‘Made in China’ - that’s the tag you see on most consumer products purchased in Jamaica.
In November, Jamaica will mark 54 years of diplomatic relations with China and the relationship between the countries is growing stronger as time goes on.
Over time China has increased its influence in Jamaica to become one of the largest largest trading partners.
This has seen Chinese influence spread across the country with Chinese operators occupying major trading spaces in just about every Jamaican township.
While trade volume remains high at around US$1.4 billion in 2025, the exchange is greatly lopsided with Jamaica importing far more from China than it exports to the far eastern nation.
China’s presence in Jamaica can be readily seen in the island’s road network and other areas of infrastructural development.
This is something that Donald Trump’s pick for United States Ambassador to Jamaica Kari Lake intends to remedy. She has made it clear that she is uncomfortable with Chinese influence on the island. So what will her approach be? Will America seek to manhandle Jamaica into uncomfortable situations?
For many Jamaicans there is nobody like Miss or Mr Chin as all Chinese are labeled. Chinese wholesales are the source of basic needs items including food stuff. They are a point of employment in many communities and they are making their presence felt.
We do not see Americans working side by side with Jamaicans in critical areas. American investment is usually on a larger scale and while there is no doubt that they are Jamaica’s most important partner they cannot be allowed to disrupt what the country has going on with China.
Chinese state-backed entities have provided major grant aid and loans for building medical facilities, including the Western Children's Hospital in St. James. China was also resposible for the landmark foreign affairs building in downtown Kingston.
Jamaica’s relationship with the United States will always remain strong as the US has the largest Jamaican Diaspora population. Established cooperation between the two countries has made initiatives like the farm work programme hugely successful.
Jamaicans in the United States account for the largest share of remittances to Jamaica.
There can be little question as to why Jamaica would have found it hard to reject the United States proposal for the transfer of third party nationals to Jamaica.
There is room for both superpowers to operate in Jamaica but geopolitical considerations will inevitably force both China and the US into a scrap to exert majority influence over Jamaica.
We are already seeing how US policies are influencing Jamaica’s relationship with Cuba negatively. Donald Trump wants regime change in that country and Jamaica, being Cuba’s closest neighbour will not be allowed to sit on the sidelines.
The third party nationals agreement is only the beginning of how the United States might relate to Jamaica in the months and years to come.
Jamaica should be seeking to deepen its relationship with China. This will mean an improvement in the trade balance and greater exchanges in technological development and skills exchanges.
The world is expanding and every country should try to improve its global footprint. We should position ourselves diplomatically so that Ms Lake’s intentions will not damage our relationship with China and that in the long run Jamaica will benefit from being friends with the two most influential superpowers.