Barbados has been downgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List in the 2025 United States Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, a move that could tarnish the island’s global standing in the fight against human trafficking. The U.S. State Department cited Barbados’ failure to identify or assist trafficking victims for three consecutive years, the absence of prosecutions, and the lack of a new national action plan since the previous one expired in 2023 as key reasons for the downgrade. The TIP Report is a globally recognized benchmark for assessing a country’s commitment to combating human trafficking, and the Tier 2 Watch List designation signals concerns about Barbados’ efforts in this critical area. However, questions have been raised about the fairness and applicability of the U.S. evaluation criteria, particularly for small, developing nations like Barbados. Attorney General Dale Marshall emphasized that the downgrade is based on U.S. domestic legislation, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, rather than a global standard. While the report acknowledged Barbados’ “significant efforts,” it criticized the country for not showing “overall increasing efforts” compared to the previous year. Marshall revealed that a new action plan for 2025/26 is in development and that Barbados is addressing the report’s concerns. He also noted that human trafficking is not widespread in Barbados, based on available data, and that the country’s response aligns with its risk level and resources. The absence of identified victims over three years could indicate either a lack of trafficking incidents or deficiencies in detection, highlighting the need for improved data collection and victim screening. Barbados must address gaps in its anti-trafficking framework, including updating its national action plan and revising outdated provisions in the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act. While the Attorney General rejected the feasibility of dedicated victim services and specialized courts, Barbados must ensure its approach is proactive rather than reactive. This moment calls for measured action, including enhanced training for frontline personnel and a stronger national framework. At the same time, Barbados must advocate for fair and transparent evaluations from international bodies, given the potential reputational, aid, and diplomatic consequences of such rankings.