• The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the CARIFORUM States and the European Union, replicated with the United Kingdom through the separate CARIFORUM–UK EPA following Brexit.
• Partial-scope free trade agreements with Panama and with CARICOM.
• Trade negotiations and exploratory talks pursued at various times with partners including Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and South Korea.

III. DR International Trade Framework

Customs regime: customs operations, procedures and controls are governed by the Customs Law 168-21, which replaced the 1953 customs statute and modernized clearance, risk management and authorized economic operator (AEO) programs under the General Directorate of Customs (DGA).

Import duties: Tariff Law 14-93, as amended, adopts the international Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System.

Export incentives: Law 84-99 on Reactivation and Promotion of Exports eliminates customs duties on materials incorporated into export products (see Foreign Investment, section VII).

Trade remedies: the Unfair Trade Practices and Safeguard Measures Law 1-02 allows anti-dumping and countervailing duties on dumped or subsidized imports that cause or threaten injury to domestic producers; investigations are conducted by the Trade Defense Commission (Comisión de Defensa Comercial, CDC).

Since Law 168-21, customs disputes follow modernized administrative review tracks before the DGA and then the Superior Administrative Court; importers should also note the customs-level ITBIS collection regime for unregistered importers introduced by Law 30-26 (see Tax Law, section V).

IV. DR-CAFTA

In 2004, the DR negotiated with the United States and Central America individual market-access schedules for goods, agriculture, services, investment and government procurement, with special rules for textiles and apparel.

DR-CAFTA entered into force for the Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007. Roughly 80% of regional trade became duty-free immediately, with remaining tariffs phased out over periods of 10 to 20 years; that phase-out calendar is now complete for most goods.

DR-CAFTA also disciplines investment protection (including investor-state arbitration), services, and the dealer-protection rules relevant to distribution contracts (see Import Agents & Distributors).

V. EU–CARIFORUM EPA

The DR is party to the Economic Partnership Agreement signed on October 15, 2008 between the European Union and the CARIFORUM States.

The EPA removed all EU tariffs and quotas on Caribbean exports immediately, with only sugar and rice liberalized over short transition periods. On the Caribbean side, markets open gradually over a 25-year period, lowering the cost of goods for consumers and businesses.

Following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, the CARIFORUM–UK EPA preserves equivalent preferential access to the UK market.

This publication is provided for informational purposes only and not as legal advice. Any transaction related to any of the described aspects shall require advice and be specifically consulted with the Firm in advance. © Arthur & Castillo. All Rights Reserved. Next