The US Government’s controversial push to rewrite international tariff and trade agreements may accelerate a Caribbean Community scheme towards regional integration.

The scheme proposes freedom of movement among full Caricom members. Bermuda is an associate member.

Members have been reflecting on warnings from the chair of Caricom on the potential impact of an emerging trade war.

Mia Mottley, who is also the Prime Minister of Barbados, said it was the latest evidence of a world in crisis.

She said there was already a cost-of-living crisis, a climate crisis and a mental health crisis, “causing hopelessness among many of our young people”. Crime, fear and war, she said, were on the rise.

There is distrust among neighbours and distrust among countries. She declared: “The international order, the international system, my friends, is in great danger of collapse, and now we are on the precipice of a global trade war.”

She holds no confidence that it could end well for the Caribbean and therefore proposed a re-engagement “urgently, directly, and at the highest possible level” with the United States.

She called regionally on private business and the tourism sector to collaborate with governments towards an immediate tourism strategy to maintain market share.

Ms Mottley warned of the need to work together politically, citing the historical adage: “United, we stand and divided, we fall.”

She called for increased efforts to invest in Caribbean agricultural production and light manufacturing: “We can all make the decision to buy healthy foods at the market instead of processed foods at the supermarket.”

But she also called for the region to open new trade routes: “We must build our ties with Africa, Central and Latin America, and renew those ties with some of our older partners around the world, in the United Kingdom and Europe, and in Canada. We must not rely solely on one or two markets. We need to be able to sell our Caribbean goods to a wider, more stable global market.”

She sees success if differences are sidelined and support is grown for small businesses and producers. She urged everyone, including hoteliers, supermarkets and all Caribbean people: “Buy local and buy regional. The products are better, fresher and more competitive in many instances. If we work together and strengthen our own, we can ride through this crisis.”