By: Staff Writer
February 24, 2026
Trinidad and Tobago has been officially removed from the European Union’s non-cooperative tax list, but Anguilla, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, remain listed as countries that are not cooperating with the EU.
Additionally, Belize, British Virgin Islands are listed as countries that have pending commitments with the EU and are working towards resolving them.
A release from the EU, said: “This important milestone reflects several years of sustained commitment, constructive dialogue, and close cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of Trinidad and Tobago and European Union authorities, aimed at aligning with internationally agreed standards for tax good governance.”
Hailing the decision, EU Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Cécile Tassin stated: “The progress made by Trinidad and Tobago on the path towards meeting the internationally agreed standards on tax good governance is impressive. These efforts should be commended. They are a positive sign for the continued strengthening of our partnership.”
Following this announcement, Minister for Finance Davendranath Tancoo stated: “We warmly welcome and celebrate the significant progress that Trinidad and Tobago has achieved in its engagement with the European Union on matters of international tax good governance. This milestone reflects my Government’s sustained commitment to transparency, fairness and adherence to internationally accepted standards. This achievement underscores our dedication to implementing robust global tax standards and strengthens confidence in our economic and regulatory frameworks. We express our appreciation to our partners in the European Union for recognizing the reforms we have undertaken, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration as we continue building a modern, competitive, and globally integrated economy.”
The EU tax listing process supports global efforts to combat tax evasion and avoidance risks, strengthen transparency, and promote fair and responsible taxation worldwide. By meeting these standards, Trinidad and Tobago reinforces its reputation as a reliable and cooperative international financial partner while contributing to broader international efforts to reduce illicit financial flows and tax abuse.
The release also said: “Trinidad and Tobago took a key step to achieve this positive result, in replacing its former Free Trade Zone regime, which was found harmful, with a Special Economic Zone regime that meets the international standard.
“Between 2024 and 2025, Trinidad and Tobago also made major progress in strengthening tax transparency standards. In July 2025, Trinidad and Tobago signed the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters in November 2024 and received a “Largely Compliant” rating from the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes on exchange of information on request. Then, in December 2025, the Global Forum confirmed that Trinidad and Tobago’s laws met the standards for the automatic exchange of financial account information as well.
“Trinidad and Tobago also addressed the BEPS Inclusive Framework’s general recommendations on Country-by-Country reporting (CbCR) to prevent profit shifting by multinational companies.
“These reforms marked the successful completion of a comprehensive reform agenda, enabling the European Union to remove Trinidad and Tobago from the EU tax list in February 2026. This achievement highlights the country’s strong reform trajectory and underscores the benefits of international cooperation in promoting transparency, fairness, and sustainable economic growth.”