Country exposure · MS

Montserrat
Central America N Caribbean · Plymouth · parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
What Montserrat means for your money — the prices you pay, the tariffs in motion, and where U.S. policy could change both.

$398K
U.S. imports, 2025
-92.6%
change in one year
$12M
U.S. exports, 2025
5K
Population
$85M
GDP
In your house
What you buy that Montserrat makes
America bought $398K in goods from Montserrat in 2025 — down 92.6% in a single year. Of every $100 of it, here's where the money went.
Stone, sand, cement, etc.
cement, stone, sand
U.s. goods returned, and reimports
Measuring, testing, control instruments
Minimum value shipments
Generators, accessories
Industrial machines, other
Rugs
rugs
Bauxite and aluminum
aluminum for cans and autos
Other parts and accessories of vehicles
car parts and accessories
Electric apparatus
2026 so far (through April): $79K in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).
The other direction
What America sells to Montserrat
$12M in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.
Minimum value shipments
$2MMaterials handling equipment
$933KOther foods
$808KComputers
$701Klaptops, desktops, monitors
Finished metal shapes
$596KMeat, poultry, etc.
$489KLogs and lumber
$433KNewsprint
$382KVegetables
$381KWhere you stand
U.S. tariff posture toward Montserrat
No U.S. tariff action singles this country out. Its goods face the universal 10% temporary import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act (which replaced the IEEPA reciprocal baseline in February 2026) plus the sectoral Section 232 duties — steel and aluminum at 50% — that apply to all countries. The Section 122 surcharge is statutorily temporary — scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 (a 150-day cap) unless extended or replaced.
Reciprocal tariff (universal baseline)
10%
The universal 10% floor — a Section 122 import surcharge since February 2026, previously the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — applies to nearly all U.S. imports. This country has no higher assigned rate of its own.
Policy in motion
Tariff status: a moving target
No U.S. tariff action names Montserrat. These are the universal measures — applied to every country without a country-specific arrangement — that set its treatment.
2026-04-06
Section 232 metals coverage expanded
In effectThe April 2026 proclamation strengthening Section 232 actions on aluminum, steel, and copper expanded derivative-product coverage for all countries, keeping the general metals rate at 50%.
91 FR 18201 →2026-02-24
IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122 surcharge
In effectExecutive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including the EO 14257 reciprocal baseline — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them, leaving the universal rate unchanged at 10% on a different statutory basis. Section 122 caps such surcharges at 150 days, so this 10% surcharge is scheduled to lapse on or about July 23, 2026 absent further action (the administration has signaled it could raise the rate toward the 15% statutory maximum).
91 FR 9437 →2025-11-13
Agricultural products exempted from reciprocal tariffs
In effectExecutive Order 14360 of November 14, 2025 removed reciprocal duties from certain agricultural products listed in its annexes (coffee, cocoa, bananas, and other goods the U.S. does not produce in sufficient quantity), retroactive to November 13, 2025 — for all countries subject to the reciprocal tariff.
90 FR 54091 →2025-06-04
Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50%
In effectThe June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% for all countries, effective June 4, 2025.
90 FR 24199 →2025-04-05
Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect
In effectExecutive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, effective April 5, 2025. Countries without a higher Annex I rate remain at this baseline.
Federal Register · 2025-06063 →2025-03-12
Section 232 steel and aluminum duties set at 25% for all countries
In effectProclamations of February 10, 2025 terminated all country exemptions and quota arrangements and applied 25% Section 232 duties to steel and aluminum imports from every country, effective March 12, 2025.
90 FR 9817 →
Reference
The country itself
Central America N Caribbean · Geography, people, economy, and government — public-domain data from the CIA World Factbook.
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades later. The British and French fought for possession of the island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid-19th century. The Soufriere Hills Volcano erupted in 1995, devastating much of the island; two thirds of the population fled abroad. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in 2013.

Geography
- Location
- Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
- Area
- 102 sq km
- Climate
- tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation
- Terrain
- volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland
- Natural resources
- NEGL
- Coastline
- 40 km
- Natural hazards
- volcanic eruptions; severe hurricanes (June to November) volcanism: Soufrière Hills volcano (915 m) has erupted continuously since 1995; a massive eruption in 1997 destroyed most of the capital, Plymouth, and made about half of the island uninhabitable; the island of Montserrat is part of the volcanic island arc of the Lesser Antilles that extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south
People & society
- Population
- 5,468 (2024 est.)
- Nationality
- Montserratian(s)
- Ethnic groups
- African/Black 86.2%, mixed 4.8%, Hispanic/Spanish 3%, Caucasian/White 2.7%, East Indian/Indian 1.6%, other 1.8% (2018 est.)
- Languages
- English
- Religions
- Protestant 71.4% (includes Anglican 17.7%, Pentecostal/Full Gospel 16.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 15%, Methodist 13.9%, Church of God 6.7%, other Protestant 2%), Roman Catholic 11.4%, Rastafarian 1.4%, Hindu 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Muslim 0.4%, other/not stated 5.1%, none 7.9% (2018 est.)
- Median age
- 37.1 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth
- 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Economy
- Economic overview
- formerly high-income economy; volcanic activity destroyed much of original infrastructure and economy; new capital and port is being developed; key geothermal and solar power generation; key music recording operations
- Industries
- tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances
- Agricultural products
- cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers; livestock products
- Exports - partners
- USA 25%, Antigua & Barbuda 13%, Guyana 13%, Egypt 12%, France 10% (2023)
- Imports - partners
- USA 62%, Antigua & Barbuda 6%, UK 5%, Belgium 4%, Trinidad & Tobago 3% (2023)
Government
- Government type
- parliamentary democracy; self-governing overseas territory of the UK
- Capital
- Plymouth
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- Constitution
- previous 1960; latest put into force 20 October 2010 (The Montserrat Constitution Order 2010)
- Executive branch
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sarah TUCKER (since 6 April 2023)
- Legislative branch
- Legislative Assembly
Full reference data
Every field, by section — CIA World Factbook. Open a topic to expand it.
Introduction
Travel Facts
Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency? Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Monday, September 12, 2022