The Caribbean Court of Justice building in Trinidad (FILE)

CCJ rules against Rock Hard Cement in tariff case

Article by Antoinette Connell

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled against Rock Hard Cement, which challenged a 50 per cent tariff on imported hydraulic cement into the region.

In a judgment released yesterday, Barbados’ highest court explained that in 2020, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), an organ of CARICOM, granted an application by Trinidad and Tobago to suspend the Common External Tariff (CET) of five per cent and substitute a rate of 50 per cent on other hydraulic cement, which was being imported by Rock Hard.

That higher rate was applicable for all of 2021 and Rock Hard challenged both the process by which Trinidad made the application and the decision by COTED to allow the suspension and increased rate.

Rock Hard Distribution Ltd, Rock Hard Distributors Ltd and Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd brought the action against the state of Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM, the state of Belize and Trinidad Cement Ltd Intervening. (PR/AC)

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