This information is derived from the State Department's Office of Investment Affairs' Investment Climate Statement. Any questions on the ICS can be directed to EB-ICS-DL@state.gov
Last Published: 8/11/2016

There is no Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between The Bahamas and the United States.  The Bahamas was designated a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) and the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and has established a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the United States—one of twenty-nine that The Bahamas has ratified.  The agreement establishes The Bahamas as a qualified jurisdiction and allows U.S.-registered companies to qualify for tax credits for conventions and related corporate expenses in The Bahamas. 
 
The benefits under CBI provide products manufactured in The Bahamas that meet defined rules of origin duty-free and quota-free entry into the United States, such as the country’s largest export to the United States, polystyrene beads used in the production of Styrofoam products.  The Bahamas continues to use this access as an incentive for investments in manufacturing in the domestic economy.  Additionally, The Bahamas has applied for benefits under the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), but as of March 2016 had not yet met all of the requirements for its application to be ratified.
 
The Bahamas also signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) in November 2014 which entered into force in September 2015.
 
The CARIFORUM – EU Economic Partnership Agreement was concluded between CARIFORUM states (CARICOM and the Dominican Republic) and the European Union and its member states in 2008.  The agreement promotes trade-related developments in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and protection of personal data.
 
CARIBCAN is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries in which Canada provides duty free and quota free access to its national market for the majority of products which originate in Commonwealth Caribbean Countries.  The agreement is currently being renegotiated.  Canada and The Bahamas agreed in principle to preserve duty-free market access until a new agreement was reached.
 
Bilateral Taxation Treaties
 
There is no bilateral taxation treaty between The Bahamas and the United States.  For other agreements affecting taxation, please see above.

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