business@tribunemedia.net
Monday, July 27, 2026
$ 6.75
Cut-price Chinese gasoline car ‘flood’ disrupting electric vehicle momentum BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net A BAHAMIAN electric vehicle dealer says it expects to maintain annual sales growth of “at least 10 percent” even though the “flood” of low-priced gasoline-fuelled cars from China has “disrupted the market” and curbed industry “momentum”. Pia Farmer, partner at Easy Car Sales, told Tribune Business that - while the influx of cut-priced Chinese autos began two years ago - she and other Bahamian electric vehicle dealers are still drawing strong customer interest as surging global oil prices back at the near-$100 per barrel level make gas and diesel-powered cars increasingly less economical. “We are busy with people looking at that option,” she said of electric vehicles. “The thing about it is there are a lot of inexpensive Chinese gas cars on the market. People are being tempted to stay attached to the gas pump by very low prices. “The importation of low-priced gas cars from China, not primarily known for their combustion engine innovation, is definitely a factor. It started almost two years ago and now we are being flooded
by Chinese gas cars which no one is buying in China. But they are finding markets overseas to send them to. Not great for our environment and unproven for the long-term, but better than a thirdhand inefficient bubbler I guess. “Personally I do think it has disrupted the market, and maybe slowed electric vehicle momentum to some degree for those still unconvinced about electric mobility. But one out of every four new cars sold worldwide last year were fully electric so the momentum for electric vehicle adoption is unstoppable.” Ms Farmer, in a recent interview with this newspaper, explained that China’s transition away from gasoline-fuelled vehicles meant any such models now in existence are being sold and exported to buyers in other countries. “They have to be sold somewhere, and the world is being flooded by inexpensive gas cars,” she said. “That is having more impact because people are choosing to buy inexpensive gas cars. It’s having an impact, not so much on me and my company personally, but the country as a whole. It is affecting the adoption of electric vehicles that we are being flooded
DRIVE - See Page B6
GUESTS sit at the bar of Applebee’s at Fusion Superplex.
Applebees and Fusion say ‘business as usual’ BY Annelia Nixon AND NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Reporters BOTH Applebees Bahamas and Fusion Superplex yesterday asserted it is "business as usual" following the restaurant’s temporary closure late last week that sparked much social media commentary. A spokesman for Applebees and its franchise holder, Caribbean Dining, yesterday confirmed the
restaurant had re-opened at the entertainment complex located at the junction of Gladstone Road and JFK Drive. “Applebees is open for business and guests there are having a good time,” they told Tribune Business. Photographs seen by this newspaper confirmed the restaurant is open and serving guests. A similar reply came from Tecoyo
EATERY - See Page B4
‘Don’t relent’ until Trump tariff lifted from Bahamas BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net THE Opposition’s finance spokesman yesterday urged that “the Government must not relent” until Donald Trump’s 12.5 percent tariff on Bahamian exports to the US is eliminated and removed, adding that “we cannot just look at this as business as usual”.
Kwasi Thompson, the east Grand Bahama MP, responding to Tribune Business inquiries called on the Davis administration to go beyond routine diplomacy and instead treat the situation as “a national economic priority” given the potential negative impact for the affected export industries and those employed by them.
LEVY - See Page B5
$ 6.54
$ 6.75
$ 6.60
$ 6.87
Trump tariff timing ‘sucks’ as costs ‘go through roof’ BY NEIL HARTNELL TRIBUNE Business Editor nhartnell@tribunemedia.net DONALD Trump’s imposition of 12.5 percent tariffs on all Bahamian exports to the US especially “sucks” because it coincides with multiple costs “going through the roof”, Bahamian fishermen are warning. Paul Maillis, secretary and director at the National Fisheries Association of The Bahamas (NFA), told Tribune Business that the industry fears being squeezed from both sides if the US president’s tariff move results in reduced American consumer and wholesaler demand for Bahamian exports - especially rock lobster, but also stone crab and other products. And, if Bahamian seafood exporters suffer reduced prices and lower orders, they will likely pass that on to local fishermen to create a negative impact that cascades down the whole supply chain, impacting dependents and whole communities - especially in the Family Islands. Mr Maillis told this newspaper that the increased US border taxes on Bahamian seafood, and other exports, to the US
US president’s actions to squeeze Bahamian fisheries from both sides Fuel costs $2,000$3,000 higher per trip from Middle East intervention But ‘fighting chance to stay in game’ if rivals also hit by 12.5% taxation are striking just as the fisheries industry’s expenses are taking a hit from another of Mr Trump’s actions - the renewed US assault on Iran, which drove global oil prices back over the $100 per barrel threshold towards the end of last week. While oil prices have since moderated slightly, with per barrel prices as measured by the Brent crude index hovering at just below $97 per barrel last night, the NFA secretary said Bahamian fisheries is bearing the
DONALD TRUMP brunt of such hikes because it “100 percent runs on fuel”. And, with diesel fuel prices above $7 per gallon in Nassau and even higher in the Family Islands, Mr Maillis said fishermen are likely paying $2,000-$3,000 more per trip compared to the $3-$4 per gallon they enjoyed as the COVID pandemic came to an end in 2021. He added that “all the supplies we need” for lobster fishing - ranging from plastics bags to chemical preservatives - are impacted by fuel, oil and energy costs. However, Mr Maillis also struck a more optimistic tone by arguing that it is uncertain how the Trump tariff impact will play out because multiple factors are involved. Surging tourism numbers, he explained, meant local seafood demand is
CATCHES - See Page B4