WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao had already initiated negotiations on bilateral trade agreements with Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago before entering into its associate membership arrangement with the Caribbean Community.
The negotiations are disclosed in an explanatory memorandum accompanying the CARICOM membership treaty.
According to the document, the government considers regional economic cooperation an important element of its strategy to strengthen Curaçao's position in the Caribbean.
The memorandum specifically identifies Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago as the two CARICOM countries with which Curaçao had begun bilateral trade negotiations.
It does not specify when the negotiations started, which products or services are being discussed or whether the talks have resulted in completed agreements.
Strengthening Economic Relations
The government views associate membership in CARICOM as an opportunity to expand economic cooperation with neighboring Caribbean countries.
The regional organization promotes economic integration and cooperation among its members, including through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
However, Curaçao's associate membership does not automatically make the island a full participant in that single market.
Instead, the treaty provides opportunities to participate in relevant economic programs, propose measures and develop cooperation within the limits of Curaçao's autonomous responsibilities.
The memorandum also identifies the improvement of trade relations between Curaçao and CARICOM's member states as one of the conditions included in the membership agreement.
This creates a formal basis for pursuing closer commercial ties, although the document does not establish specific trade targets or deadlines.
Opportunities and Unanswered Questions
Closer economic relations with Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago could provide opportunities for Curaçao to explore additional regional commercial partnerships.
However, the potential benefits would depend on the terms of any agreements eventually reached.
Important questions include which sectors would benefit, whether trade barriers would be reduced and what arrangements would govern the movement of goods and services.
The explanatory memorandum does not provide those details.
It also does not estimate the economic value of the proposed agreements or identify expected increases in trade.
The government nevertheless regards closer regional integration as a strategic priority under its 2025–2029 government program.
Curaçao's CARICOM agreement creates additional channels for economic dialogue, but the bilateral negotiations with Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago remain a separate process whose outcomes are not established in the memorandum.