Trinidad and tobago Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in trinidad and tobago, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Trade Barriers
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While TT has made considerable strides in reducing trade barriers, clearing goods through local customs is the most frequently-reported problem facing companies operating in TT with delays sometime taking weeks.  The customs process requires numerous administrative organizations and information is sometimes not adequately published.  While most items can be imported freely, some categories of products on a “negative list” require import licenses and may be subject to import surcharges.  The procedures to obtain an import permit have improved but the length of time to obtain the permit varies.  Some barriers occasionally arise that are attributable to TT’s implementation of CARICOM directives and regulations.  Strict regulations govern the importation of pharmaceuticals for safety, efficacy, and quality.  The Food and Drug Act requires all drugs distributed or sold in TT to be assessed, registered, and certified by the TT Food and Drug Administration.  Some U.S. firms have highlighted difficulties in registering cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, with the TT authorities requiring disclosure of active ingredients, even in cases where there are none.  Despite rolling out an updated portal to streamline import and export procedures, electronic payments are not allowed, nor do all ministries with a role in the import and export process participate in the updated portal.

Items on the negative list

For more information and help with trade barriers please contact:

Enforcement and Compliance unit at the International Trade Administration

https://www.commerce.gov/issues/trade-enforcement

Tel: (202) 482-0063
ECCommunications@trade.gov

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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