KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade says steps have already been taken as it closely monitors the United States draft bill entitled “Border Wall Funding Act of 2017”, which could see Jamaicans in that country paying a two per cent tax on remittances.

The ministry disclosed in a release this afternoon that the bill has been referred to several committees for consideration, including the Committees (and sub-committees) on Financial Services; Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, as well as Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations. Portfolio Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith explained that Jamaica is also prepared to work with CARICOM colleagues on a coordinated approach, and that outreach had already begun in this regard.The draft bill was introduced to the US Congress by Republican Congressman Mike Rogers from Alabama, with the support of eight other Congressmen and seeks to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to impose an additional fee of two per cent of the US dollar amount for remittance transfers to certain foreign countries.Johnson Smith said a review by the different committees is the first step in the process of getting legislation through Congress. “We are advised that so far, none of the abovementioned committees has taken any action on the draft.”She continued, “It is important to note that hundreds of draft Bills are introduced by Congressional representatives every year but many of them fail to make it make it through the extensive legislative process.“Nonetheless, the Government of Jamaica, through the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC is actively monitoring the process and will begin to sensitise Congressional leaders to the potential impact on Jamaica if the legislation were to be approved.”