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Imports
Saint Lucia has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, which is Saint Lucia's main source of revenue. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalise the banana industry.
An educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage, and port facilities have attracted foreign investment in tourism and in petroleum storage and transshipment.
The recent change in the European Union import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia.
Tourism is vital to Saint Lucia's economy. Its economic importance is expected to continue to increase as the market for bananas becomes more competitive. Tourism tends to be more substantial during the dry season (January to April). Saint Lucia tends to be popular due to its tropical weather and scenery and its numerous beaches and resorts.
Other tourist attractions include a drive-in volcano, Sulphur Springs (in Soufrière), the Botanical Gardens, the Majestic twin Peaks "The Pitons", a world heritage site, the rain forests, and Pigeon Island National Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old British military base. The majority of tourists visit Saint Lucia as part of a cruise. Most of their time tends to be spent in Castries, although Soufriere, Marigot Bay and Gros Islet are popular locations to visit.
St. Lucia's imports include consumer goods, food, industrial supplies, fuels, cars, wheat flours, broadcasting equipment, concentrated milk, raw sugar, animal food.
Saint Lucia's main import partners are Brazil, Argentina, United States, China, United Kingdom, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Customs requirements of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia Customs Contacts
Website: https://customs.gov.lc/
Email: customsdept@customs.gov.lc
Adress: Jeremie St, Castries City, Saint Lucia
Tel: (758) 468-4800
Fax: (758) 452-4959
Saint Lucia is an island country situated in the Lesser Antilles archipelago in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Saint Lucia is located north of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. Saint Lucia is a memebre of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States, Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom), World Customs Organization (WCO), World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organization.
Tariffs
Products imported into Saint Lucia are subject to the following customs duties:
- Import Duty
- Excise Tax
- Service Charge
- Value Added Tax
All ad valorem duties are applicable on the Customs Value of the imported products. Goods such as tobacco and alcohol are subject to specific rates of duty and duties calculated on the basis of their volume.
Customs duties apply on most imports, except those from CARICOM countries. The CARICOM common external tariff ranges up to a maximum of 20%.
There are no seasonal tariffs, nor goods subject to tariff quotas. Tariff rates range from 0 to 70%. Agricultural products are subject to a rate of 40%. The maximum applied rate arms and ammunition is 75%, 50% for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and 40% for motor vehicles.
Product certification
Importers of live animals, animal products and by-products must apply for an import permit. The deciding factor for entry is the disease status of the exporting country vis-a-vis the disease status of Saint Lucia.
Importers also need a Certificate of Free Sale, which provides proof that the sale of a particular product is not in contravention of the Standards Act and Regulations, and other National Legislation.
Documents for import
Imports require up to 7 documents. The c.i.f. value of the goods imported must be stated, and accompanied by bills of lading or airway bills. An importer of goods is also required to file a commercial invoice and the single administrative document (SAD). CARICOM goods require a certificate of origin. Where necessary, the appropriate import or export licence, certificates required under the Plant Protection Act, the Pesticide Control Act, or health and meat inspection certificates must also be attached to the SAD.
Common needed documents:
• Form 19 (CARISAD)
• Invoices
• Documents of Title (Airway bill/ Bill
of Lading)
• Certificate of Origin (for goods manufactured from another Caricom country)
• Form 61 (For individual items exceeding a customs value of $2500.00),
• Import Licenses/Import Permits (where applicable)
• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Bill of Sight (in the absence of proper invoices)
Sources:
https://customs.gov.lc/tariff.php
http://slbs.org.lc/department/6
http://carib-export.com/obic/documents/Doing_Business_with_StLucia.pdf
http://www.govt.lc/services/veterinary-import-permit