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June 26, 2018
Trinidad and Tobago
Political and Economic Environment
Trinidad and Tobago, there were 496 murders in 2017 (7%
Trinidad and Tobago, the second-most-populous English-
higher than 2016), reflecting a murder rate of about 36 per
speaking Caribbean nation after Jamaica, is located in the
100,000. Homicide rates in several Caribbean countries,
southeast Caribbean, just seven miles from Venezuela at its
including Trinidad and Tobago, have increased in recent
closest point (see Figure 1). The country’s population is
years because of gangs and organized crime, competition
largely of African and East Indian descent, each comprising
between drug trafficking organizations, and the availability
about 35% of the total, with the remainder including those
of firearms, according to a 2017 Inter-American Bank
of mixed descent and other ethnic groups. In 1962, the
study. In April 2018, Trinidad and Tobago’s parliament
country became one of the first British colonies in the
approved anti-gang legislation, which criminalizes being a
Caribbean to attain independence, and it retained the
gang member or participating in or contributing to gang
parliamentary political system that it inherited from the
activities.
United Kingdom. Although Trinidad and Tobago
traditionally has had a stable political system, the
Trinidad and Tobago at a Glance
government withstood a coup attempt in 1990 by a radical
Population:
1.37 mil ion (2017 est., IMF)
Islamic sect, the Afro-Trinidadian-based Jamaat al
Muslimeen, which held the prime minister and members of
Area (square miles):
1,980, slightly smaller than Delaware
parliament hostage for five days.
GDP (current prices): $21.6 bil ion (2017 est., IMF)
Figure 1. Trinidad and Tobago Map
Real GDP Growth:
-6.0% (2016), -2.6% (2017 est., IMF)
Per Capita Income:
$15,769 (2017 est., IMF)
U.S. Imports: $3.3 billion; U.S.
U.S. Trade:
Exports: $1.8 bil ion (2017, DC)
Bicameral Parliament, with 41-
member elected House of
Legislature:
Representatives and 31-member
appointed Senate
Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); U.S. Department of
Commerce (DC), as presented by Global Trade Atlas.
Trinidad and Tobago’s energy-based economy has been in
recession over the past four years, with economic
contractions of 6% in 2016 and 2.6% (est.) in 2017,
according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which
is forecasting that growth in 2018 will be flat at 0.2%. In
Source: CRS
the mid-2000s, the economy had been booming because of
the country’s energy production of both gas and oil, but the
global financial crisis and the subsequent decline in energy
Current Prime Minister Keith Rowley’s center-left People’s
prices beginning in 2014 severely affected the economy.
National Movement (PNM) won the September 2015
election, capturing a majority of 23 out of 41 seats in the
With a per capita income of $15,769 (2017), Trinidad and
House of Representatives. The PNM defeated the ruling
Tobago is classified by the World Bank as a high-income
center-left United National Congress (UNC), which was led
economy and is among the wealthiest countries in the
by then-Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the
country’s first female prime minister, who had ruled since
Caribbean because of its energy sector. Nevertheless, the
country’s natural gas reserves have been declining
2010 in a UNC-led coalition government. Persad-Bissessar
significantly in recent years. In 2017, proven natural gas
now serves as leader of the opposition in parliament. The
PNM and UNC have long been Trinidad and Tobago’s two
reserves were estimated to be 11 trillion cubic feet (tcf)
compared to 26 tcf in 2006, according to the U.S. Energy
major political parties. The PNM tends to receive its
Information Administration. Some new discoveries are
support from Afro-Trinidadians, and the UNC receives a
expected to boost future production after 2020.
majority of its support from Indo-Trinidadians.
Relations with Venezuela have been generally friendly, but
Among the challenges facing the Rowley government are
the political and economic crisis in Venezuela has caused
increasing violent crime and a weak economy. According to
concern in Trinidad and Tobago because of the influx of
the State Department’s 2018 Crime and Safety Report on
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuelan migrants. In 2017, the U.N. High
Department of Commerce. The United States and
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that there
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, including
were more than 40,000 Venezuelans in Trinidad and
Trinidad and Tobago, signed a Trade and Investment
Tobago; as of April 2018, UNHCR reported almost 3,300
Framework Agreement in 2013 providing a forum for
Venezuelan asylum seekers. In April 2018, UNHCR
discussing commercial issues.
expressed concern over the alleged deportation of 82
Venezuelan asylum seekers; the Rowley government
Security Concerns. In 2016, U.S. officials raised concerns
maintains the repatriations were voluntary.
about the flow of foreign fighters from the Caribbean to
Syria and Iraq in support of the Islamic State (ISIS),
Trinidad and Tobago has worked with Venezuela on energy
although the flow appears to have stopped after military
issues. The two countries signed a preliminary agreement in
successes of the U.S.-led coalition. The bulk of the foreign
2017 for the construction of a gas pipeline from Venezuela
fighters from the Caribbean reportedly were from Trinidad
to Trinidad and Tobago that would supply natural gas for
and Tobago. According to Admiral Kurt Tidd, the
Trinidad’s domestic consumption and for export. This year,
commander of the U.S. Southern Command, in a March
the two countries have advanced plans for the joint
2018 press briefing, Trinidad and Tobago had around 100
development of cross-border hydrocarbon reserves.
foreign fighters travel to the Middle East. Previously, in
April 2017 congressional testimony, Admiral Tidd asserted
The Rowley government has not supported efforts at the
that “violent extremist organizations like ISIS seek to
Organization of American States (OAS) to press the
radicalize and recruit vulnerable populations in the
Venezuelan government to take action to resolve its crisis.
Caribbean.” He cited an Islamic State publication (DABIQ)
At a June 4, 2018, OAS General Assembly meeting,
featuring an interview with a Trinidadian foreign terrorist
Trinidad and Tobago abstained on a resolution presented by
fighter who encouraged ISIS supporters to attack the U.S.
the United States and nine other countries that was framed
and Trinidadian governments.
as an initial step that could lead to Venezuela’s suspension
from the OAS; the measure passed with 19 votes, since
U.S. Foreign Aid. U.S. foreign aid to Trinidad and Tobago
only a simple majority was needed, but suspension of
amounted to $1.3 million in FY2016 for anti-terrorism
Venezuela’s OAS participation would take 24 votes out of
assistance training, International Military Education and
34 participating members.
Training assistance, Foreign Military Financing, and health
assistance (most recent year available; aid obligation
U.S. Relations with Trinidad and Tobago
statistics are drawn from the U.S. Agency for International
According the Department of State, U.S. relations with
Development’s online Foreign Aid Explorer).
Trinidad and Tobago are cordial and cooperative,
characterized by a shared commitment to democracy,
Trinidad and Tobago has received U.S. assistance for a
mutually beneficial trade, and close security cooperation.
number of years to combat HIV/AIDS through the
Cultural ties are strong in part because of large Trinidadian
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
communities in New York and Florida and more than
This aid has included support to expand access to treatment
11,500 U.S. citizens residing in the country.
for those living with HIV. According to U.N. statistics, the
country’s HIV adult prevalence rate is 1.2% (2016).
Economic Linkages. The United States traditionally has
run a trade deficit with Trinidad and Tobago because of the
Since FY2010, Trinidad and Tobago has received
country’s energy exports to the United States. In 2017, the
assistance through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
United States imported $3.3 million in goods, with oil, gas,
(CBSI), a U.S. regional initiative supporting the efforts of
and chemical products accounting for 62%; in the same
Caribbean nations to reduce illicit trafficking, increase
year, the United States exported $1.8 billion in goods, with
public safety and security, and promote social justice
machinery and electrical machinery accounting for 31%.
through crime prevention programs. Under the CBSI,
Since 1984, Trinidad and Tobago has been a beneficiary of
Trinidad and Tobago has received law enforcement
the Caribbean Basin Initiative, the U.S. preferential trade
training; support for increasing port security and maritime
program for Caribbean imports. Since 2001, it has been a
interdiction capabilities; and assistance for the criminal
beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act,
justice sector, including judicial mechanisms for juveniles
which expanded preferential tariff treatment for petroleum
and educational opportunities for at-risk youth.
products and qualifying textile and apparel products. For
many years, Trinidad and Tobago has been the largest
The Department of Defense also is providing security-
foreign supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the
related assistance to Trinidad and Tobago. In FY2017, it
United States, although U.S. LNG imports have decreased
initiated a $6.3 million train and equip program to enhance
significantly in recent years, as the United States has
the counterterrorism capabilities of the security forces.
produced more natural gas domestically.
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
U.S. direct foreign investment in Trinidad and Tobago
amounted to $5.3 billion in 2016 in such sectors as banking,
IF10914
aviation, energy, and manufacturing, according to the
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Trinidad and Tobago
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