US Ambassador says Guyana’s catfish export ban could be soon lifted

The longstanding ban on Guyana’s catfish exports to the United States is moving closer to being lifted, according to U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot.

The export restriction, which has been in place since 2017, severely impacted Guyanese exporters. The ban followed new protocols established by the U.S. in 2016, with a transitional period given for compliance. However, Guyana’s inability to meet the updated requirements resulted in the ban. Before its implementation, catfish exports from Guyana to the U.S. were valued at approximately $1.8 billion annually.

Speaking at a ceremony for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Guyana and U.S. company Blumberg Grains, Ambassador Theriot said the two countries are working closely to lift the restriction.

“The requirements for importing catfish and much seafood into the United States became much more stringent quite a few years ago, and so Guyana had to requalify,” Theriot explained. “Guyana has taken every step we’ve asked of them. It’s a long process — they submit responses to our questions, we ask more questions — but I can tell you that it’s going very well.”

Since the ban, several rounds of diplomatic discussions have taken place between Guyana and the United States in efforts to resolve the issue. Theriot expressed optimism about the outcome.

“Guyana has been incredibly responsive. I am very, very hopeful that we will have this resolved soon and that it will be a positive response,” the Ambassador said.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha affirmed that the country has met all necessary U.S. standards and stressed the economic benefits of lifting the ban.

“I hope very shortly we can have the ban lifted so Guyana can once again export catfish to the US,” the Minister said.