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VI-USVI Trade war? Gov Bryan fires 1st shot with proposed 25% tariff
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Governor Bryan, a close friend of the ruling Virgin Islands Party Administration, formally requested an emergency meeting with the USVI Legislature to discuss the implementation of tariffs on imported goods from the VI and the introduction of travel fees for non-residents crossing between the two territories.
Trade not balanced- Gov Bryan
According to Virgin Islands News Online's affiliate VI Consortium, Governor Bryan- in a letter addressed to Senate President Milton E. Potter- noted the urgency of addressing economic imbalances and protecting local businesses. He stressed the need for decisive action to ensure the USVI maximises its revenue potential from cross-border trade and travel. Under the proposal, tariffs on imported goods from the VI could be set at 25% or higher, and new entry and exit fees would apply to non-residents travelling to and from the USVI via the VI.
When pushed by VI Consortium on the reasons for the tariff, Governor Bryan told the online news, “This discussion is crucial to ensuring fair trade and economic stability for the USVI.”
Governor Bryan further stated: “For too long, we have experienced economic leakage and inconsistencies in our trade relationship with the VI. It is time we take decisive action to protect our local industries, generate revenue for essential services, and create a more balanced regulatory framework.”
The VI Government; however, is expected to respond today, February 20, 2025, with a statement.
Acting Premier Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5) could not be reached for comment; however, it is also our understanding that VI elected officials have already placed phone calls to Governor Bryan.
The VI and the USVI have enjoyed a long and fruitful bond with travel, trade, cultural and family ties. There is even a VI/USVI Friendship Day usually observed in October to reflect on the shared bond, history and culture of Virgin Islanders from both territories.
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55 Responses to “VI-USVI Trade war? Gov Bryan fires 1st shot with proposed 25% tariff”
The more things change...the more they stay the same! Black families are pitted against each other for the greed of the white community who care more for their pets than us!
Our relationship with the USVI is one of kinship, yet I don’t see many of them involved in that industry that we welcomed them into. This is an issue the USVI Leaders should tackle instead of always catering to the lighter-skinned individuals with the cash. Black people we are still under a form of slavery in our minds that make us fight each other to ensure the wealth of the white man.
This situation could have been approached with more diplomacy, but I’m really curious about how we reached this point. What kind of leaders would allow people from another country to operate businesses in our territory, raking in $90 million a year without following local labor and commerce laws? This is why some people think Black folks are stupid. Can BVIslanders just waltz into USVI waters and do the same? Absolutely not.
In the BVI, there are labour laws that favour BVIslanders in terms of business ownership percentages, and we BVIslanders would have liked our fair share of that $90 million industry, especially since these outsiders have been taking advantage of our natural resources.
We need to stop acting foolishly and come together for the benefit of our people and our resources.
we mostly import stuff, especially from the USA. so idk what hes getting at But if natalio starts a trade war then our USA imports may suffer but not lie them care cuz cost of living,rent, increasing groceries price are through the roof and only keeps increasing but onces it dont affect the upper class to hell with everyone else
i guess everyone will have to revert back to ordering through places like aeropost
now is a good time to get our airport expansion so we wont have to go through all those fees
but to be fair we do charge a lot of fees for visitors hmm
kfc..
Seems like Gov Bryan wants to put a tariff on happiness???
one family's with a division.
And the vast majority of non resident travelers between us are US citizens.
And we thought our government were idiots?
Clearly, the Governor on St. Thomas isn't familiar with nor doe he understand our various and investment-friendly government departments: Labour, Immigration, HM Customs, and Trade, and how they are all working as hard as they can to erect and strengthen roadblocks to economic development.
But suntans, that's a good thing to tax.
The USVI and VI , a stone’s throw away from each other, are close friendly neighbors with close economical, social, cultural, familial, trading, etc, ties for over a 100 years. The trade relationship existed when the USVI were the Danish West Indies. The US bought the Danish West Indies for $25M in 1917 from Denmark,,and changed the name to the USVI.
Virgin Islanders emigrated to the USVI to work on the Bourne Field and Subbase projects, at the cWest Indian Dock, in the Tourism and construction industries, transportation (taxi, ferry ),retail stores, domestic services, etc. The VI, self-sufficient in food production, exported its surplus to the USVI , primarily to St . Thomas, viz, ground provisions, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, conch, lobster, coal, etc. The USVI in turn exported consumer goods to the VI.; workers return home with consumer goods. It was a mutually beneficial, co-existence, arrangement. What does the VI export to the VI now to the USVI?
Moreover, friends sometimes have disagreements; tongue and teeth fallout. As such, the USVI and VI seemed to have some frictional issues related to trade. However, it is in the best interest of and mutually beneficial for both to sit down as friends, break bread, discuss and debate the issue(s), and arrive at a decision that is a win-win ,ie, fair, reasonable , practical , and balance.
Each territory needs to select a negotiation team and agree to meet either in Road Town or Charlotte Amalie with a commitment to negotiate in good faith to settle their differences.
Moreover, few countries, if any, are blessed with every thing they need. They must trade with other countries for the things they need/want. Countries with surpluses need external markets to sell their surplus to. Countries produce what they either have an absolute or comparative advantage in and trade for the rest. Voluntary and free is mutually beneficial to trading partners. Countries imposed tariffs for various reasons, ie,,generate revenues, to protect local industries, retaliatory actions,,level trade imbalances, political weapons, etc.
But you gotta find it to get your 25%.tariffs