Rupture and upheaval have characterised the international trade landscape in 2025.
Perspectives on whether this represents progress or peril diverge sharply depending on whom you ask. Those who believe in the dividends of international institutions, laws, principles and norms may argue that there has been a tumultuous shift from the established order. From a Washington perspective, actions—such as the shift to reciprocal tariffs, bilateral trade deals, and the halt to global sustainability initiatives—are intended to safeguard national interests. The Caricom-Caribbean perspective and reality is one in which the multilateral rules-based order established in 1945 remains essential for survival in a globalised world. Caricom itself faltered in 2025, and given the temperaments of major powers at play, the organisation must solidify itself or risk becoming collateral damage in the agendas of bigger players. To explore the Caribbean reality, this article employs a year-in-review analysis to assess global and regional trade developments in 2025 and forecast 2026.
