The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce has flagged several issues it says could increase the cost of goods for the local consumer.
For example, it believes ‘shipping costs’ could increase as “Ship agents have already started alerting firms purchasing goods from the far east of reduced shipping capacity, rising shipping costs and protracted delays”.
The Chamber predicts that “these increased costs will eventually be passed on to the consumer” and notes that firms will have to “place orders extremely early if they expect to have goods on island at the time they wish”.
Currently there is a discussion on increases in the price of eggs and local meat products as “The implementation of Article 164 treatment on animal feed, may send some shocks through the system”.
Producers who have been purchasing feed from non OECS sources “will have to pay the Article 164 duties (50% on CARICOM MDC feed and 100% on extra CARICOM feed)”.
The Chamber notes that “Many farmers have argued that the OECS animal feed does not produce the level of output that the extra OECS animal feed provided. The farmer will have to decide whether the differential in price and output compels the use of OECS animal feed or extra-OECS animal feed”.
The Chamber has engaged the Ministry of Commerce on a proposed meeting with affected members.
Source “Inside Edge” from the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce