CanadaCaribbean relations

There are long-established relationships between Canada and the many states of the Caribbean or West Indies. Ties exist in such plurality of organs such as: the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organization of American States, ParlAmericas, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Canada shipped flour, corn, timber, and fish to the Caribbean, while sugar and rum moved north. In the Maritimes a prosperous sugar refining and rum industry arose based on these imports. Canadian troops were stationed in Saint Lucia to protect against attacks by the German military during the first World War. The United States imposed high import duties, and greatly favoured its domestic sugar industry over that of its southern neighbours. Canadian trade with Cuba and other Spanish holdings also rose in prominence. This trade peaked in the years immediately before Canadian Confederation. The British started to look at ways to consolidate the British Empire. After the First World War the British considered transferring responsibility for all British colonies in the Caribbean to the Canadian government. This led to a number of Caribbean colonies engaging in movements to enter intoCanadian Confederation.