2026 Caribbean Trade Outlook: A Conversation with Steven Keats of Kestrel Liner Agencies

In this episode, Steven Keats, Vice President and Partner at Kestrel Liner Agencies, joins Diego Rodriguez to unpack what’s ahead for the Caribbean in 2026. Drawing on nearly five decades in shipping, Keats explains how U.S. tariffs, global freight collapses, and port congestion are reshaping trade flows across the region. He discusses the Caribbean’s growing reliance on China, persistent feeder-vessel bottlenecks, and port-capacity constraints from Trinidad to Colón. Keats also highlights infrastructure gaps, the EV-import surge, and the region’s slow pivot toward alternative fuels—painting a candid picture of both the vulnerabilities and the opportunities defining the Caribbean’s maritime future.