While CAFTA-DR eliminates most of trade barriers to imports from the U.S., the treaty’s implementation, since its signing in March 2007, has not been without problems, and certain technical barriers and issues of interpretation can arise from time to time. For example, most U.S. agricultural goods that do not compete with local industries have zero or no duty. 

Goods that compete with local industries are restricted more strongly than others that do not compete.  Nevertheless, importers must obtain special import permits for all agricultural products (via the Department of Agricultural Permits of the Ministry of Agriculture and, in the case of processed foods, from the Ministry of Health/DIGEMAPS). Even though the procedures to obtain an import permit have been improved lately, these import permits are not always easy to obtain in a timely manner and sometimes, are not available at all. In addition to the import permit, some agricultural products such as milk, cheese, rice, and poultry carry higher duty rates. Under CAFTA-DR, the higher duties for sensitive agricultural goods will continue to be phased out over the next three years. Small amounts of these products are also allowed in duty free each year under a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) regime.   

For more information and help with trade barriers please contact: 

International Trade Administration 

Enforcement and Compliance  

(202) 482-0063 

E-mail: ECCommunications@trade.gov  

Website: https://www.trade.gov/enforcement/  

For Agriculture 

USDA Office of Agricultural Affairs (USDA/FAS) 

U.S. Embassy 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

Phone: (809) 368-7741 

E-mail: agsantodomingo@fas.usda.gov  

Website: https://www.fas.usda.gov.