BAS renews call for increase in pork tariffs

The Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) has renewed its call for a sharp increase in tariffs on imported pork, warning that without urgent action, local pig farmers will continue to be squeezed out of the market despite growing domestic production capacity.

Chief executive officer James Paul said pork tariffs stood out as one of the major challenges facing the agricultural sector in 2026.

“Certainly in terms of the issues to be addressed going forward, I think the most pressing happens to be the question of the current tariff levels that we have on certain items of imported pork,” he said. 

“We have increased production coming on, and the investment in the pork sector has benefited more than one farmer, but the market conditions are not allowing local producers to fairly compete.”

Paul explained that the existing tariff regime, which once offered strong protection to local pork producers, had been significantly reduced and not been restored despite repeated appeals from stakeholders in the sector.

“The tariff is already there, it’s 184 per cent. What we are saying is that we shall return back to the normal tariff of 184 per cent, instead of this nonsense that happened. I will be honest with you – it did not happen under this regime, it happened under the previous regime, but despite numerous protests, it has not been changed.”

According to the BAS chief, the reduction of tariffs, to as low as zero to 20 per cent, undermined local farmers just as they were expanding output, leaving many unable to sell animals ready for market.

“Right now, as I speak, we have farmers who have animals on their farms that they cannot absorb. They just can’t absorb them. At the same time, we have these large amounts of imported commodities coming in, and the people bringing in those commodities are not even making overtures to the local pork sector.”

Paul pointed to disparities in how different processors and importers operated, singling out Hipac as an example of a company that had demonstrated long-standing commitment to local farmers.

“Hipac has shown a high level of corporate responsibility. They are the largest purchaser of fresh pork in this country and they have consistently offered contracts to local farmers, even though they could access cheaper pork from abroad.”

By contrast, he raised concerns about other businesses that relied almost exclusively on imports.

“You have companies that bring in imported products at will. They are bringing in products that could be produced here within Barbados, at extremely good quality, and yet they are not prepared to work with
local farmers.”

He rejected claims that Barbadian farmers were unable to meet quality standards demanded by retailers and the hospitality sector.

“That is simply not true. The challenge is whether local retailers and wholesalers are prepared to sit down and work with the agricultural sector, rather than saying from the start that it cannot be done so everything must be imported.”

Paul also highlighted the knock-on effects of seasonal shutdowns by major processors.

“As soon as a holiday approaches, farmers get scared. They know that for the period a company is closed, they are not going to get any major sales of pork and that means they cannot earn a decent income.”

Beyond tariffs, he said broader issues such as praedial larceny, pest control – particularly the growing monkey population – and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms continued to weigh heavily on farmers.

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