The Ministry of Trade was created by the government of Antigua and Barbuda in 1989. This new Ministry was given the mandate to handle issues of Trade, Industry and Commerce which was previously the mandate of the Ministry of Tourism, and Economic Development. The Ministry of Trade was first assigned to the Hon. Hugh Marshall as Minister of Trade by the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda. However, over the years there have been successive Ministers of Trade including the Hon. Molwyn Joseph, Hon. Lester Bird, Hon. John St. Luce, Hon. Hilroy Humphreys and Hon. Longford Jeremy, Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne, Hon Errol Cort, Hon Harold Lovell, Hon. Asot Michael and the present Minister Hon E. P. Chet Greene.

The Ministry also had the responsibility to coordinate with business associations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Small Business and Manufacturing Associations in their activities relating to promotion and trade, commerce, industry and cooperation and to stimulate the economy. The Ministry of Trade consisted of Departments namely the Bureau of Standards, Prices and Consumers, Industrial Development Board with responsibilities of the Coolidge Industrial Estate and the Free Trade Zone.

The Ministry of Trade emerged out of the actions of free enterprise, the liberal market system, and privatization which were considered to be the cornerstones for the creation of this new Ministry. Being a new Ministry the expectations were high for it to perform on the same level as other ministries. With the advent of the Ministry of Trade there was a transformation of the economic landscape within Antigua and Barbuda through thriving light manufacturing industry, agro-processing and entrepreneurship sectors. There were significant exports in the area of clothing, and textiles, aggregates, galvanize, agro-processing, paints and varnishes, beverages, furniture and assembly type products such as refrigerators, stoves and vehicles to the regional market.

To be a vital partner in business growth, trade and Commerce expansion, while supporting a modern, diversified economy, while promoting consumer empowerment and quality standards to enhance the human development index.

Our aim is to provide the catalyst for robust, economic activity through the development and implementation of policies which support the empowerment of a sustainable, innovative MSME sector and the continuous enhancement of trade facilitation, ultimately leading to economic growth for all.

Within the next three years, it is expected that the business, trade and Commerce environments of Antigua and Barbuda will exhibit characteristics consistent with that of a dynamic, diversified, globally competitive economy that contributes to:

1. Generating economic activity that stimulate growth that focuses on poverty reduction;
2. Securing the human development index by achieving reliable and sustainable standards of living; and
3. Utilizing the existing natural resources wisely while protecting the environment.