Of trade, aid and silence

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - THE RECENT virtual back-to-back visits by the USA’s Vice-President Joseph Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping have served to fuel optimism for increased trade and economic investment among Caribbean Community states. Current realities in our trade relations with these major and quite influential powers should remind us that given the nature of small and vulnerable economies, we ought to remain appreciative of the practical advantages inherent in such relationships while, sensibly, being vigilant against erosion of our political sovereignty as Washington and Beijing compete for influence in the Latin America-Caribbean region. In today’s ever-increasing globalised world, practical realities include that both the USA and China continue to benefit from the trade surplus advantage with Caricom countries, even as their respective aid policies vary—both in quantum and concessionary terms, though Beijing is reputedly doing a better job for beneficiary states.