Country exposure · VG
British Virgin Islands
Central America N Caribbean · Road Town · Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
What British Virgin Islands means for your money — the prices you pay, the tariffs in motion, and where U.S. policy could change both.
$14M
U.S. imports, 2025
-76.9%
change in one year
$521M
U.S. exports, 2025
40K
Population
$1.6B
GDP
In your house
What you buy that British Virgin Islands makes
America bought $14M in goods from British Virgin Islands in 2025 — down 76.9% in a single year. Of every $100 of it, here's where the money went.
U.s. goods returned, and reimports
Tobacco, waxes, etc.
Apparel, textiles, nonwool or cotton
synthetic and performance apparel
Furniture, household goods, etc.
furniture, mattresses, lamps
Minimum value shipments
Footwear
shoes and sneakers
Computers
laptops, desktops, monitors
Numismatic coins
Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c.
cell phones and home electronics
Shingles, wallboard
2026 so far (through April): $66M in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).
The other direction
What America sells to British Virgin Islands
$521M in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.
Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts
$198MFuel oil
$72MMinimum value shipments
$39MPetroleum products, other
$20MMeat, poultry, etc.
$11MOther foods
$9MPleasure boats and motors
$9MFinished metal shapes
$9MPassenger cars, new and used
$9Mnew and used cars
Where you stand
U.S. tariff posture toward British Virgin Islands
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 British Virgin Islands. 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.
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west, and the US dollar is the legal currency. In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.
Geography
- Location
- Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
- Area
- 151 sq km
- Climate
- subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
- Terrain
- coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
- Natural resources
- NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
- Coastline
- 80 km
- Natural hazards
- hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
People & society
- Population
- 40,102 (2024 est.)
- Nationality
- British Virgin Islander(s)
- Ethnic groups
- African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
- Languages
- English (official), Virgin Islands Creole
- Religions
- Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
- Median age
- 38.8 years (2025 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth
- 80.1 years (2024 est.)
Economy
- Economic overview
- British Caribbean island territorial economy; strong tourism and services industries; vulnerable to hurricanes; navigating public debt insolvency since 2008 Crisis; considered a tax haven; high electrification costs; major rum exporter
- Industries
- tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
- Agricultural products
- fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
- Exports - partners
- Malta 33%, Guyana 22%, Greece 11%, Germany 7%, Indonesia 4% (2023)
- Imports - partners
- USA 34%, Italy 10%, France 9%, China 8%, Luxembourg 5% (2023)
Government
- Government type
- Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
- Capital
- Road Town
- Independence
- none (overseas territory of the UK)
- Constitution
- several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
- Executive branch
- King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Daniel PRUCE (since 29 January 2024)
- Legislative branch
- House of 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.
CDC - 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: Wednesday, June 19, 2024