Cayman avoids US tariffs on Chinese-built ships for now
Intense lobbying is the reason why the Cayman Islands isn’t suffering from the latest US tariff – at least for now.
On 16 Oct., the US implemented new fees on Chinese ships built, operated or owned calling into US ports. The measure is part of Washington’s response to China’s state subsidies in shipbuilding.
That could have hit Caribbean US trade as most vessels in the region are Chinese-built. Yet a ‘short sea shipping’ exemption on voyages less than 2,000 nautical miles means boats from Cayman can still enter the US tariff-free, even if they were built in China. For a more complete summary of the story, please see the below link:
Published on: Oct 21, 2025 07:30 AM