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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, says Jamaica’s earnings from the export of bauxite and alumina in the first half of 2018 were 60% and 95%, respectively, of their export values for all of 2017. She shared this data while reiterating that tariffs imposed by the United States (US) on aluminium and steel continue to have little or no effect on Jamaican businesses.

The Foreign Minister while speaking at a quarterly press briefing said, “It might bear recognition that our proactive efforts and the positive response of the US government in respect of sanctions against Russian interest related to our WINDALCO, have borne fruit thus far in that neither production nor operations of WINDALCO have been impacted by these sanctions to date.”

Johnson Smith said, “This underscores the importance of ensuring that we monitor, retain cool heads and focus on actual data and analysis in such matters. Otherwise, you risk creating unnecessary panic and concern among investors and consumers alike. So we will continue to monitor and analyse how these matters unfold. “

In March the United States Government imposed tariffs of 10% and 25% on imports of aluminium and steel, respectively.

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