Former Jamaican PM Bruce Golding urges US to restore friendship amid trade and policy tensions

Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding addressed the Jamaica 64th Independence Gala in Philadelphia, calling on the United States to soften its stance and rebuild the decades‑old friendship between the two nations. He warned that the United States is imposing new rules unilaterally – citing recent tariffs on Jamaican exports, the termination of the Cuban medical‑mission programme, opposition to Chinese investment in Jamaica and a controversial third‑country‑nationals arrangement – all of which he says undermine regional unity and harm Jamaica’s economy.

Golding highlighted the trade imbalance, noting that Jamaica imports far more from the United States than it exports, and urged Washington to engage in genuine dialogue rather than unilateral social‑media directives. He framed the current geopolitical climate as a challenge to the island’s stability and called for a renewed, mutually‑respectful partnership.