“A proud moment in our nation’s economic journey.”
That’s how Minister of Finance, Davendranath Tancoo, described Trinidad and Tobago’s recent removal from the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.
Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, he said T&T’s removal from the European Union’s blacklist signals renewed international confidence in the country’s financial governance framework.
“Delisting strengthens Trinidad and Tobago’s international standing and provides a more stable platform for business expansion, cross-border partnerships, and long-term economic growth. Decisive governance matters. When reforms are pursued with urgency, seriousness, and discipline, results follow.”
Minister Tancoo criticised the former administration, saying their failure to address key financial reforms left Trinidad and Tobago blacklisted for nearly a decade.
He emphasised that being placed on the EU list carried significant consequences.
“It hurt investor confidence. It made financial transactions with European unions and European institutions by businesses and financial institutions more difficult and costly. It increased due diligence requirements for the domestic financial sector. It exposed us as a country to the risk of defensive measures by EU Member States, and it damaged this country’s international reputation.”
On February 17th 2026, the Council of the European Union formally confirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s removal from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.