The CBI, which is the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), was created in 1983 and upgraded in 1990. It is of indefinite duration. In 2000, the CBERA was further enhanced through the enactment of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) providing for additional preferential access for Caribbean Basin products until 30 September 2020. In 2012, 45.1 per cent of Jamaica’s exports to the USA entered duty-free under CBERA.

Whilst the duration of CBERA is indefinite, as a non-reciprocal preferential trade arrangement, it is incompatible with WTO rules on non-discrimination and, thus, requires a waiver from the WTO Most Favoured Nation (non-discrimination) rule. The most recent MFN waiver expired in 2014. There has been preliminary approval for a new waiver from the WTO up to 2019. Beneficiaries of CBERA must also meet conditions established by the US Government.

Goods coverage: Most products are eligible for duty-free, quotafree access to the USA, with the exception of canned tuna, petroleum and petroleum products, footwear, work gloves, luggage, handbags, flat leather goods such as wallets, leather apparel, and watches and watch parts, if any components originate in a Communist country. Duty-free sugar exports are also limited either by absolute quotas or by ""competitive need"" limits contained in the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). These restrictions are intended to ensure that duty-free sugar imports will not impede the United States price support system for domestically produced sugar

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