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Caribbean Basin Initiative

The trade programs known collectively as the Caribbean Basin Initiative
(CBI) remain a vital element in the United States’ economic relations
with its neighbors in Central America and the Caribbean. The CBI is
intended to facilitate the economic development and export
diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. Initially launched in
1983 through the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), and
substantially expanded in 2000 through the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade
Partnership Act (CBTPA), the CBI currently provides 19 beneficiary
countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods.

CBTPA entered into force on October 1, 2000 and continues in effect
until September 30, 2008 or the date, if sooner, on which the FTAA or
another free trade agreement as described in legislation enters into
force between the United States and a CBTPA beneficiary country. 

There are currently nineteen countries that benefit from the CBI program
and, therefore, may potentially benefit from CBTPA. These countries are:
Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin
Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica,
Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles,Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia,
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.





Website:
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Development/Preference_Programs/CBI/Section_In
dex.html

