-exemption to be sought
Guyana will seek an exemption from a new 12.5% United States tariff on imports from the country while continuing negotiations with Washington on a reciprocal trade agreement, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud said yesterday.
In a statement, Persaud said the tariff announced this week by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) does not impose an additional burden on Guyanese exporters but replaces the temporary 10% global tariff that expired on July 24 under Section 122 of the US Trade Act.
“This measure does not represent a new or additional burden on Guyanese exporters. It replaces the 10% global tariff that expired under Section 122 of the Trade Act on July 24 and follows a broader trajectory–a 38% rate announced in April 2025, down to 15%, and now to 12.5%,” Persaud said.
On Thursday, the USTR announced that Guyana was among 60 trading partners that would be subject to a 12.5% tariff under a Section 301 action. The agency said the measure followed investigations into whether countries had adopted and effectively enforced measures prohibiting the importation of goods produced through forced labour.
The new tariff replaces the temporary 10% global tariff imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act while the investigations were being conducted.
The USTR also said Guyana was not among 16 countries whose investigations would continue.
Persaud urged that the action be viewed within the wider context of the US tariff review process.
“It is important that this action be understood in its proper context. It arises from a domestic US legal and policy process, following the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year on the limits of executive tariff authority,” he said.
He noted that the measure applies broadly and was not directed specifically at Guyana.
“It applies to 60 US trading partners across every region of the world, such as Canada, the European Union, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and Venezuela, among others. It is not a judgement on Guyana, and Guyana was neither singled out nor treated differently from dozens of other economies navigating the same recalibration,” Persaud said.
He added that 16 countries would continue to face investigations, a category in which Guyana was not included.
Persaud said Guyana remained committed to its relationship with the United States and had continued engaging US officials throughout the review process.
“Guyana remains firmly committed to its partnership with the United States. Our officials continue to work closely with USTR and other US counterparts, most recently through direct engagement at the July hearings, which Guyana voluntarily availed itself to reinforce its position,” he said.
According to Persaud, Guyana maintained that it was not aware of evidence demonstrating that goods produced through forced labour were being manufactured in, imported into, or exported from the country.
He said Guyana would continue discussions with Washington while seeking relief from the tariff.
“Guyana will be pursuing an exemption from these replacement tariffs even while we remain focused on the finalization of an Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that reflects the strength and maturity of the US-Guyana relationship,” Persaud said.
“We are confident this process will continue on the basis of facts, mutual respect, and shared interest.”
USTR presentation
The position outlined by Persaud was also presented earlier this month by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharon Roopchand-Edwards during the USTR Section 301 public hearing held from July 7 to 9.
Roopchand-Edwards told the hearing that Guyana shared the United States’ commitment to protecting fundamental labour rights and eliminating forced labour but argued that allegations must be addressed through lawful, evidence-based investigations.
She said Guyana was not aware of evidence demonstrating that goods produced through forced labour were being manufactured in, imported into, or exported from the country.
“Allegations of forced labour must be addressed through lawful, evidence-based investigations,” she told the hearing.
Roopchand-Edwards said Guyana maintained a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to prevent and prohibit forced labour, pointing to protections under the Constitution, the Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act and the country’s obligations under International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 29 and 105.
She said the Ministry of Labour had conducted inspections across economic sectors and, as of June 2026, had completed more than 2,000 inspections without finding substantiated evidence of forced labour.
The Permanent Secretary also said the Guyana Revenue Authority was unaware of imports produced through forced labour entering Guyana.
She told the hearing that where credible evidence exists, Guyana’s Customs Act provides the authority to prohibit the importation of goods.
“When it is conclusively determined that imported goods were produced using forced labour, the responsible minister has powers to prohibit importation,” she said.
Roopchand-Edwards also highlighted the longstanding trade relationship between Guyana and the United States, noting that US exports had grown strongly over the past two decades and that American companies maintained a significant presence in Guyana, particularly in the energy sector.
She argued that imposing tariff penalties while discussions on a reciprocal trade agreement were ongoing would be “premature and counterproductive”.
Guyana, she said, remained willing to cooperate with the United States on specific and verified cases of forced labour and welcomed support through capacity building, information sharing and the exchange of best practices to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
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