The reintroduction of tariffs under the current US president is sending ripples through global supply chains, with Saint Lucia expected to feel the delayed economic impact in the coming months. According to the Customs and Excise Department, although local prices remain relatively stable for now, the effects are inevitable.

Inspector Gilroy Polius, head of the Risk Management Unit at the Customs and Excise Department, is urging Saint Lucians to prepare for rising costs and to manage their spending wisely.

“They may still appear as ordinary shipments,” Polius explained, “but behind every container offloaded at Port Castries lies a growing sense of economic uncertainty.” That uncertainty, he noted, is rooted thousands of miles away in Washington, D.C., where newly imposed U.S. tariffs are reshaping the global trade landscape.

Polius said that while the full economic fallout has not yet reached Saint Lucia, signs of strain are emerging. “We've been seeing the trend externally, especially in the U.S., where prices are starting to go up. But because of the time it takes for goods to be ordered, shipped, and cleared, there’s typically a delay before we feel those impacts locally.”

For local shop owners and suppliers, that lag means now is the time to prepare for likely price increases on a wide range of goods—from electronics to basic household items much of which are imported from or through the United States.

The Customs and Excise Department is working in coordination with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, through a ministerial task force established to monitor and respond to the evolving trade situation.

“Customs does not create policy we enforce it,” Polius clarified. “We await policy direction from the relevant authorities, and we are ready to act once measures are introduced.”

As the government assesses its options, Polius is advising citizens to take practical steps now. With imported food costs likely to rise, he is encouraging local farmers to scale up production and households to consider growing what they can to reduce dependency on imported goods.

“I would tell people to be prepared. Pay attention to what’s happening globally. Inflation and recession often go hand in hand, and both will affect our spending power,” he said. “Expect to see reduced import volumes, rising costs, and a shift toward lower-quality goods. This is not a matter of if, but when so Saint Lucians must spend cautiously and plan ahead.”

As Saint Lucia anticipates the local effects of a shifting global trade environment, the Customs Department remains vigilant, working alongside national stakeholders to ensure readiness and resilience.