In the Caribbean, the Kingdom of the Netherlands includes Sint Maarten as a member state. It covers the southern 44% of the divided island of Saint Martin and has a population of 41,486 as of January 2019 on an area of 41.44 km2 (16.00 sq mi), with the northern 56% of the island making up the French overseas collectivity of Saint Martin. Philipsburg is the main city in that country. The Dutch Caribbean is the collective name for Sint Maarten and the other Dutch Caribbean islands.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands includes Sint Maarten as one of its component nations. The Netherlands is in charge of managing Sint Maarten’s international relations, including those with Canada.
St. Maarten and Canada relations
The largest industry in its economy, which is still recovering from Hurricane Irma’s devastation in 2017, is tourism. Canadian visitors to that country decreased from 57,000 in 2016 to 39,000 in 2017, making the country the island’s second-largest source of visitors (in terms of arrivals). Direct flights between Canada and the island have been reinstated by Canadian airlines. In addition, a tax information exchange agreement is still in effect between Canada and the country. It is included in mutual administrative scope assistance in the customs matters agreement between the governments of Canada and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Only $5.9 million worth of goods were traded bilaterally between Canada and that country in 2017. This was primarily made up of Canadian exports of goods including beverages, machinery, and automobiles and their parts. Only a few Canadian businesses operate in the infrastructure and tourist industries. The Canadian embassy in The Hague is the country’s representative on that island. The Kingdom of the Netherlands embassy in Ottawa and its Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver are responsible for representing the island in Canada. The high commission of Canada in Barbados handles practical issues like consular assistance for Canadians in the country and trade and investment files between Canada and the island. To help represent Canadian interests in Sint Maarten, Canada has an honorary consulate.
United States – St.Maarten relations
In the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the island has some autonomy. Although visas are not necessary for U.S. citizen tourists, it is in charge of managing international relations, including those with the United States. As such, its embassies and consulates issue visas for travel to the island. With around 45% of the GDP devoted to tourism, its economy is largely dependent on it. According to the IMF, in 2020 the global economy would collapse by 25% as a result of travel bans and border closures brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. According to estimates, 1.6 million cruise passengers visited St. Maarten in 2019, while an increase of 319,696 people from 2018 arrived by plane. The value of American exports to that country in 2018 was $689 million, while the value of American imports into Sint Maarten was $130 million. The official money is the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG), which is tied to the dollar.
Administration ties
The day-to-day administration of ties with the Dutch Caribbean, which consists of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten, is the U.S. Consulate General’s responsibility in Curacao. Additionally, the US dollar is commonly recognized. The consulate offers a range of services to American residents and non-immigrant visas for particular foreign visitors who want to come to the country temporarily to visit, work, or study. In 1793, the consulate first opened. Its early establishment reflects the significance of Caribbean trade to the fledgling United States. The local government gave the United States the historic Roosevelt House in 1950 as a token of appreciation for American support during World War II. It now serves as the consul general home.
