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4.47. (...) In cooperation with the FSC[Financial Services Commission] and the Jamaica Deposit Insurance Corporation (JDIC), the BoJ also plans to incorporate climate-related financial risks (CRFRs) into its oversight framework, to better assess potential risks and ensure financial and economic stability. (...)

4.64. (...) According to the authorities, Jamaica is currently reviewing the 2007 National Transport Policy (NTP) and developing a National Transport Strategy and Action Plan. The objective of revising the NTP is to promote greater integration of transport modes, taking into account climate change and gender, by focusing on greening the sector (e.g. solar power would be used at international airports) and providing gender-balanced development (e.g. a safer, affordable transportation system and equal employment opportunities in the sector).(...)

4.77. (...) A one-time registration fee and annual fees, such as tonnage and inspection fees, are charged. To encourage registration, the registration fee may be waived for new vessels or if shipping companies register more than one vessel. Discounts on the annual fees are also granted if vessels have been registered for at least five years and comply with additional criteria, such as a quota of local seafarers, and specific safety and environmental standards. (...)

4.83. (...) In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, to diversify tourism and thus develop a more resilient sector, the Government started implementing the Tourism Networks Policy and Strategy 2020, which aims to create inclusive and sustainable tourism model, by promoting synergies in the domestic market to promote consumption of local goods and services and thus increase the demand for labour. (...)

4.87. (...) TEF[the Tourism Enhancement Fund] loans are channelled through two financial institutions: the EXIM Bank and Jamaica National Small Business Loans (JNSBL) Ltd., a private bank (...). To qualify for a loan, projects must generate a minimum of their revenue from tourism-related activities (25% (EXIM Bank) and 30% (JNSBL)) and focus on job creation and sustainable tourism.

4.88. (...) To encourage foreign and domestic investment, fiscal incentives are granted through two components of the Omnibus Incentive Regime. In this regard, under the Productive Inputs Relief (PIR) Scheme, certain providers[146] may obtain tariff concessions and an exemption of the Additional Stamp Duty (ASD) when importing specific goods. (...) [146] Benefits are granted to (i) accommodation (hotels, resort cottages, guest houses, and apartments); (ii) ground transportation, including car and motorbike rentals; (iii) attractions (nature/eco- and cultural/heritage tourism); and (iv) water sports.(...)

Table 2.1 Ministries with trade-related responsibilities, 2023
(...)
Ministry: Economic Growth and Job Creation
Trade-related responsibilities: Trade and environment; special economic zones (SEZs)/free trade zones; Jamaica Logistics Hub Initiative; port development and regulation
(...)

[2.27. Jamaica as a party to CARICOM applies the Common External Tariff (CET) for extra regional imports ; intra-regional trade does not attract CET rates. Jamaica applies the CET with the exceptions scheduled in List A (suspension of the CET for an indefinite time period) and List C (use of minimum tariff rates). Additional exceptions may be granted to Jamaica under Article 83 of the 2001 RTC, which allows member States to temporarily stop applying the CET on the grounds of, but not limited to, supply shortages (Box 2.4). ]
Box 2.4 Procedure to use provisions under Article 83 of the 2001 RTC
Jamaican importers draft a request to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC), which specifies the goods and the quantities concerned. The MIIC holds consultations with stakeholders before submitting the request to the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). To assess the request, COTED considers different criteria, such as supply shortages, revenue loss, rising cost of living, economic or industrial support, and environmental protection. The suspension of duties may be applied for up to one year.
Source: Protocol to Amend Article 83; and information provided by the authorities.

Table 3.4 Tariff lines subject to Additional Stamp Duty (ASD) by HS chapter, 2023
(...)
HS chapter: 23. Residues and waste from food industries
Number of tariff lines: 1
ASD range: 70%–70%
(...)

Box 3.3 Jamaica's ban on single-use plastics
Since 2019, Jamaica has banned the import, distribution, and manufacture of single-use plastic for commercial use. The measure was introduced by the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018 and the Natural Resources Conservation (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018.
The ban was implemented gradually:
• 1 January 2019: Plastic bags (including degradable, biodegradable, oxo-degradable, photodegradable, or compostable bags), packaging (wholly or partly) made of expanded polystyrene foam, and drinking straws (wholly or partly) made of polyethylene or polypropylene were banned.
• 1 January 2020: Packaging (wholly or partly) made of expanded polystyrene foam used as containers for food and beverage was banned.
• 1 January 2021: Drinking straws made (wholly or partly) of polyethylene or polypropylene, manufactured for single use, and attached to, or forming part of, the packaging of juice boxes or drink pouches were banned.
Plastic bags used for maintaining public health and food safety[a] and drinking straws for use by, or used by, persons with disabilities are exempt. In addition, under specific circumstances, the temporary use of single use plastics may be authorized.
In 2021, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) noted that issues remained relating to the implementation of this measure, such as a limited locally manufactured alternative packaging or the quality and cost of alternative packaging material.[b]
According to the Natural Resources Conservation (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018, offences are either a fine of up to JMD 50,000 or a two-year imprisonment. Under the Trade (Plastic Packaging Materials Prohibition) Order, 2018, offences are a fine of up to JMD 2 million or a two-year imprisonment.
[a] This includes plastics bags used to package raw meat, eggs, flour, sugar, rice, or baked products.
[b] PSOJ (2021), Ban on Plastic in Jamaica: A Private Sector Perspective. (...)