The Bahamas is generally a flat land of limestone, with no rivers, few fresh water lakes, and natural ores or minerals, making it a challenge for agricultural development and trade. Therefore, it imports most of what is consumed in foodstuffs and other items from its major trading partner, the US; there is a historical deficit in the balance of trade with The US. Over 85% of its imports come from the US, with other trading partners mainly being China, Turks and Caicos, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Panama. The major exports are crawfish, refined petroleum, polymers, salt, passenger and cargo ships, scrap vessels.

The Bahamas is currently signatory to trade agreements that provide trade preferences that are available to investors to access major markets as follows:

• The Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI); The Bahamas is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and therefore is a beneficiary under the United States’ Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA),

• The Caribbean Free Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN): Canada’s CARIBCAN Program.

• The country is also party to the United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement which has an agreement with the CARIFORUM countries.

• Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the countries of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM)

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