BCCEC continues focus on supply chain diversity as US tariff rates move again
27 Feb 2026
BCCEC Responds to Changing Tariff Environment
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) CEO Dr. Leo Rolle said the chamber continues to encourage local businesses to diversify their supply chains, as continually changing US tariffs cause the price of certain goods to shift upwards.
Rolle called the recent announcement by US President Donald Trump of an increase in global tariffs to 15 percent, a wake-up call and an opportunity.
“As we have moved to diversify procurement directly from other jurisdictions, we continue to encourage businesses to seek alternative avenues where possible and beneficial to pass cost savings onto consumers,” said Rolle.
“While we aren’t yet sure how much this will hurt our own exports, given that our largest product export remains fisheries, the real takeaway here isn’t about daily rate changes, but how we survive in a world where the old rules of global trade are being thrown out the window.
“We used to live in a world where everyone agreed that globalization and collaboration were the keys to prosperity. That’s what built organizations like the OECD and the WTO.
“But look around, that’s all changing. Other countries are closing their borders, slapping on tariffs, and pulling away from the table.”
Rolle said policymakers should be having conversations about how the country functions in the face of these radical changes in trade geopolitics.
He said more one-to-one or group trade agreements are beginning to replace the big international rules.
“Europe is signing deals with South America, India is signing with Brazil, and just about everyone is locking in deals with China,” he said Rolle.
Trade Diversification Gains Urgency for Bahamas
“Unfortunately, we’ve been historically bad at leveraging these kinds of agreements. Barbados has a full time team of experts dedicated to squeezing every bit of value out of their trade deals, while we’ve traditionally had one or two people doing it part-time.”
He said, though, that the Bahamas Trade Commission has turbo-charged the country’s move to diversify supply chains.
According to Rolle, The Bahamas has to be intentional about developing trade routes that strengthen US collaboration and also allow for procurement diversity to continue to create and prosperity.
“The BCCEC has been working with the Bahamas Trade Commission, the US Embassy, the Chinese Embassy, the British High Commission and Bahamian embassies and consulates across multiple regions to strengthen trade and ensure diversification,” he said.
“Internationally, we have partnered with organizations like the Caribbean Export Development Agency, International Organization of Employers and JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation) to be ahead of shifting tariffs and economic instability.
“We continue to work with the government to ensure that together, we do all we can to lower the cost while increasing the ease of doing business in The Bahamas.”