Trinidad and Tobago: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 0 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Trinidad and Tobago.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Trinidad and Tobago in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Trinidad and Tobago may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

No entry on the 7 lists Sanctioni screens names Trinidad and Tobago.

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Trinidad and Tobago recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Trinidad and Tobago: logistics and trade

Energy and petrochemical hub of the southern Caribbean

Trinidad and Tobago (ISO code: TT) lies in the southern Caribbean, north-east of Venezuela, and comprises the two main islands of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and of CARICOM. The climate is tropical with high humidity and a rainy season from June to December. The economy rests mainly on oil and natural gas production, petrochemicals (ammonia, methanol), services and tourism, with the energy sector accounting for the bulk of exports. The country mainly exports natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals and asphalt, while relying heavily on imports of consumer goods, machinery and vehicles. Logistically it has modern seaports such as Port of Spain and Point Lisas and the Piarco international airport; there is no railway (the former network closed in 1968) and inland transport runs over a well-developed road network. This gives it an important transit and transhipment role in the southern Caribbean. The national currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD).

Capital: Port of Spain
Population: 1,368,333
Area: 5,130 km²
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Continent: North America
Region: Caribbean (CARICOM)
Economic area: CARICOM / CSME
Religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Road · Air

Current situation: Port of Spain (containers) and Point Lisas/PLIPDECO (heavy industry) are the main seaports, Piarco the air cargo hub. The 7-percent online tax remains in force in 2026.
Seasonal conditions: Tropical rainy season from June to December; at the southern edge of the Atlantic hurricane season (June-November), less often directly affected than the northern Caribbean.

Main seaports

Port Of Spain
Port of Spain (TTPOS), Trinidad & Tobago's main container and general-cargo port, ~228,000 TEU/year. Cargo, terminals, customs and alternatives for forwarders.
Scarborough
Scarborough (TTSCA): Tobago's main port with ferries to Trinidad plus container, bulk and RoRo handling. Deep-sea container traffic runs via Port of Spain.
Brighton
Brighton (TTLAB) at La Brea is an oil-and-gas service port on the Gulf of Paria with a Pitch Lake asphalt heritage. No containers – use Port of Spain or Point Lisas.
Galeota Point Terminal
Galeota Point (TTGUA): bpTT crude-oil export terminal in Trinidad, offshore SBM loading. No container or general cargo — use Port of Spain.
Pointe A Pierre
Pointe-à-Pierre (TTPTP): oil port at Trinidad's only refinery, idled since 2018. Containers via Point Lisas and Port of Spain.
Point Fortin
Point Fortin (TTPTF): LNG export port in Trinidad run via Atlantic LNG; no container traffic. Use Port of Spain or Point Lisas for general cargo.

Main cargo airports

Piarco International AirportPOS
Piarco (POS) near Port of Spain is Trinidad's main air-cargo gateway: Caribbean Airlines base, Swissport warehouses, around 1 million kg of freight a month.
A.N.R. Robinson International AirportTAB
A.N.R. Robinson (TAB/TTCP), Crown Point, Tobago: new terminal since July 2025, 3M pax capacity. Swissport cargo warehouse, low volumes; main freight via Piarco (POS).

Road corridors

Uriah Butler Highway
Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway
Churchill-Roosevelt Highway

Main trade lanes

USA
CARICOM (Caribbean)
EU
Latin America

Customs and import

Customs authority Customs and Excise Division (Ministry of Finance)Official website ↗

Import customs system: ASYCUDA World (since Dec. 2010), electronic declaration via the Single Window ttbizlink; for goods with a value above TTD 20'000, a licensed customs agent is mandatory.
Export customs system: Export declaration also via ASYCUDA World of the Customs and Excise Division, using the Single Administrative Document, processed through the Single Window ttbizlink.
Import VAT: Standard VAT rate of 12,5 percent on CIF plus import duty; additionally 7 percent Online Purchase Tax on goods imported through online purchases. Zero rate for certain basic foodstuffs and medicines.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: CARICOM origin declaration within the common market; EUR.1 or origin declaration under the CARIFORUM-EU EPA. No free trade agreement with Switzerland/EFTA.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import license required for, among others, weapons, ammunition, certain foodstuffs, plants and animals, and medicines; bans on counterfeit goods and certain hazardous substances.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
C82 / e-C82 customs declaration
Import license (if required)
Proof of origin

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of Lading / Airway Bill
Export declaration (SAD)
Proof of origin (CARICOM / EUR.1)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Medium
Port congestion: Medium
Dangerous goods relevance: High
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Medium to high

Trade

Top import partners

United States China Brazil Germany Mexico

Top export partners

United States Spain Netherlands Brazil India

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Foodstuffs
Chemicals
Consumer goods

Top export goods

Natural gas
Petroleum products
Petrochemicals
Asphalt

Typical cargo

Natural gas / LNG
Petroleum products
Petrochemicals (ammonia, methanol)
Asphalt
Consumer goods (imports)

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT rate in Trinidad and Tobago?

The standard VAT rate is 12,5 percent on CIF plus import duty. For online purchases, an additional Online Purchase Tax of 7 percent applies. A zero rate applies to certain basic foodstuffs and medicines.

Which customs system is used?

The Customs and Excise Division handles customs clearance through ASYCUDA World. Electronic declaration is made via the Single Window ttbizlink, introduced in December 2010.

Do I need a customs agent?

For goods with a value above TTD 20'000, appointing a licensed customs agent (customs broker) for the declaration is mandatory.

Which seaports are the most important?

The most important ports are Port of Spain for container traffic and Point Lisas (PLIPDECO) for heavy industry and petrochemicals. For Tobago, the port of Scarborough serves this purpose.

Is there a rail network?

No. Trinidad and Tobago does not operate a railway; the former network was closed in 1968. Overland freight transport is handled entirely by road.

Is there a free trade agreement with the EU or Switzerland?

The CARIFORUM-EU EPA has been in place with the EU since 2008. There is no free trade agreement with Switzerland or EFTA.

How does air freight work?

Air freight is handled through Piarco International Airport (POS) near Port of Spain; ground handling and cargo warehouses are operated, among others, by Swissport.

What risks exist for supply chains?

Points to note are the energy-dependent economy, the tropical rainy season from June to December, and selective security risks in parts of Port of Spain.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗