00:00Economist Dr. Valmiki Arjun warns that anything affecting Panama's trade and maritime operations has wider implications for the region, given
00:10its role in global shipping routes and supply chains.
00:14I can't stress on this enough. Anything, and I mean anything, to do with the Panama Canal that has potential
00:22to disrupt trade or give any kind of uncertainty surrounding trade is going to have negative economic ramifications for Latin
00:31America and the Caribbean, especially and including Trinidad and Tobago.
00:35He tells the Morning Edition, competing narratives between global powers, with the United States alleging increased scrutiny from China in
00:45Panama, while China accuses the U.S. of politicizing the situation.
00:50He says regional states must pay close attention to how international trading ports are being influenced by geopolitical rivalry.
00:59We have to now continue to modernize our domestic logistics and prepare for a world where, which it seems happening
01:07right now, where important choke points, where important ports and shipping routes, et cetera, they appear to be becoming a
01:16strategic battleground for these global economic players like the U.S., like China, et cetera.
01:22The economist cautions that such tensions could lead to higher freight costs, increased insurance requirements, and possible supply chain delays,
01:33which may ultimately translate into shortages and higher prices for goods.
01:38However, he says this country will benefit from a continued rules-based maritime system.
01:44Maritime trade is very important, and this is what we are signaling that we're sticking by, because at the end
01:52of the day, small countries like Trinidad and Tobago depend on a global system where vessels can move freely, ports
01:59operate predictably, and contracts are respected.
02:02Disputes should be resolved through law rather than any potential economic coercion.
02:09Nicole M. Romani, TV6 News.
02:12Nicole M. Romani, TV6 News.
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