the importance of working together.
Exemplifying the deep friendship between Canada & CARICOM, the then Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, highlighted Canada’s advocacy on behalf of the region within spaces where CARICOM has no voice. This strategic partnership is therefore critical, as countries adapt to a new global landscape characterised by the unilateral imposition of tariffs and companies worldwide grappling with the consequences of uncertainty and unpredictability.
This new reality has dictated that countries, which were once dependent on the US market for their goods, now seek to expand their scope of trade through the diversification of their trading partners. This moves away from a singular focus on conventional markets. Both Canada and CARICOM, in their efforts to diversify their portfolios and secure the foundations of economic growth, should not prioritise trade relations with conventional partners.
