Canada-Jamaica relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and Jamaica have shared strong bilateral relations since Jamaica gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. Beyond a deep friendship, Canada and Jamaica benefit from a rich and diverse bilateral relationship, founded on our shared democratic heritage, common values, and strong people-to-people ties, including a large and vibrant Canadian-Jamaican diaspora community of nearly 250,000 people. The strength of Canada and Jamaica’s ties is also manifested in the education and tourism sectors. Many Jamaicans come to Canada every year as students, while thousands of Canadians visit Jamaica each year, representing Jamaica’s second largest source of foreign tourists. The Canadian-Jamaican bilateral relationship also encompasses trade and investment, security and defence, and development cooperation. Additionally, Canadians farms employ over 10,000 Jamaicans annually as part of Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.
Canada and Jamaica are mostly like-minded partners on the international stage, as both are strongly committed to advancing progressive and democratic values. Our countries work together to co-chair the Group of Friends of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Financing at the United Nations, an innovative platform to discuss and promote ideas to finance the implementation of the SDGs.
Jamaica and Canada also collaborate closely in key regional and multilateral fora and institutions, such as the Caribbean Development Bank. Canada represents Jamaica and other Caribbean nations on the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Canada is represented in Jamaica by a High Commission in Kingston and an honorary consul in Montego Bay. Jamaica is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Ottawa and a Consulate General in Toronto.
Trade relations
In 2025, Jamaica was Canada's third largest merchandise trading partner within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
In 2025, bilateral merchandise trade with Jamaica totaled $309.7 million, with $149.2 million in exports and $160.5 million in imports. In 2024, bilateral trade in services reached $772 million, with exports totaling $249 million and imports $523 million. In 2025, Canadian Direct Investment Abroad (CDIA) in Jamaica was valued at $378.0 million while Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Jamaica into Canada amounted to $18 million. Please see Canada’s international trade and investment country fact sheet for Jamaica for additional details.
Jamaica is a beneficiary of CARIBCAN – a non-reciprocal economic and trade development assistance program established in 1986 that provides 18 Commonwealth Caribbean countries and territories with preferential access to the Canadian market through the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CCCT), allowing the vast majority of imports from CARIBCAN beneficiaries to enter Canada duty-free.
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Development
Canada’s international assistance supports Jamaica’s efforts to foster resilient economies, climate action, and regional security and stability. Canada works with local, regional and international partners to help communities strengthen resilience to climate change and natural disasters, promote sustainable economic growth, improve food security, advance gender equality and social inclusion, and strengthen institutions that contribute to safety, stability and prosperity. These efforts help Jamaica address development challenges while creating opportunities for a more resilient and sustainable future.
Canada supports Jamaica's efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness, response and recovery through partners such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Development Bank. Following the impacts of Hurricane Beryl in 2024, Canada contributed humanitarian and development assistance to support relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts in affected Caribbean countries, including Jamaica. After Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica in October 2025, Canada announced $7.33 million in humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs and $6.1 million in development assistance to support longer-term recovery, strengthen emergency preparedness and restore livelihoods. In September 2025, Canada renewed, a Memorandum of Understanding with CDEMA to improve tactical mobility coordination and strengthen regional disaster response.
A principal means of working in the Caribbean is through technical assistance and training to increase the capacity of governments and organizations. For instance, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including Jamaica, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate resilient communities, and reduce gender and economic inequalities.
Information on Canadian development initiatives is available on Project Browser.
Jamaica benefits from The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Security
Jamaica and Canada have a long history of close cooperation in the area of defence and security, including more than 50 years of relations between the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Jamaica Defence Force. The CAF maintains an Operational Support Hub (OSH) in Jamaica and in the wake of Hurricane Dorian in 2019, the CAF provided air transport for the Jamaican Disaster Assistance Relief Team to provide humanitarian aid to The Bahamas. In response to Hurricane Melissa, Canada activated the OSH, which served as a temporary, self-sufficient camp hosting troops from smaller countries who are supporting relief efforts.
Canada is a key partner for Jamaica in its efforts to fight crime and violence. Our countries collaborate on a number of initiatives in defence and security under Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP): Canada’s current commitment to Jamaica is $5.8 million (2026) through regional programming to strengthen law enforcement, judicial, and operational responses to organized crime.
The ACCBP supports Op ACKEE with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, a Special Operations Forces (SOF) training program that has been ongoing since 2009 to mentor, enable, and create opportunities for the Jamaica Defence Force to grow as a Special Operations Forces leader and more effectively combat trans-regional threats in the Caribbean Basin. Other regional partners include Belize, The Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname.
Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Jamaica work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
- Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
- Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- The Commonwealth
- Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Organization of American States (OAS)
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
- United Nations (UN)
- World Bank (WB)
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
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