Canada-Sint Maarten relations
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Bilateral relations
Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Netherlands is responsible for the conduct of Sint Maarten’s foreign affairs, including with Canada.
Tourism is the most important sector in Sint Maarten’s economy. In 2019, approximately 27,736 Canadians visited Sint Maarten, making Canada the second largest tourist market (in terms of arrivals) for the island. The number of Canadian visitors dropped in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary data for 2022 shows that the year 2022 will be comparable to the year 2019.
Canada and Sint Maarten maintain a Tax Information Exchange Agreement and Air Transport Agreement. The Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters is also applicable to Sint Maarten.
Canada is represented in Sint Maarten by the Embassy of Canada to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in The Hague. Sint Maarten is represented in Canada by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa and its Consulates-general in Toronto and Vancouver. Practical matters, such as consular assistance to Canadians in Sint Maarten and Canada-Sint Maarten trade and investment files, are covered by the High Commission of Canada in Barbados. Canada has an Honorary Consul in Sint Maarten to help represent Canadian interests there.
Trade relations
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Sint Maarten is limited, totalling $4.3 million in 2021, the bulk of which consisted of Canadian exports, including consumer goods, motor vehicles & parts, and farm, fishing and intermediate food products. A limited number of Canadian companies are active in the tourism, infrastructure and other sectors in Sint Maarten.
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Operations
Through Operation CARIBBE, Canada cooperates with Sint Maarten in the multinational anti-drug campaign Operation Martillo, which targets illicit trafficking routes in the Caribbean. Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP also maintain a working relationship with their Sint Maartener counterparts. Through its Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program, Canada supports INTERPOL’s cybercrime capacity building efforts in the Caribbean, including Sint Maarten.
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