A trade dispute between Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica over the importation of toilet paper is heading to CARICOM for a solution. The row was triggered after a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers' Association (TTMA) complained that the Jamaican authorities were not allowing their products into the market.
Speaking with Trinidad's Express newspaper, Trade Desk Officer of the T&T-Jamaica Trade Facilitation Desk at the TTMA, Naika Pichi-Ayers, said the company, TTL, contacted the Association last month to resolve the matter. Ms Pichi-Ayers said TTL alleged that it was not informed by the Bureau of Standards about the embargo, and was therefore not allowed to ensure that it was up to the required quality standards. She added that the microbial testing on the toilet paper was not part of the requirement for CARICOM trade agreements.
According to the Express newspaper the blocked shipments were then left sitting on Jamaican ports for months.
Miss Pichi-Ayers said the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards and the manufacturer wanted to know what level of bacteria was present on the contaminated toilet paper. She added that TTL had sent its own samples to independent testing labs in the US for examination.
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