The Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, recently participated in the US Department of Commerce and US Department of Agriculture Virtual Trade Event: Market Opportunities for US Companies, convened in partnership with the US Consulate General Bermuda. 

The engagement traces directly to Bermuda's Cost of Living Summit, where US Consul General Antoinette Hurtado attended and pledged support to connect Bermudian businesses with expanded market opportunities. That commitment led to this engagement, developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and US Department of Commerce to connect American companies with opportunities in the Bermuda market. 

The pathway was also shaped by the private sector. Retailers and wholesalers, consulted as part of the Government's ongoing affordability work, identified a persistent challenge: Bermuda's market size makes it difficult to attract new suppliers and establish competitive supply relationships. The Minister's response was to build a structure that made engagement possible regardless of market size. 

By partnering with the US Consulate General and engaging US federal trade agencies, the Government created a structured entry point for American companies to understand Bermuda's market, connect with the Bermuda Business Development Agency, and explore supply relationships with local partners. Over 60 US companies registered for the session. 

During her presentation, Minister Lightbourne outlined the Government's current affordability measures: duty relief across 33 essential goods, plans to expand that list, and the deliberate diversification of Bermuda's import markets. She also addressed the modernisation of Bermuda's milk legislation, an initiative under active review to improve food supply and expand consumer choice. 

“We are leaving no stone unturned and exploring all available opportunities,” Minister Lightbourne said. 

“We listened to what families are paying. We listened to what businesses cannot access. And we built a forum that serves both. Lower costs for Bermudians require more competition. More competition requires more suppliers. We are removing the barriers that have kept those suppliers away.”

Minister Lightbourne added, “Bermuda's size has too often been treated as a ceiling. This partnership reframes it as an asset. We are a high-value, stable, strategically located market. Through the right partnerships and the right architecture, we can compete for supply relationships that benefit the entire economy. The private sector identified the problem. This Government built the bridge.” 

The session also featured presentations from the Minister of Economy and Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward JP, MP, and from BDA Managing Director Kendaree Burgess and Head of Business Development David Parker, who outlined Bermuda's economic profile and the agency's services for companies seeking to establish or expand their presence on the island. 

Minister Hayward explained, “Bermuda’s long-term economic resilience depends on deepening our trade relationships and giving local retailers direct access to expanded US product offerings and retail distribution deals.

“This engagement demonstrates that even as a small jurisdiction, we can leverage strategic partnerships to enhance Bermuda’s retail landscape. By aligning Government policy, diplomatic relationships, and private sector insight, we are positioning Bermuda as an accessible, high-quality market for international partners while supporting affordability and economic growth at home.”

And US Consul General Hurtado remarked, “One of my top priorities is supporting the U.S.-Bermuda trade and economic relationship. With the United States as Bermuda's closest neighbour and largest trading partner, I am pleased to facilitate even stronger connections that support Bermuda's economic growth and affordability agenda while expanding commercial collaboration between Bermudian and US businesses. Our economic partnership is robust - reflecting hundreds of years of shared interests - and I look forward to continuing to work with the Bermuda government and private sector to expand our connectivity.