Updated June 29, 2023
Trinidad and Tobago
Political and Economic Environment
Among the principal challenges facing the Rowley
Trinidad and Tobago, the second-most-populous English-
administration are the lingering economic effects of the
speaking Caribbean country after Jamaica, is located in the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic and fluctuating natural
southeast Caribbean, just seven miles from Venezuela at its
gas revenues. The World Bank classifies Trinidad and
closest point. The country’s population is largely of African
Tobago as a high-income economy due to its relatively high
and East Indian descent, each comprising about 35% of the
per capita income level, estimated at $15,000 in 2021. Even
total, with those of mixed descent and other ethnic groups
before the pandemic, however, the global decline in
comprising the rest. In 1962, the country gained
commodity prices negatively affected the country’s energy-
independence from the United Kingdom (UK), becoming
based economy (especially natural gas and petrochemicals,
one of the first British territories in the Caribbean to do so
which account for nearly half of gross domestic product
and retaining the parliamentary political system it inherited
[GDP]). With the pandemic’s onset, the economy
from the UK. In 1976, Trinidad and Tobago became a
contracted 7.4% in 2020, followed by an estimated 1%
parliamentary republic, with a president elected by
contraction in 2021, according to the International
parliament replacing the British monarch as head of state (a
Monetary Fund (IMF).
largely ceremonial role).
Figure 1. Trinidad and Tobago Map
Trinidad and Tobago at a Glance
Population: 1.42 mil ion (2023, IMF est.)
Area: 1,980 square miles, slightly smaller than Delaware
GDP: $28.2 bil ion (2023, est., current prices, IMF)
Real GDP Growth: -7.7% (2020), -1.0% (2021); 2.5% (2022);
3.2% (2023, forecast) (constant prices, IMF)
U.S. Imports: $5.4 bil ion (2022) (TDM)
U.S. Exports: $3.6 bil ion (2022) (TDM)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament, with 41-member elected
House of Representatives and 31-member appointed Senate
Sources: Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); World
Economic Outlook Database, April 2023; World Bank (WB);
and Trade Data Monitor (TDM), which presents U.S. trade
statistics.
The economy grew 2.5% in 2022, and the IMF projects

Source: CRS
3.5% growth in 2023. To respond to the ebbs and flows of
revenue from the natural gas sector—and to prevent
Note: The large majority of the population lives on Trinidad.
overreliance on energy—over the longer term, the
Current Prime Minister Keith Rowley, of the center-left
government has plans to diversify the economy through
People’s National Movement (PNM), is serving his second
efforts to improve the business climate and attract new
consecutive term as head of government since 2015. He
industries, including in the agriculture and manufacturing
was most recently reelected in 2020. In the 2020 elections,
sectors.
the PNM maintained a slight majority in parliament after
securing 22 out of 41 seats in the House of Representatives.
Another challenge for the Rowley government is
The opposition center-left United National Congress (UNC)
contending with persistently high crime rates, including
won the remaining 19 seats, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar,
homicides and other violent crimes. In 2022, Trinidad and
the country’s first female prime minister (2010-2015),
Tobago reported 502 murders, a 22% increase over 2021
serving as leader of the opposition. The PNM and the UNC
and equivalent to about 39 murders per 100,000 people, the
are Trinidad and Tobago’s two major political parties, and
sixth-highest rate in Latin America and the Caribbean.
political affiliations are often tied to ethnicity. The PNM,
first established in 1955, tends to receive its support from
In terms of foreign relations, Trinidad and Tobago has been
Afro-Trinidadians, and the UNC, established in 1989,
a major proponent of Caribbean economic integration and
receives a majority of its support from Indo-Trinidadians.
plays a leading role in the Caribbean Community
Next elections in Trinidad and Tobago are slated for 2025.
(CARICOM). Relations with the People’s Republic of
China (PRC) have increased over the past decade, with
Trinidad and Tobago signing on to the PRC’s Belt and
https://crsreports.congress.gov

---

Trinidad and Tobago
Road Initiative, focused on infrastructure development, in
North America, and the rest of the Caribbean. Drug
2018. Trinidad and Tobago also has continued relations and
trafficking organizations reportedly take advantage of the
bilateral cooperation with neighboring Venezuela under the
country’s proximity to Venezuela; porous borders; limited
government of Nicolás Maduro.
law enforcement capacity and resources; and corruption
within the ranks of law enforcement, border security
U.S. Relations with Trinidad and Tobago
entities, and the postal system.
According to the Department of State, U.S. relations with
Trinidad and Tobago are cordial and cooperative,
Nevertheless, the State Department maintains that Trinidad
characterized by a shared commitment to democracy. The
and Tobago continues to make progress in efforts to
Biden Administration cites mutually beneficial trade, and
investigate and dismantle drug networks. The State
close security cooperation via the Caribbean Basin Security
Department characterizes bilateral cooperation with
Initiative (CBSI). Cultural ties are strong in part because of
Trinidad and Tobago on drug trafficking and transnational
large Trinidadian communities in New York and Florida
crime as productive and recommends that the government
and more than 13,000 U.S. citizens residing in the country.
continue to strengthen border security and increase efforts
to combat public corruption, which facilitates such crime.
Economic Linkages. The United States has traditionally
run a trade deficit with Trinidad and Tobago because of the
U.S. Foreign Aid. The United States provided $2.8 million
country’s energy exports to the United States. In 2022, the
in aid to Trinidad and Tobago in FY2021 from all U.S.
United States imported $5.4 billion in goods, with mineral
agencies (https://www.foreignassistance.gov, latest full-
fuels and mineral oils accounting for 46.6%. In the same
year data available). Top sectors included peace and
year, the United States exported $3.6 billion in goods, with
security, health, and humanitarian assistance aimed at
refined petroleum products making up nearly 29%. Since
supporting Venezuelan migrants; there are currently an
1984, Trinidad and Tobago has been a beneficiary of the
estimated 35,300 Venezuelan migrants residing in the
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (P.L. 98-67, as
country. In September 2022, the U.S. Agency for
amended, with no expiration), a U.S. preferential trade
International Development (USAID) established a
program for Caribbean imports. Since 2001, it has been a
permanent office in Port of Spain to bolster Eastern and
beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
Southern Caribbean efforts to promote climate resilience
(Title II of P.L. 106-200, extended through September
and citizen security.
2030), which expanded preferential tariff treatment for
petroleum products and qualifying textile and apparel
Since FY2010, Trinidad and Tobago has received
products. The United States and CARICOM countries,
assistance through the CBSI, a U.S. regional initiative
including Trinidad and Tobago, signed a Trade and
supporting the efforts of Caribbean countries to reduce
Investment Framework Agreement in 2013 that provides a
illicit trafficking, increase public safety and security, and
forum for discussing commercial issues.
promote social justice through crime-prevention programs.
Under the CBSI, Trinidad and Tobago has received law
Gas Development. In January 2023, Trinidad and Tobago
enforcement training; support for increasing port security
received a two-year license from the U.S. Treasury
and maritime interdiction capabilities; and assistance for the
Department to engage with Venezuela on developing the
criminal justice sector, including judicial mechanisms for
Dragon natural gas field, which is in Venezuelan waters.
juveniles and educational opportunities for at-risk youth. In
The Maduro government, which is subject to U.S.
June 2023, the State Department announced its support for
sanctions, is not permitted to receive any cash payments
the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) in Trinidad and
from the project and is to be paid in humanitarian supplies.
Tobago, which facilitates regional efforts against arms
Trinidad reportedly is petitioning the U.S. Treasury
trafficking.
Department to be allowed to pay the Venezuelan state-
owned oil and natural gas company (PdVSA) in cash.
Trafficking in Persons. The State Department kept
Trinidad and Tobago on its Tier 2 Watch List in its 2023
Environment. In June 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris
Trafficking in Persons Report. The State Department
announced new initiatives to strengthen relations with the
maintained that Trinidad and Tobago expanded its counter-
Caribbean—notably the U.S.–Caribbean Partnership to
trafficking unit, opened shelters for adult trafficking victims
Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030). Through
and female child trafficking victims, and tried to prevent
PACC 2030, the United States aims to help promote
trafficking of Venezuelan migrants and other vulnerable
Caribbean energy security and advance clean energy.
groups. Nevertheless, the government has never convicted a
Trinidad and Tobago seeks to reduce greenhouse gas
trafficker under its 2011 anti-trafficking law.
emissions by at least 15% in 2030; the United States
For additional information, see CRS In Focus IF10789,
recently announced support for renewable energy and solar
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, and CRS Report
integration initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago.
R47432, Caribbean Trade Preference Programs.

This In Focus updates an earlier version written by former
Drug Trafficking Issues. The State Department’s 2022
CRS Specialist Mark Sullivan.
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)
describes Trinidad and Tobago as a transshipment point for
Karla I. Rios, Analyst in Latin American Affairs
illegal drugs (cocaine and marijuana) destined for Europe,
https://crsreports.congress.gov

---

Trinidad and Tobago

IF10914


Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10914 · VERSION 4 · UPDATED

---