  
  
WT/TPR/M/435  
20 March 2023 
(23-1980) Page: 1/46 
Trade Policy Review Body  
24 and 26 January 2023   
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Chairperson: H.E. Dr Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme  
CONTENTS  
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  2 
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  ........  4 
3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ................  8 
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  ................................ ................................ ........................  12 
5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  AND  
ADDITI ONAL COMMENTS  ................................ ................................ ...............................  40 
6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .........................  45 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies 
provided by the Dominican  Republic  are reproduced in document WT/TPR/M/ 435/Add.1  and will be 
available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The fifth Trade Policy Review of the Dominican  Republic  was held on 24 and 26  January  2023. 
Due to the absence of the TPRB Chairperson, H.E. Mr Ángel Villalobos  Rodríguez (Mexico) , the 
Chair of the DSB, H.E. Dr Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme (Botswana) , chaired the meeting in 
accordance with the Rules of Procedures of the TPRB . She welcomed the delega tion of the 
Dominican  Republic, headed by H.E.  Ambassador José R. Sánchez -Fung, Permanent 
Representative of the  Dominican  Republic; the rest of the delegation; and the discussant, 
H.E. Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán  (United  States).  
1.2.  The Chairperson was pleased that, in addition to physical presence, the meeting also 
benefited from the  Interprefy online connection, allowing for a wider participation of the 
Membership.  
1.3.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of TPRs and the main elements of procedures for the 
meeting. The Report by the Dominican  Republic  is contained in document WT/TPR/G/ 435, and that 
of the WTO Secretariat in document WT/TPR/S/ 435. 
1.4.  Questions by the following delegations were submitted in writing before the deadline: 
Singapore, Guatemala, European  Union, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, United  Kingdom, and 
United  States. The foll owing delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: Thailand, 
Canada, El  Salvador, China, Iceland, and Ecuador.  
1.5.  The Chairperson started by r ecalling some elements of the Dominican  Republic's previous 
Review in 2015. In that Review, Members co ngratulated the Dominican  Republic on the growth of 
its economy after successfully weathering the global economic crisis.  
1.6.  In that time, Members highlighted the significant flows of foreign direct investment to the 
Dominican  Republic and welcomed measures to further facilitate investment. The 
Dominican  Republic was encouraged to continue strengthening the foreign investment regime, as 
certain limitations to foreign participation remained.  
1.7.  Members commended the Dominican  Republic's commitment to the WTO. The y also 
congratulated the Dominican  Republic on the trade facilitation measures adopted. In this regard, 
the Chairperson was pleased to note that efforts to modernize, digitalize , and simplify customs 
regimes and procedures ha d continued.  
1.8.  The Chairperson  identified some issues that stand out from the analysis of the documents 
and advance written questions submitted by Members for this Review.  
1.9.  According to the Report prepared by the Secretariat for this Review, the service -dominated 
Dominican economy was hard  hit by the COVID -19 pandemic, in particular the tourism sector, 
which represents one of the most important sources of foreign exchange for the country. However, 
the implementation of fiscal and monetary policy measures, the gradual reopening of economic 
activities and the subsequent removal of restrictions on movement allowed the economy to 
recover. Thus, GDP for 2021 was set to exceed pre -pandemic levels.  
1.10.  In terms of trade policy measures, the Chairperson was  pleased to note that during the 
period under review, the Dominican  Republic adopted the Handbook of Good Technical Regulation 
Practices, which allows for more transparent procedures for drafting technical regulations, as well 
as new competition legislatio n.  
1.11.  In the area of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, Members noted that the 
Dominican  Republic had not yet completed the updating of its legislative framework and enquired 
about the difficulties encountered in this process. They also asked about the leg al basis and the 
need to maintain some support programmes in the agricultural sector and the control of certain 
prices. Regarding sectoral policies, Members expressed interest in learning more about measures 
taken during the review period to improve the pe rformance of the agricultural sector, for example 
the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. In addition, they noted certain challenges that 
were already referred to in the previous Review, particularly in the electricity sector.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  1.12.  A number of quest ions were also raised about tariff and other taxes; import and export 
restrictions; price controls; changes related to government procurement procedures; and 
protection of intellectual property rights.  
1.13.  The advance written questions submitted for this Revie w reflect ed Members' interest in the 
Dominican  Republic's trade and investment regimes.  
1.14.  The Dominican  Republic received 235 advance written questions from 14  Members for this 
Review, 137 of which had been sent within the deadline set. Prior to th e meeting , the 
Dominican  Republic provided written replies to all questions submitted within the deadline, and the 
Chairperson was looking forward to  hearing the Dominican  Republic's replies to other questions 
during the two -day meeting . 
1.15.  The meeting was a good oppo rtunity for Members to discuss in detail issues of interest to 
them and of importance to the multilateral trading system. It was also an opportune moment for 
the Dominican  Republic to update the Membership on the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on its 
economy and the measures it has taken in response. The chairperson was looked forward to a 
fruitful exchange.  
1.16.  The Chairperson closed her introductory remarks by wishing the Dominican  Republic a very 
successful fifth  Trade Policy Review.  
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  2  OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMINICAN  REPUBLIC 
(H.E. DR JOSÉ  R. SÁNCHEZ -FUNG ) 
2.1.  Distinguished Ambassador Athaliah  Lesiba  Molokomme, Permanent Representative of 
Botswana to the WTO and Interim Chair of the WTO Trade Policy Review Body; Ambassador 
María  Pagán, Permanent Representative of the United  States of America to the WTO; colleagues 
from the Member States and the WTO Secretariat; members of the delegation and the Permanent 
Mission of the Dominican  Republic.  
2.2.  The World Trade Organization exists to ens ure the existence of an environment conducive to 
the flourishing of trade. Obtaining the desired benefits of specialization and global trade, as 
discussed by generations of economists since Adam  Smith and David  Ricardo, depends on trust 
between market part icipants. In this context, transparency is crucial, and the WTO Trade Policy 
Review seeks to contribute to that end. The Dominican  Republic is committed to the success of the 
Organization's role in this respect.  
2.3.  First, we thank Ambassador Pagán for review ing the reports prepared by our Government 
and the Secretariat, and for sharing her valuable views and comments with all Members.  
2.4.  We also thank the WTO Secretariat for its hard work and cooperation in preparing this 
fifth Trade Policy Review of the Domini can Republic. In particular, we thank the team from the 
Trade Policies Review Division, which visited us on two occasions and held important meetings and 
consultations with different government and private sector institutions.  
2.5.  The Government of the Domini can Republic is pleased with the conduct of its fifth Trade 
Policy Review. The exercise reflects the country's achievements resulting from its policy to 
enhance trade openness, one of the basic pillars of the National Development Strategy.  
2.6.  We greatly appr eciate the participation of member States in our Trade Policy Review; we 
received 137  questions before the deadline and all of these have been answered. We subsequently 
received a further 87  questions and have already answered many of them. In total, we re ceived 
224 questions from 14  Members.  
2.7.  The report examines the measures, policies and institutional improvements that the country 
is currently implementing or planning with a view to overcoming the challenges it faces as a small 
and vulnerable economy in t he light of competition from more technologically developed countries 
with greater investment in research and innovation.  
2.8.  As in the rest of the world, the COVID -19 pandemic posed a number of challenges over the 
review period, to which the Dominican Republic responded with public policies that have 
represented a great sacrifice.  
2.9.  Turning to macroeconomic developments, the Dominican Republic recorded an average 
annual GDP growth rate of 5.1% during the 2015 -21 period. This steady growth reflec ts the 
impact of the coordination of monetary and fiscal policies, which has made it possible to 
strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals, thanks also to the positive commodity supply shock 
of 2015-17.  
2.10.  In 2021, real GDP grew by 12.3%, which, in Latin  America n terms, made the 
Dominican  Republic one of the countries with the best relative performance in relation to 
pre-pandemic times. Expected growth in 2022 is 5.3%, which brings us into line with the 
economy's long -term potential.  
2.11.  The tourism sector is one of the main drivers of the Dominican  Republic's economy. 
In 2022, 7.5  million tourists arrived at the country's eight international airports; of this total, more 
than 1.3  million visitors arrived at the main tourist ports on cruise ships.  
2.12.  Another element that reflects the strength of the Dominican economy is the stability of the 
financial system. The performance of the main indicators of the consolidated financial system is 
stable and shows adequate levels of solvency, liquidity and profitability, as well as a low level of 
credit portfolio risk.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  2.13.  During the period under review, the Dominican  Republic made significant progress regarding 
payment systems and cybersecurity, which contributed to the growth of the domestic financial 
market and the development of a n ecosystem of fintech companies.  
2.14.  Particular attention is drawn to the involvement of the Central Bank of the 
Dominican  Republic as manager of a cross -border payment system called the Central American 
Interconnected Payment System (SIPA), which is linked to the settlement systems of the central 
banks of the member States of the Central American Monetary Council (CMCA).  
2.15.  The Dominican economy's external sector has continued to perform well. Total exports of 
goods during the first half of 2022 were 16.5% high er than during the same period of the previous 
year. At the same time, remittances totalled around USD  10 billion. In addition, foreign direct 
investment amounted to USD  3,190  million between January and September  2022, an increase 
of 32.3% compared to the  same period of 2021.  
2.16.  The positive trend in foreign exchange -generating activities contributed to the relative 
stability of the exchange rate. At the same time, international reserves amounted to more than 
USD 14 billion, equivalent to six months' worth of  imports.  
2.17.  With respect to the fiscal outlook, during the period 2015 -19 the consolidated public sector 
deficit averaged 2.6% of GDP. In 2020, increased spending to cope with the effects of the 
COVID -19 pandemic, coupled with a shortfall in revenue due to t he shutdown of economic activity, 
resulted in a deficit of 7.9% of GDP. However, the current position is more favourable as a result 
of the economic upturn, administrative efforts to maximize revenue collection and improved 
management of public expenditure .  
2.18.  In order to mitigate the impact of COVID -19, the Dominican Government developed a 
National Vaccination Plan for people over 18. Since the beginning of 2022, the scheme has been 
extended to children over five.  
2.19.  Regarding social security, as of May  2021, the Comer es Primero  (Eating comes first) 
programme began the transition to the Supérate  (Get ahead) programme, which is expected to 
double the amount of assistance and provides comprehensive support to facilitate access to 
education and employment. By Aug ust 2021, the Supérate  programme had benefited 
approximately 43.4% of the population. A support programme for formal employees suspended by 
their employers was also implemented. In this connection, the Government continued to 
implement the Employee Solidar ity Assistance Fund (FASE) until the end of April  2021. This 
programme benefited more than 754,000  families and injected approximately USD  280 million into 
the economy.  
2.20.  Monetary and financial measures were also adopted and by July  2021 were channelling 
around USD  4 billion to households, productive sectors and MSMEs through financial institutions.  
2.21.  In April  2021, the Government initiated a normalization process to gradually lift the 
regulatory leniency measures adopted during the early stages of the pandemic . The tourism sector 
recovered faster than expected, mainly thanks to the implementation of the Responsible Tourism 
Recovery Plan, which included tax exemptions for the sector, and the creation of a promotion 
strategy led by the Ministry of Tourism, highli ghting the country as a safe holiday destination.  
2.22.  The Dominican  Republic is currently implementing the National Development Strategy 2030. 
The Strategy includes National Multi -Year Public Sector Plans to provide high -quality public 
services such as water, electricity, health, education, public safety and access to justice, and 
increases the coverage and number of beneficiaries of conditional support schemes. The Strategy 
should contribute to building a more effective, efficient and united State, a productiv e apparatus 
that can generate more foreign exchange and a country that is socially and territorially more 
cohesive and inclusive.  
2.23.  As a joint effort to enhance the Dominican  Republic's export competitiveness, the National 
Export Development Plan 2020 -30 exemplifies the willingness of public and private institutions that 
directly or indirectly shape the export process to work together. Other notable launches include the WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  National Export Strategy for Modern Services 2021 -25, the National Trade Policy Plan  2016-21, the 
Export Development Bureau, and the National Nearshoring Strategy.  
2.24.  The Dominican  Republic's agricultural trade policy has a degree of openness that is typical of 
a booming small economy and consistent with the commitments entered into under va rious trade 
agreements. In this respect, opening up the market for some of the main agricultural goods 
covered by the trade agreements signed by the country has created new challenges in terms of 
price competition and improving the efficiency of production  processes.  
2.25.  It is important to emphasize that the agricultural sector is the primary source of 
employment in rural areas, where most of the country's poor households are located. The State 
has focused on implementing policies and programmes aligned with t he strategic pillars of the 
agricultural sector.  
2.26.  In the period 2015 -21, the food supply grew significantly and was sufficient for nationals 
and foreign visitors. Part of that success was due to the increase in the Agricultural Bank's loan 
portfolio at excl usive preferential rates. Capital investment also increased in infrastructure, 
including rural roads, irrigation systems, heavy equipment and agricultural machinery purchases, 
regional storage and processing centres for drying grain, land preparation and t he provision of 
inputs.  
2.27.  In order to continue consolidating trade facilitation commitments and improving the 
competitiveness of our foreign trade, the Dominican Government is promoting legislative and 
regulatory initiatives.  
2.28.  Initiatives include the new Gen eral Customs Law No.  168-21 and its implementing 
regulations recently approved by the Executive by means of Decree No.  755-22 of 
23 December  2022, the initiative for the clearance of goods within 24 hours, the Exporta+ 
programme for the facilitation of exp orts, the fine -tuning of the single window for foreign trade 
initiative, and the simplified authorized economic operator status for MSMEs.  
2.29.  The commitment to ensure a modern regulatory framework for trade that promotes greater 
competitiveness continues to b e evident with the enactment of Law No.  5-23. The Law updates the 
legal framework for maritime trade, regulating acts and events occurring in waters under the 
jurisdiction of the Dominican State.  
2.30.  Another priority of the Dominican Government is to ensure ma ximum transparency, in both 
the activities of the State and those of the companies operating under state jurisdiction.  
2.31.  Important steps have been taken in this regard in recent years to establish procedures and 
controls to harmonize compliance with existing  public expenditure regulations and the Transaction 
Portal of the Computerized Management System for Procurement and Contracts of the Dominican 
State, the Programme of Regulatory Compliance in Government Procurement, and the Preventive 
and Reactive Alert S ystem. In this context, the participation of foreign suppliers in government 
procurement procedures increased from 14.9% in 2019 to 25.7% in 2022, with an awarded total 
close to USD  230 million.  
2.32.  Another action that shows the Dominican Government's commitme nt to transparency is its 
participation as an observer to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement since 2022, 
becoming the first country in the region with this status.  
2.33.  Also at the government level, in February  2020, the Dominican  Republic established  an 
innovative regulatory framework for the creation and development of public -private partnerships, 
pursuant to Law No.  47-20, which created the Directorate -General for Public -Private Partnerships.  
2.34.  In addition, the Dominican State issued Decree No.  806-21, which provides for the relaunch 
of the Investment Single Window as part of the Efficient Government Programme (Zero Red Tape). 
The aim of this initiative is to interconnect and combine on a single digital platform all procedures, 
permits, registrations,  licences, no -objection permits, authorizations or any other type of approval 
required by various government or municipal institutions for investment projects to be carried out 
in the Dominican  Republic.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  2.35.  The period under review saw the creation of the Inte llectual Property Unit of the Office of 
the Attorney -General of the Republic. A "liaison prosecutor" was also selected, who is responsible 
for investigating and prosecuting intellectual property crimes. The Regulations implementing Law 
No. 17-19 on the era dication of illicit trade in, and the smuggling and counterfeiting of, regulated 
products were also issued during this period.  
2.36.  As we have previously stated, transparency is a priority for the Dominican authorities. For 
this reason, we are part of the Glob al Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax 
Purposes, and we operate under the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. The 
country also adapted its legislation to comply with the standard of the Financial Action Task Force , 
whose evaluation group found that the Dominican legislative framework, approved in 2017, 
complies with recommendations for the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and 
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  
2.37.  At the multilateral level, the Dominican  Republic contributes to transparency by submitting 
the notifications required under the various WTO Agreements.  
2.38.  The Dominican  Republic's trade agenda for the coming years includes leveraging the trade 
agreements and unila teral preferences in force, which give us preferential access to over 
one billion  consumers in the world's major economies.  
2.39.  The country also looks forward to continuing to deepen and modernize regional economic 
integration and to enhancing the country's c ompetitiveness through improvements in various 
relevant areas: institutional environment, infrastructure, macroeconomic stability, improvements 
to the health and skills of the general population, improvements to the goods, services and labour 
markets, and improvements to the financial system and innovation ecosystem. It aims to achieve 
all this within a sustainable and inclusive framework.  
2.40.  The Dominican  Republic will also continue to make positive contributions to the multilateral 
trading system through its  participation in the various WTO bodies and negotiation processes, 
including in the discussions to reach an agreement on investment facilitation.  
2.41.  The Government reiterates its commitment to macroeconomic stability, as reflected in the 
design and implemen tation of monetary, fiscal, and trade policies that contribute to the well -being 
of Dominican society.  
2.42.  Lastly, we reiterate the Dominican  Republic's commitment to transparency, its 
WTO obligations, and multilateralism . 
  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT  
3.1.  First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic. It is an honour and great pleasure to participate as the discussant in this 
fifth Trade Policy Review of the Dominican  Republic. Although the Domini can Republic and 
Puerto  Rico, where I am from, compete for who has the best beaches, the best rum and the best 
baseball players amongst other things, we share close historical ties and bonds of friendship, and 
all Puerto  Ricans dance merengue, one of the D ominican  Republic's greatest exports . 
3.2.  I would also like to acknowledge the Secretariat for providing comprehensive research and 
information that enables Members to perform this vital Trade Policy Review function.  
3.3.  The United  States is the Dominican  Republic 's largest trading partner, anchored by the 
United  States -CAFTA -DR agreement. The Dominican  Republic is also an important trading partner 
to many of you in the room today, and a steadfast supporter of the multilateral trading system and 
of the WTO.  
3.4.  Indeed,  the opening of the Dominican  Republic's Permanent Mission to the WTO in April  2022 
reflects its ongoing commitment to contribute to the progress of the global trading system. 
I congratulate the Dominican  Republic on this important development and on the a ppointment of 
Ambassador Sánchez -Fung.  
3.5.  Drawing inspiration from Ambassador  Tan, I'd like to focus my comments around three 
thematic areas:  
1) the Dominican  Republic's economic resilience in response to the COVID -19 pandemic;  
2) the Dominican  Republic's people -centric approach to developing its national economic 
and trade policy goals; and  
3) how work undertaken at the WTO complements and supports the 
Dominican  Republic's economic and trade policy goals.  
3.6.  I'd like to comment first on the Dominican  Republic's economic resilience and management 
during the period of review, particularly in the face of the COVID -19 pandemic and 
the Russia n Federation 's unprovoked war against Ukraine.  
3.7.  The COVID -19 pandemic hit the people and economy of the Dominican  Republic hard. The 
Dominican economy is primarily service -based, with trade in goods and services accounting for 
more than half of the country's GDP. Travel and tourism services were badly affected during the 
pandemic owing to lockdowns meant to slow the spread of the vi rus. 
3.8.  Largely as a result of the pandemic, GDP shrank by 6.7 % in 2020. Exports of goods and 
services contracted in 2020 by 30.3 %, and imports by 14.6 %. However, the economy rebounded 
in 2021, with GDP growing by 12.3 %. As outlined in the Secretariat Report,  the 
Dominican  Republic undertook a mix of fiscal and monetary measures to help alleviate the 
negative impact of the pandemic. According to the IMF, this "smart policy -making" by the 
Government and "continued access to markets" directly contributed to the Dominican  Republic's 
successful post -pandemic recovery. In real terms, these efforts saved lives by preventing many 
citizens from dipping below the poverty line.  
3.9.  In addition, the Russia n Federation 's unprovoked war in Ukraine led to bottlenecks in global 
supply chains of key agricultural commodities, crude oil, and fertilizers. Supply chain disruptions 
led to price hikes for these products and soaring inflation. The Government responded by 
diversifying imports of goods, suspending tariffs on key imported go ods, and establishing a 
dedicated fund to ensure a stable supply of agro -chemicals.  
3.10.  During the period under review, the Dominican  Republic's trade policy can be characterized 
as consistent and predictable. As noted in the Government Report, the country's t rade policy seeks 
to take advantage of existing trade agreements and open new international markets for goods and 
services exports.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  3.11.  The Dominican  Republic is focused on growing both existing exports of goods and services, 
as well as creating new exports of  "modern services" related to the creative economy, the 
audio -visual  industry, telecommunications, and information technology.  
3.12.  During the period of review, the Dominican  Republic signed one new trade agreement. Many 
Members are interested to know whether t he country has any future plans to sign new trade 
agreements.  
3.13.  Few trade policies were modified compared with the country's previous Trade Policy Review , 
with the exception of the following developments.  
3.14.  First, the Dominican  Republic enacted a new customs law aimed at modernizing and 
simplifying customs procedures, as pointed out in both Government and Secretariat Reports. The 
law will harmonize domestic legislation with international commitments under the Trade 
Facilitation A greement (TFA).  
3.15.  We congratulate the Dominican  Republic for ratifying and implementing the TFA, and for 
implementing about 91 % of its TFA commitments to date. Based on its notifications to the WTO, 
the Dominican  Republic is on track to fully implement all o f its commitments by June  2023.  
3.16.  Given that the new Customs Law has not yet been fully implemented, Members would 
benefit from a better understanding of the Law's implementation status, and whether the 
Dominican  Republic is on track to fully implement its T FA commitments in five  months from now.  
3.17.  Second, I'd like to highlight the Dominican  Republic's adoption of the Handbook on Good 
Technical Regulation practices, which is based on the WTO  TBT Code of Good Practice. This is a 
win-win for the Government and pr ivate sector, which will benefit from the greater consistency 
and predictability to the Government's adoption and application of standards.  
3.18.  Finally, as pointed out in the Secretariat Report, the Dominican  Republic's government 
procurement policies underwen t significant changes. These changes were made to improve the 
transparency of the domestic procurement system, promote the purchase of domestically 
produced goods to develop the economy, create jobs, and encourage MSMEs to participate in 
public procurement  procedures, among other goals.  
3.19.  While the Dominican  Republic has government procurement provisions in several of its 
regional trade agreements, including the US -CAFTA -DR, it is not a party to the WTO Government 
Procurement Agreement.  
3.20.  As a result, several M embers expressed an interest in learning more about the 
Dominican  Republic's revised government procurement policies and procedures, whether it intends 
to seek observer status at the WTO Government Procurement Committee or eventually join the 
WTO Governmen t Procurement Agreement, and are glad to hear they have sought observer 
status.  
3.21.  I'd like to turn to the Dominican  Republic's "people -centric" approach to its national 
economic goals. The Dominican  Republic has put the concept of "quality of life" at the co re of its 
development objectives by creating policies to improve people's daily lives. According to the 
Government Report, the Dominican  Republic has improved public services, established conditions 
to create good -quality jobs, and created more economic op portunities for all people including 
through targeted interventions focused on gender and vulnerable groups.  
3.22.  Most of us agree that transparency and inclusivity are core principles to ensure that all 
voices are heard and to promote opportunities to benefit from trade. The Dominican  Republic sets 
a good example for all WTO  Members in this regard as it brings stakeholders from all backgrounds 
and experiences to the table to create inclusive trade policies. As Members we need to push for 
greater inclusivity in our work here at the WTO as well.  
3.23.  The Government Report notes that the Dominican Republic is working to address short, 
medium, and long -term challenges to bolstering its export competitiveness and further integrating WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  in international trade. WTO Members wou ld benefit from understanding what these challenges are 
and how the Dominican Republic intends to address them through a "quality of life" lens.  
3.24.  Finally, I'd like to comment on how work undertaken at the WTO complements and supports 
the Dominican  Republic' s economic and trade policy goals and future policy direction.  
3.25.  At the WTO, the Dominican  Republic is an active participant in several different negotiating 
groups, including the ACP Group, the G90, the Group of Small and Vulnerable Economies, and 
the G33 forum for development countries, among others.  
3.26.  At MC12, the Dominican  Republic called for agricultural reform that safeguards the 
guarantees of special and differential treatment for developing countries, and that ensures 
reciprocity and proportionalit y in the commitments of the Members that have the most influence 
on distortions. The Dominican  Republic made similar comments at MC11.  
3.27.  The outcomes on agriculture at MC12 were positive in that they reinforced the importance of 
upholding existing WTO rules to help address current global challenges, especially those related to 
food security.  
3.28.  Given the Dominican  Republic's active role in past agriculture discussions, it appears to be 
well equipped to contribute to forward -looking conversations in the WTO.  
3.29.  In the Government  Report, the Dominican  Republic outlined a forward -looking trade agenda 
to take advantage of existing trade agreements and forge new ones, deepen regional integration, 
and improve the country's competitiveness. This agenda plans for improvemen ts across broad 
facets of the economy, such as: the institutional environment, infrastructure, ICT adoption, 
macroeconomic stability, well -functioning labour  markets, worker skills, improvements to the 
financial system, and the promotion of innovation.  
3.30.  The Dominican  Republic's continued integration into the global trading system and 
participation at the WTO plays a key role in helping meet these goals.  
3.31.  It is commendable that the Dominican  Republic has focused on women's empowerment and 
leadership as key dri vers of the export promotion and integration into international markets. 
Similarly, MSME's form the backbone of economic activity and employment in the 
Dominican  Republic, and the country fosters and supports greater inclusion of MSMEs in 
international tra de. 
3.32.  At the WTO, the Dominican  Republic's participation in the Informal Working Group on 
MSMEs will provide valuable perspectives on ways in which WTO Members can better support 
MSME's participation in global trade. Similarly, its participation in informal discussions on 
investment facilitation for development aligns with the country's interest to create a favourable  
environment for and attract more foreign investment.  
3.33.  The Dominican  Republic has prioritized ICT adoption and digital transformation. While the 
country acceded to the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in 2006, it has yet to ratify 
the agreement nearly twenty years later, according to the Secretariat Report.  
3.34.  The Government may wish to consider how ratifying the agreement could help support  its 
goals its ICT goals. Similarly, it may wish to consider how  participating in the WTO's Joint 
Statement Initiative on E -Commerce could help support its goals on digital transformation.  
3.35.  The Dominican  Republic received an appreciable number of questions,  reflecting interest 
among the WTO Membership in its trade and economic policies, policy approach, and 
implementation. Allow me to highlight some of the issues raised by Members in this year's trade 
policy review.  
3.36.  Members raised questions related to discre pancies in tariff rates, the Dominican  Republic's 
new customs laws and changes in government procurement policies, promotion of women and 
MSMEs in trade, agricultural policy, transparency and WTO notifications, and new trade 
agreements.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  3.37.  Several Members asked why the Dominican  Republic maintains applied tariff rates that 
exceed bound rates on several tariff lines. With respect to the country's new Customs Law, several 
Members pointed out that the Law isn't fully implemented, noting that implementi ng regulations 
have yet to be finalized.  
3.38.  Some Members sought clarification of more detailed descriptions of trade policy 
developments, including more information on integrating women and MSMEs into development 
plans and international trade, as well as on p riority sectors for diversifying and strengthening the 
Dominican economy.  
3.39.  Regarding transparency and WTO notifications, the Dominican  Republic was asked if intends 
to submit required annual notifications to the Committee on Import Licensing. It was also as ked 
about plans to notify specific draft regulations to the WTO under the terms of the TBT Agreement.  
3.40.  To conclude, I congratulate the Dominican Republic on the contributions it has made to the 
WTO and the multilateral trading system. I look forward to today's Review and discussion.  
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS  
SINGAPORE  
4.1.  Allow me to begin by extending a very war m welcome to the delegation from the 
Dominican  Republic, led by Ambassador Jos é Sánchez -Fung. We would also like to express our 
appreciation to the Chair , Ambassador Atahliah  Molokomme, the discussant Ambassador 
María Pagán (United States), as well as the Secretariat for their insightful Reports and statements. 
Allow me to make three points.  
4.2.  First, the Dominican  Republic 's rapid recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic is commendable. 
The recovery was enabled by strong macro -economic fundamentals, well -considered policies, and 
an agile re -opening, which allowed the Dominican  Republic to take advantage of the global 
economic rebound. Despite the pandemic, the economy recovered strongly in 2021, with GDP 
rebounding by 12.3% due to well -targeted policies su ch as provision of credit through the Rapid 
Liquidity Facility to households and MSMEs, tax benefits to the health sector and tax deferrals for 
firms and individual households. Effective and nimble implementation of the National Vaccination 
Plan as well as  the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan, has enabled GDP to grow to about 5% 
above pre -pandemic levels by the end of 2021.  
4.3.  Second, there is potential for Singapore and the Dominican  Republic to deepen our 
cooperation. In 2021, total bilateral trade amounte d to more than USD  235 million, which 
represents close to a three -fold increase from 2020, making the Dominican  Republic Singapore 's 
eighth largest trading partner in Latin  America and the Caribbean. In this context, we welcome the 
Dominican  Republic 's con tinued efforts to improve the ease of investing and doing business in the 
country. For instance, the launch of the online Register of Foreign Direct Investment, to streamline 
and make the registration process more transparent, will facilitate the inflow of  foreign 
investments. By creating an attractive environment for foreign investors, the Dominican  Republic 
aims to grow the export sector, which seeks to expand exports of "modern services ". This offers 
new opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and coope ration in areas such as the creative 
economy, the audio -visual industry, and ICT sector.  
4.4.  Third, on the multilateral front, Singapore and the Dominican  Republic are both steadfast 
supporters of the WTO. As open and trade -dependent Members, we share the same  commitment 
to strengthen the rules -based multilateral trading system, in order to provide predictability and 
stability for global trade to grow. Singapore commends the Dominican  Republic 's participation in 
the Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Investmen t Facilitation for Development (IFD), which 
reflects its keen interest in improving its business environment. We also urge the 
Dominican  Republic to participate in the JSIs on E -Commerce and Services Domestic Regulation. 
We note that the Dominican  Republic  ratified the Agreement on Trade Facilitation in 2016, and 
encourage the Dominican  Republic to consider acceding to the Government Procurement 
Agreement (GPA), given the importance of establishing open, fair and transparent conditions of 
competition in gov ernment procurement processes.  
4.5.  In conclusion, Singapore looks forward to continue working closely with the Permanent 
Mission of the Dominican  Republic in the WTO, ably led by Ambassador Jos é Sánchez -Fung and 
wish them every success for its fifth TPR.  
GUATEMALA  
4.6.  On behalf of Guatemala, we warmly welcome the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, led 
by Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung, who we thank for the comprehensive Report submitted to us.  
4.7.  We thank the Secretariat for the Report prepared, which provides a  comprehensive and 
detailed overview of the Dominican  Republic's trade policies. We also thank the Ambassador of the 
United  States, Ms  María  Pagán, for the detailed and eloquent analysis that she kindly presented 
today as discussant.  
4.8.  Historically, Guatema la and the Dominican  Republic have maintained a very close 
relationship, which is based on strong bonds of friendship and cooperation in a wide variety of 
areas on our bilateral and regional agenda. This was evidenced by the full incorporation of the WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  Domin ican Republic into the Central American Integration System (SICA). In the early 1990s, the 
Dominican  Republic joined SICA as an observer. Subsequently, in June  2013, it was admitted as a 
SICA member State. This process was paramount for strengthening regio nal integration and 
collectively establishing social policies at regional level, in addition to programmes and projects 
aimed at improving living conditions for the citizens of our countries.  
4.9.  The Dominican Republic's full SICA membership has also been ver y important in enhancing 
our close trade relations. These are governed by the Free Trade Agreement between the 
Dominican  Republic and Central  America, which has been in force since 2001, and by the Free 
Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, the U nited States and Central  America 
(CAFTA -DR), which entered into force for Guatemala in July 2006.  
4.10.  Both agreements have been significantly beneficial and have supported the strong and 
sustained growth of our trade. They have also helped reduce transaction c osts, create greater 
legal certainty for investment, and consolidate efforts to achieve greater diversification and 
continuous improvement of the quality of regional goods and services.  
4.11.  According to the figures for 2022, Guatemala's main exports to the Do minican  Republic 
were detergent and soap, pharmaceutical products, sugars and sugar confectionery, perfumery, 
plastics and plastic products. Guatemala's main imports from the Dominican  Republic are 
petroleum derivatives, pharmaceutical products, and plasti cs and plastic products.  
4.12.  As regards the Trade Policy Review under examination today, we note the significant 
economic growth recorded during the period 2014 -22, the introduction of measures to attract 
foreign investment, and the Dominican  Republic's rapid  recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.13.  Another very positive aspect during the review period was the introduction of a new 
Customs Law, which seeks to facilitate and simplify customs procedures in order to properly 
implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement .  
4.14.  The National Development Strategy 2030 continues to promote continuous interaction 
between the government agencies dealing with trade issues, and in doing so fosters and facilitates 
the development of harmonized trade policies. Of particular note are po licies seeking to involve 
women in export activity.  
4.15.  Another point to highlight within this review period is the creation of the Intellectual 
Property Unit of the Office of the Attorney -General of the Republic, whose responsibility is to 
investigate and pr osecute intellectual property crimes.  
4.16.  In conclusion, we would like to thank the Dominican  Republic for its responses to the 
questions posed by Guatemala, which have already been referred to our capital for its 
consideration.  
4.17.  We recognize the efforts made by the Dominican  Republic during the period covered by this 
Trade Policy Review and wish the delegation representing the country today every success in 
concluding this exercise . 
CHILE  
4.18.  Chile welcomes the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, led by H.E.  Ambassador and 
friend José  R. Sánchez -Fung, and commends the country on the work carried out since its last 
Review.  
4.19.  We also welcome the whole team from your Mission to the WTO, which despite being 
established only recently is already leaving a very signif icant mark on the Organization. We 
recognize the important work done by both the Secretariat and the Dominican  Republic in 
preparing their respective reports and congratulate the discussant, Ambassador María  Pagán of the 
United  States.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.20.  Chile and the Dominican  Republic are two open economies that share a common vision in 
their integration strategy and continuously seek to coordinate on issues on the international 
agenda.  
4.21.  Economic and trade relations between Chile and the Dominican  Republic are not gov erned 
by a preferential trade agreement. Nevertheless, trade between Chile and the Dominican  Republic 
totalled USD  116 million in 2021, an increase of 33% on 2020. Chile's exports to the 
Dominican  Republic totalled USD  96 million, an increase of 28% on 202 0, while imports from the 
Dominican  Republic totalled USD  20 million, a 72% increase on 2020.  
4.22.  Trade in services, in terms of Chile's exports to the Dominican  Republic, amounted to 
USD 1.9 million and recorded annual average growth of 5.7% during the 2016 -21 period. While we 
do not have any figures on the Dominican  Republic's services exports to Chile, we note that the 
country is one of the preferred tourist destinations of Chileans.  
4.23.  Chilean investment in the Dominican Republic amounted to USD  0.7 million in  2021.  
4.24.  In light of the foregoing, we would like to emphasize our country's keen interest in 
continuing discussions with the Dominican  Republic with a view to formally deepening relations 
between our two countries. Such discussions should take into account  the levels of ambition of 
both parties and allow for the assessment of potential shared objectives. The potential benefits of 
formalizing our relationship include increasing and improving conditions for the marketing of goods 
and services, with attractive  incentives to increase and promote the presence of our exporters, 
attract investment, improve the business environment and promote cooperation.  
4.25.  At the multilateral level and particularly in this Organization, the Dominican  Republic is a 
constructive part ner with whom we agree on numerous matters. The Dominican  Republic is a 
Member committed to the rules -based multilateral trading system and actively participates in 
WTO negotiations.  
4.26.  This is clear from its participation in joint initiatives such as the In formal Working Group on 
Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs), the Informal Working Group on Trade and 
Gender, and the Joint Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development. As co -coordinator of 
the latter, I thank the Dominican  Republic for its active participation and invite it to share its 
experiences so that other Members may also benefit from creating a favourable climate for foreign 
investment.  
4.27.  For this review, Chile has submitted questions on the Dominican  Republic's trade and 
investment regime, mainly with regard to the formulation and objectives of its trade policy, and on 
its Women Exporters Fund programme, which reflects our shared interest in promoting exports 
from women -led MSMEs.  
4.28.  We have also submitted questions on agricultural policy and measures to promote gender 
equality in this important sector.  
4.29.  Our delegation is grateful for the responses already received, which are being reviewed by 
our teams in Santiago.  
4.30.  We will end our sta tement today by wishing the Dominican  Republic every success in its 
fifth Trade Policy Review . 
COLOMBIA  
4.31.  I am taking the floor on behalf of the delegation of Colombia to the WTO, but before I begin 
would like to wish a happy and prosperous 2023 to all the p articipants in this important exercise. 
We welcome the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, led by José  Sánchez -Fung, Ambassador 
and Permanent Representative of the Mission of the Dominican  Republic to the World Trade 
Organization; Manuel Díaz  Franjul, Di rector of Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 
and all our colleagues and friends from this delegation.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.32.  We commend the detailed analysis and comments submitted by the Permanent Delegate of 
the United  States to the WTO, María  Pagán, as the  discussant for this review, as well as the work 
carried out by the WTO Secretariat and the authorities of the Dominican  Republic in preparing the 
reports for this exercise.  
4.33.  We would like to thank the Dominican  Republic for its readiness to respond to Colo mbia's 
questions as part of this exercise. The questions cover a very broad range of topics, from customs 
procedures, fees and valuation, fiscal policy and trade remedies, to intellectual property measures 
and the implementation of a competition promotion policy.  
4.34.  Colombia and the Dominican  Republic share countless sociocultural and economic 
similarities, since, like us, it is a Caribbean country with beautiful beaches that are a huge source 
of income generation. Sharing good practices can help us to use ou r resources more sustainably. 
In addition, Colombia and the Dominican  Republic have complementary production apparatus and 
may therefore seek closer trade ties and cooperation in different sectors.  
4.35.  Taking into account the Secretariat Report, we welcome the  resilience of the 
Dominican  Republic's economy during the pandemic and note that it recorded average 
year-on-year growth of 5.6% during the first six months of 2022. In addition, total employment in 
January -March  2022 was similar to its level in the same quarter of 2019 prior to the pandemic, 
with record figures for the free zone sector in June  2022 and a 100% recovery in jobs in the 
tourism sector.  
4.36.  The Dominican  Republic has been a dynamic player in the WTO since 9  March  1995 and 
grants at least most -favoured -nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners. This is its 
fifth Trade Policy Review.  
4.37.  Lastly, we find the Dominican  Republic's support for cybersecurity to promote the 
development of fintech in its economic structure very interesting, this bein g one of the elements 
most discussed in the response provided to our questions.  
4.38.  We would like to know more about the process through which the Dominican  Republic has 
developed an institutional framework for the promotion of competition as a tool for genera ting 
economic development, since it is understood that Pro -Competencia monitors the market to 
ensure that there are no anti -competitive practices that would prevent some actors from 
participating in economic activity. It would also be interesting to know if the results of the 
implementation of this model are available.  
4.39.  In Colombia's view, the Dominican  Republic's support for the creation of an ecosystem for 
the growth of fintech is attractive, and through the Secretariat report and the responses provided, 
we were able to learn a little more about it; we therefore appreciate this information and would 
like to be able to discuss these issues in depth at a later stage.  
4.40.  Lastly, regarding our question on how to determine certain taxes on prod ucts and their 
impact on imports, we appreciate your response, although we would still like a perhaps more 
detailed explanation of the form taken by these measures and, in particular, their impact on 
imports.  
4.41.  In conclusion, I would like to wish the delegat ion of the Dominican  Republic every success in 
its Trade Policy Review. We extend our warm appreciation to the team in Geneva for the 
cooperative relationship between our two Missions and reiterate our ongoing support for the work 
of the Dominican delegati on in Geneva . 
ARGENTINA  
4.42.  We would like to join other Members in welcoming the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, 
led by Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung, Permanent Representative of the Dominican  Republic to 
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United  Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. We take this opportunity to wish you every success in this 
exercise.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.43.  We appreciate the excellent Report provided by Ambassador María  Pagán (Permanent 
Representative of the Mission of the Unit ed States to the WTO) as discussant. We also appreciate 
the reports prepared by the Dominican  Republic and the Secretariat, which have enabled us to 
update and deepen our knowledge of this Member's trade practices.  
4.44.  Argentina welcomes the average year -on-year growth of the Dominican economy, which 
exceeded 5% in the first six months of 2022, as well as the recovery of employment almost to 
pre-pandemic levels and inflation control.  
4.45.  Our country congratulates the Dominican  Republic because, according to the Report 
submitted and despite adverse circumstances, between 2015 and 2021 it managed to record an 
annual average GDP growth rate of 5.1% and, during the process of economic and financial 
recovery post -COVID in 2021, its real GDP grew by 12.3% year -on-year, a trend that continued 
into the first months of 2022, with growth of 6.1% in the first quarter, reflecting a convergence 
towards potential GDP performance.  
4.46.  The Dominican  Republic also saw an upsurge in foreign direct investment flows, which, 
according to the figures in the Report, totalled USD  21,610  million between 2014 and 2021.  
4.47.  The review period saw high -level visits between the representatives of our countries, 
bilate ral and MERCOSUR agreements, numerous cooperation projects between our two nations, 
the establishment of Argentine companies in Dominican territory and growing trade. Furthermore, 
a large number of Argentines have enjoyed the tourism services offered by th e 
Dominican  Republic.  
4.48.  We should also highlight the increase in our bilateral trade: during the first nine months 
of 2022, Argentine exports of goods to the Dominican  Republic amounted to USD  386.8  million, an 
increase of 49.2% compared to the same period in 2021. Imports of goods during the same 
nine-month period amounted to USD  4.2 million, a 17.5% increase in relation to the same period 
in 2021.  
4.49.  In 2021, Argentina's main exports to the Dominican  Republic, representing 87.8% of total 
exports, were  animal fats and oils (35.8%), cereals (20.2%), motor vehicles (14.2%), mineral 
fuels (9.9%) and pharmaceutical products (7.7%). The main imports in the same year, 
representing 82.7% of the total, were instruments and apparatus (35.1%), pharmaceutical 
products (26.3%), tobacco (10.1%), machinery and apparatus (6.5%) and beverages (4.8%).  
4.50.  The Dominican Republic is a Member committed to the multilateral trading system. We 
agree with the Dominican  Republic that it is essential to have a strong WTO and a rules -based 
multilateral trading system that contributes to the inclusive, sustainable and equitable 
development of all its Members.  
4.51.  Following the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in 2016, and during the 
period under review, the Dominican  Republic took concrete steps to promote trade facilitation. 
Such trade facilitation initiatives include the new General Customs Law No. 168 -218, the initiative 
for the clearance of goods within 24  hours, the Exporta+ programme for the facilitation of expor ts, 
the fine -tuning of the single window for foreign trade (VUCE) initiative, and the simplified 
authorized economic operator (AEO) status for MSMEs, to name but a few.  
4.52.  We have submitted written questions to the Dominican  Republic on various regulatory iss ues 
and we thank the country for its timely responses.  
4.53.  While reiterating our appreciation of this renewed opportunity to exchange comments on the 
Dominican  Republic's trade practices, we would like to draw attention once again to the 
importance of this tr ansparency exercise in all its aspects and to wish the Dominican authorities a 
successful conclusion to this review . 
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  UNITED  KINGDOM  
4.54.  I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, 
led by our colleague and a great f riend of mine, Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung. 
4.55.  Let me thank the Government of the Dominican  Republic and the WTO Secretariat for their 
Reports and welcome the typically insightful comments of our most distinguished Chair and also 
our discussan t, Ambassador  Pagán, Ambassador of the United  States of America, fresh from her 
own nation 's TPR.  
4.56.  Let me  start by saying, we commend the Dominican  Republic on their GDP growth rates 
between 2014 -2019, exceeding the historical average at 6.2% and that we appreciate the 
Dominican  Republic 's responses to our 18  advance written questions . We were interested to k now 
more about customs procedures, import measures in particular tax stamps, technical 
requirements, and single investment windows. These highlight the granular interest which we and 
British companies place in effective trading relations with the Dominican  Republic. As with other 
Members, we also raised questions regarding the agriculture sector, in particular exemptions for 
import licenses.  
4.57.  The Secretariat 's Report for this TPR indicates that over the review period, the 
Dominican  Republic 's economy had a remarkable recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic, with a 
contraction in GDP of almost 7% in 2020 followed by growth of over 12% in 2021  
4.58.  We were also pleased to note the shift towards sustainable agriculture practices during the 
review period and how these pr actices have contributed towards increased food security, rural 
jobs, and agricultural exports. The U nited Kingdom  is keen to hear more about developments 
within Dominican  Republic 's agriculture health and safety system.  
4.59.  However, as the Secretariat Report also identifies, since their last Review, where sanitary 
and phytosanitar y measures were deemed unfit there has not been much marked progress as 
there is still no centralized mechanism for the preparation of SPS measures. We therefore 
encourage the Dominic an Republic to pay particular attention to these key areas.  
4.60.  We are grateful to the Government of the Dominican  Republic for being one of the first 
countries to ratify the CARIFORUM -UK Economic Partnership Agreement on 4  April 2019. We are 
grateful the Dom inican  Republic for their continued collaboration in the implementation of the 
CARIFORUM -UK EPA and we look forward to working together to fully implement all areas of the 
agreement.  
4.61.  To ensure the continuity of the CARIFORUM -EU Economic Partnership Agreeme nt, on 
7 October  2021 the first meeting of the CARIFORUM -UK Economic Partnership Agreement 's Trade 
and Development Committee took place. The meeting was an opportunity for parties to provide 
updates on relevant trade policy developments in the United  Kingdom and in the Caribbean region, 
and to reaffirm their desire for a prompt ratification of the EPA by a ll parties.  
4.62.  We also discussed matters of joint interest including tariff liberali zation, trade in goods  and 
services, and geographical indications . The parties noted with satisfaction that the EPA had 
secured continuity of a trading relationship worth alm ost GBP 4 billion in 2021 and expressed their 
desire to further develop sustainable and inclusive trade underpinned by the EPA.  
4.63.  We are grateful to the Government of the Dominican  Republic for being one of the first 
countries to ratify the CARIFORUM -UK Econ omic Partnership Agreement on 4  April 2019. We are 
grateful the Dominican  Republic for their continued collaboration in the implementation of the 
CARIFORUM -UK EPA and we look forward to working together to fully implement all areas of the 
agreement.  
4.64.  Turnin g to exogenous challenges, Members representing small island developing states and 
small vulnerable economies rightly highlight the increasing threat presented by extreme climactic 
events.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.65.  According to an ongoing research programme by the EU 's Global Clim ate Change Alliance 
Plus Initiative, the Dominican  Republic is the 11th most vulnerable country to climate change in the 
world. In a region of intense cyclonic activity, the Dominican  Republic is one of the WTO Members 
most threatened by hydrometeorologica l events. The impact of these extreme events has 
provoked economic losses in the order of almost USD 10 billion, not to mention the impact on 
human and natural life.  
4.66.  Relatedly, Global Supply Chains, the bedrock of free and fair trade and the conduit to its  
benefits are also increasingly threatened by extreme weather, from damaged infrastructure to 
disrupted logistics and the rippling knock -on effects. It 's a reminder that, as a Membership, we 
must accelerate efforts to moderni ze the international trading en vironment, such as through 
harmoni zed standards and digiti zed customs procedures.  
4.67.  We recogni ze the challenge for SIDS to diversify considering their vulnerability to external 
shocks and the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. Indeed, SIDS are important 
partners for the UK. In our International Development Strategy, we set out our vision that SIDS 
will be more climate and economically resilient by 2030. And we salute the continued constructive 
role played by the Dominican  Republic in representin g the interests of SIDS in a whole range of 
multilateral fora, in Geneva and beyond.  
4.68.  Just last month, alongside Canada and the Alliance of Small Island Sates, we launched the 
Principles for Improved Aid Impact in SIDS at the Effective Development Cooperat ion Summit here 
in Geneva. We hope that the principles  will be a useful tool in improving the quality of aid and 
ensuring that development partners align with SIDS ' own priorities.  
4.69.  We look forward to working with the international community to drive actio n on SIDS 
climate and economic resilience ahead of the pivotal UN  SIDS Summit next year. The UK is 
committed to delivering the promises of the Glasgow Climate Pact, including action on the scale of 
finance, considering vulnerability in our finance decision s, and addressing loss and damage.  
4.70.  To conclude, we wish our colleagues from the Dominican  Republic well and a successful 
fifth Trade Policy Review . 
UNITED  STATES  
4.71.  The United  States is pleased to welcome head of delegation Ambassador 
José-Sánchez -Fung, and the rest of the Dominican delegation to the fifth  Trade Policy Review of 
the Dominican  Republic. We appreciate the opportunity to review the significant work the 
Dominican  Republic has undertaken the past eight years since its last Review.  
4.72.  As the Domin ican Republic 's principal trading partner, the United  States ' commercial 
relationship with the Dominican  Republic is strong, positive, and growing. We share, as fellow FTA 
partners under the Dominican  Republic -Central  America -United  States Free Trade Agree ment 
(CAFTA -DR), a commitment to a rules -based approach to international trade. CAFTA -DR is a 
comprehensive agreement that covers trade in goods and services, intellectual property rights, 
investment, telecommunications, labour , and environment, and promot es economic integration 
among partner countries . 
4.73.  The United  States also stands ready as a partner to assist in the Dominican  Republic 's 
implementation of its international commitments and market expansion. Just last week, USAID 
announced the launch of Enterprises for Development, Growth, and Empowerment Fund (the 
"EDGE  Fund"). The USD 50 million EDGE  Fund will include partnerships and ad ditional resources 
towards the Dominican  Republic 's implementation of the TFA. Furthermore, the Commercial Law 
Development Fund ( "CLDP") expects to receive new funding to continue and expand technical 
assistance in Central America to facilitate trade and a lleviate supply chain disruptions.  
4.74.  During the period under review, the Dominican  Republic has modified its laws and 
regulations to implement domestic reforms and WTO commitments. We are pleased to recognize 
the customs modernization and trade facilitation  measures adopted by the Dominican  Republic 
following entry into force of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. These practical and significant 
changes to improve the movement of goods across borders demonstrate the importance that the WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  Government places on the  multilateral trading system and wisely leverages the TFA as an engine 
for economic growth. We want to encourage the Dominican  Republic to remain active in sharing its 
implementation experiences in the Committee so that others can learn from your 
accomplis hments.  
4.75.  We note that the Dominican  Republic still faces a number of challenges, and we noted our 
concerns through our advance written questions. For example, the United  States is interested in 
how the Government has taken steps to ensure sugar production i s free of forced labour , and how 
the Government is incorporating labour  law compliance into its export competitiveness and 
integration into international trade. The United  States is also looking forward to the 
Dominican  Republic 's responses regarding: when  the Government will submit its Annual 
Questionnaire to the Committee on Import Licensing, the comment process for certain draft 
regulations regarding hygiene products and steel rebar, updates to the SPS regulatory framework, 
domestic support programs for rice and other agricultural products, the process for price 
stabilization of rice, and a number of issues regarding intellectual property regulation.  We 
encourage the Dominican  Republic to join with the United  States and other Members in our 
collective eff ort to enhance and improve WTO technical assistance for transparency and 
notification requirements.  
4.76.  Despite concerns, we recognize and commend the Dominican  Republic 's holistic approach to 
improving the lives of its citizens and economic competitiveness th rough a series of ambitious 
national development plans . For instance, to address the quality of life and create more 
opportunities for its citizens, the Dominican  Republic is developing policies on several cross -cutting 
topics, including gender, inclusive participation, sustainability, transparency, vulnerable groups, 
and digital transformation. These issues are also important to address within the context of the 
work we do here at the WTO. We encourage the Dominican  Republic to share its experiences on 
the impact of these policies on people 's quality of life in relevant WTO committees and bodies.  
Bringing these kind of discussions to the WTO is part of our collective effort to reform the 
Organization, to develop more relevant outputs which contribute to the  overall welfare of our 
citizens.  
4.77.  Other positive developments include the Dominican  Republic 's recent efforts to strengthen 
IP enforcement to address piracy issues and streamlining tasks of the IP offices in general. We 
encourage continued work to strengthen the patent review and approval process and addressing 
piracy. We also urge the Dominican  Republic to continue to strengthen policies and practices 
regarding technical standards, SPS, and import licensing to facilitate trade in products such as f ood 
and other consumer products, agricultural goods, and steel, and regulatory transparency. We hope 
to hear more in this review about the government’s plans to address these types of issues.  
4.78.  We thank the delegation for providing responses to our advance written questions and we 
are closely reviewing those responses as part of this review.  
4.79.  The United  States looks forward to further de veloping  our trade and economic partnership 
with the Dominican  Republic. We commend the Dominican  Republic on its active par ticipation in 
the WTO, and for its longstanding commitment to the multilateral trading system. We remain 
committed to continued close cooperation with the Dominican  Republic to deepen our relationship 
bilaterally, in regional fora, and in the WTO.  
CANADA  
4.80.  Canada joins others in welcoming the Delegation of the Dominican  Republic, headed by 
H.E. Ambassador Sánchez -Fung. We also thank the discussant Ambassador Pagán and the 
Secretariat for their Reports . 
4.81.  First, we join others in commending the Dominican  Republi c's rapid economic recovery back 
to pre -pandemic levels and the positive macro -economic  forecasts.  
4.82.  Second, we note that the Dominican  Republic has taken an important step forward with the 
new General Customs Law enacted in August  2021. This new law provid es the country with 
modern legislation that promotes the development of trade by streamlining customs formalities. WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  One concrete example that Canada applauds is the legalising of electronic declarations and 
provisions on advance rulings.  
4.83.  Canada also welcom es the Dominican Republic's efforts towards increased transparency and 
the reduction of corruption as well as the measures being taken to improve the FDI ecosystem in 
the country. The recently enacted Territorial Planning and Land Use Law is a positive ste p in the 
right direction. We encourage the Dominican  Republic to take steps to ensure that the laws and 
regulations on the books are consistently applied in an even -handed manner to avoid undermining 
the investment climate.   
4.84.  The transparency function of t his organization is of key importance. It helps all Members 
inform their stakeholders about the policies of trading partners and allows us to better understand 
the particular circumstances and needs of each Member. In this regard, we commend the 
Dominican  Republic for recent improvements to its notifications and note, for example, that the 
Dominican  Republic has recently brought its agricultural domestic support notifications up to date. 
We encourage the Dominican Republic to continue in this positive direc tion and submit other 
outstand notifications.  
4.85.  Canada would like to acknowledge and thank the Dominican  Republic for its engagement on 
trade and gender issues. We would also like to extend an invitation for the Dominican  Republic to 
join the Trade and Envi ronmental Sustainability Structured Discussions, and urge them to consider 
joining the joint statement initiative on e -commerce.  
4.86.  In conclusion, Canada looks forward to continued close cooperation with the 
Dominican  Republic to strengthen the WTO and the multilateral trading system to raise living 
standards, promote sustainable development, and achieve inclusive growth.  
EL SALVADOR  
4.87.  On behalf of the Government of El  Salvador, I would like to join the delegations that have 
preceded me in welcoming the di stinguished delegation of the Government of the 
Dominican  Republic, led by our esteemed colleague and friend, Ambassador Sánchez -Fung, as well 
as the delegation accompanying him from the capital.  
4.88.  I would also like to thank Ambassador María  Pagán as discuss ant, and the Secretariat for 
the excellent Report presented.  
4.89.  It is an honour for El  Salvador to participate in this transparency exercise, which provides us 
with a broad and in -depth understanding of the trade policies adopted by the Dominican  Republic, 
and those relating to the trade of our trading partners.  
4.90.  This fifth Trade Policy Review highlights the challenges that all WTO Members, including the 
Dominican  Republic, have faced as a result of the pandemic and other crises.  
4.91.  COVID -19 had a negative impac t on the Dominican economy and particularly on tourism 
services. Like several other Members, the Dominican  Republic implemented a series of measures 
to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic, such as a fiscal package, a Central Bank liquidity 
injecti on, and reduced reserve requirements and interest rates.  
4.92.  Inflation nevertheless continued during most of the period under review due to supply chain 
disruptions and rising energy prices.  
4.93.  Having examined the Secretariat Report, we would like to highlight the measures aimed at 
providing an adequate level of liquidity, and other incentives to simplify procedures and ensure 
easier access to credit, all of which contributed to the country's prompt recovery in 2021.  
4.94.  Regarding trade facilitation, we ap plaud the creation of the National Trade Facilitation 
Committee to implement the TFA and facilitate interaction with other trade control agencies and 
the private sector.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.95.  Also worthy of note are the tourism sector's system of incentives and the investment in 
maritime infrastructure for tourism purposes, which have helped to attract foreign investment and 
contribute to the sector's growth.  
4.96.  Within the multilateral framework, the Dominican  Republic participates actively in 
deliberations on various WTO topics t hat form part of the Organization's three trade agenda 
strategies: (1)  strengthening the multilateral trading system, (2)  restoring the Appellate Body, 
and (3) reviving the negotiating arm.  
4.97.  We congratulate the Dominican  Republic on the significant number of notifications it 
submitted to the WTO Secretariat during the period under review.  
4.98.  Also noteworthy is the Dominican  Republic's extensive network of trade agreements, which 
includes the Central American region, countries with which it has always had clos e trade relations.  
4.99.  With regard to our bilateral relationship, diplomatic relations between El  Salvador and the 
Dominican  Republic have developed considerably over the years to form a strong link that is 
reflected in multiple examples of collaboration in, inter alia, the political, diplomatic, economic and 
trade spheres, at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.  
4.100.   It only remains for me to wish the Dominican  Republic every success in this review . 
EUROPEAN  UNION  
4.101.   I first like to welcome the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, led by Ambassador 
José Sánchez -Fung. I would also like to extend the EU 's appreciation to the discussant, 
Ambassador  Pagán, for her introduction of the main developments in the Dominican  Republic's 
economic and trade policies since the last Trade Policy Review.  
4.102.   On the economic front, the Dominican  Republic showed an impressive economic recovery 
from the COVID pandemic with a 12 .3% GDP increase in 2021 and a continued positive trend 
in 2022. The record level of inward remittances, the quick restart of the tourism sector, the 
excellent performance of the free trade zones and the construction sector, and sustained 
investment flows have been key factors in this significant economic rebound. It de monstrates the 
resilience of the country 's remarkable growth trajectory over the last 25  years.  
4.103.   The Dominican  Republic has financial stability and an attractive business climate. It is the 
EU's main trading partner in the Caribbean as well as the main des tination of EU direct investment 
in the region.  
4.104.   Bilateral trade relations between the EU and the Dominican  Republic are based on the 
Economic Partnership Agreement with CARIFORUM States, in application since 2008. I am pleased 
to note that the Dominican  Republic is well advanced in implementing this agreement, having fully 
implemented the tariff liberali zation schedule. There is also a high utili zation rate of the 
preferences by Dominican exporters to the EU. Bilateral trade reached a record high in 2021 of  
EUR 3.2 billion. Since the entry into force of the Economic Partnership Agreement, Dominican 
exports to the EU have doubled. Perhaps more importantly, they have also diversified, now 
including manufactured products of higher added value than traditional a gribusiness commodities. 
While we do not yet have the figures for last year, estimates suggest bilateral trade will likely have 
again set a new record.  
4.105.   I must also mention two  aspects of the Dominican  Republic 's trade policy that the EU 
would suggest to modify. First, there is a need for increased transparency in customs regarding 
the application of preferential tariff rates, the classification of goods and the use of rules of origin. 
Second, there are some trad e barriers and discriminatory measures such as the discriminatory 
application of value added tax to some imported products (ham, cheese,  and canned vegetables) 
in comparison with "like" domestic counterparts. The EU has raised this issue in WTO committees 
before and we would like to insist on a prompt solution to this discriminatory treatment of foreign 
products.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.106.   The EU fully supports the Dominican  Republic 's efforts for economic development that is 
inclusive and sustainable. The EU is a major provider of c ooperation development assistance – 
EUR 150 million including grants and blending between 2014 and 2020. The EU remains 
committed to supporting the Dominican  Republic under the new EU multiannual financial 
framework, in particular on key priorities of gree n transition and digital transformation.  
4.107.   The past years have seen new challenges, emergencies,  and threats. In this context, it is 
more important to an ever to maintain and strengthen the rules -based economic cooperation. 
The WTO - and its reform - is an i mportant guardrail in turbulent times.  
4.108.   We therefore welcome the Dominican  Republic 's participation in some key WTO files, such 
as Investment Facilitation for Development, and the work on MSMEs, and that it became an 
observer in the Government Procurement Agreement. We would, however, encourage the 
Dominican  Republic to consider taking further steps towards greater involvement, by joining the 
other joint statement initiatives – on e-commerce and services domestic regulation - as well as the 
initiatives rela ted to trade and sustainability.  
4.109.   The EU appreciates the Dominican  Republic 's replies to the advance questions, which we 
have received and are examining. On behalf of the EU, I wish the Dominican  Republic a successful 
review.  
CHINA   
4.110.   Good morning colleagues . Happy C hinese New Year to everyone! This is the Year of the 
Rabbit, which symbolizes kindness, elegance, and beauty. I wish everyone a prosperous Year of 
the Rabbit and a bright future.  
4.111.   I would like to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the Domin ican Republic led by 
H.E. José Sánchez -Fung, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Dominican  Republic to 
the WTO and the UNCTAD, and appreciate the Government of the Dominican  Republic for the 
preparation for this review. I would also like to express my gratitude to the discussant, 
H.E. Ambassador María  Pagán, for her insightful remarks. Let me also thanks the Secretariat for 
their hard work.  
4.112.   China commends the remarkable progre ss the Dominican  Republic has achieved in its 
economic development since its previous Review. We are impressed by the rapid GDP growth of 
the Dominican  Republic, with more than 6% each year from 2014 to 2019, and especially the 
strong economic recovery in 2021 with GDP growth of 12.3% and continued growth in the first six 
months of 2022, with growth of 5.6%. This steady growth reflects the Dominican  Republic's great 
efforts and positive outcome of the coordination of monetary and fiscal policies, diversific ation of 
production structure, and implementation of reforms.  
4.113.   China is pleased to note the Dominican  Republic's trade policy objectives are to facilitate 
trade and create a favourable environment for foreign investment. We welcome the various trade 
facilit ation measures adopted by the Dominican  Republic, including the new General Customs Law, 
the initiative for the clearance of goods within 24  hours, and the fine -tuning of the single window 
for foreign trade initiative. These measures and initiatives have s treamlined the customs 
procedures and process involved in the clearance of goods, reduced the time and cost of foreign 
trade operations, and modernized its legal instrument that conforms to international rules, such as 
WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. We also welcome the establishment of the Investment 
Promotion Bureau and other important measures, such as the Investment Single Window, which 
will enhance the investment climate of the Dominican  Republic.  
4.114.   We are pleased to see the trade policy adopted by the  Dominican  Republic has delivered 
good results. The Dominican  Republic's external sector are performing well. The total exports of 
goods  during the first half of 2022 were 16.5% higher than during the same period the previous 
year. The foreign direct inves tment reached USD  1.9 billion between January and June  2022, an 
increase of 8% over the same period in 2021.  
4.115.   On the multilateral front, China appreciates the Dominican  Republic's continued support to 
the multilateral trading system. China commends the Domi nican  Republic's active participation in WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  and positive contribution to the WTO work in numerous areas, in particular the Investment 
Facilitation for Development. We welcome the Dominican  Republic to implement the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement and establish t he national Trade Facilitation Committee. We also look 
forward to the Dominican  Republic's participation in the informal dialogue on plastic pollution and 
environmentally sustainable plastics trade. China will continue working together with the 
Dominican  Republic to uphold the multilateral trading system that contributes to inclusive and 
sustainable development.  
4.116.   On the bilateral economic and trade cooperation, China and the Dominican  Republic have 
made impressive progress in this regard since the establishm ent of diplomatic relations in 2018. 
The Dominican  Republic is China's largest trading partner in the Caribbean. The bilateral trade  
volume from January to November  2022 reached around USD  4.45 billion, with an increase 
of 15.1% year on year. In particular , the Dominican  Republic's export to China was 56.9% higher 
than the same period of 2021. China believes there is still much room for growth in bilateral trade 
and will continue to work with the Dominican  Republic to promote the bilateral economic and trad e 
cooperation to a new level.  
4.117.   For the purpose of this review, China has submitted written questions to the 
Dominican  Republic, covering the Dominican  Republic's foreign investment regime, customs 
regime and tourism industry. We look forward to the response  from the Dominican  Republic.  
4.118.   Finally, I wish the delegation of the Dominican Republic every success in this TPR.  
ICELAND   
4.119.   It is with pleasure that Iceland welcomes the distinguished delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic to their fifth  Trade Policy Review led by H.E.  Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung. 
We would also like to express appreciation to the WTO Secretariat, as well as the 
Dominican  Republic for the Reports prepared, as well as to the discussant  H.E. Ambassador 
María  Pagán for the excellent frami ng of the issues for our discussion today.  
4.120.   Iceland welcomes Dominican  Republic 's active  participation and strong commitment to the 
smooth functioning of the multilateral trading system, with an economy mostly dominated by 
services, where tourism and international trade play a big role, the Dominican  Republic was hit 
hard by the COVID -19 pandem ic. Iceland welcomes and congratulates the country on the 
impressive economic recovery in 2021 . 
4.121.   At the MC12, in June last yea r, the Ministers acknowledged for the first time the 
importance of addressing women's economic empowerment of the WTO, and by doing  so recognize 
the positive benefit that it will have on our economies.  This fact is well recognized by the 
Dominican  Republic and Iceland commends the significant work that the country has done when it 
comes to advancing women's economic empowerment and le adership positions domestic ally and 
the value of the authorities attached to women's role when it comes to contributing to the 
country's integration into the international market . This work is particularly important in the 
current global environment , the economy and trade impacts of the pandemic have had a 
disproportionately adverse impact on women . This is a pattern that sadly also applies to other 
crises arising from ongoing geopolitical conflicts . 
4.122.   As one of the co -chairs of the informal working group of trade and gender, Iceland 
welcomes the good cooperation of countries here in advancing gender equality, the sharing of best 
practices of respective experiences relating to  policies and rule -making on advancing women's 
economic empowerment is an important e lement of the work of the informal working group, in the 
spirit of supporting relevant data -gathering in this field, Iceland has submitted in advance  written 
questions on the participation of women in the economy of the Dominican  Republic . We welcome 
the replies as the answers will be useful in gathering  the best practices in the promotion of gender 
equality with in trade.  
4.123.   Finally, I celand  once again appreciate s the Dominican  Republic's firm support to the 
multilateral trading system and its active engagemen t in the WTO.  We wish the delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic every success for their Trade Policy Review.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  ECUADOR  
4.124.   I would like to begin by welcoming the delegation of the Dominican  Republic present at this 
meeting, in particular its leader, Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung, Permanent Representative of the 
Dominican  Republic to the WTO. I also thank Ambassador María  Pagán of the United  States for 
presenting her analysis as the discussant.  
4.125.   Ecuador has taken note of the detailed information provided  by the Government of the 
Dominican  Republic on the proper application of fiscal policies, which has brought the economy 
appreciable growth, something that other delegations that have spoken before me have also 
highlighted. These same measures have made it  possible to strengthen trade, foster 
competitiveness and create favourable conditions for growth and sustainable development. We 
look forward to the continued implementation of such policies in the interests of the Dominican 
people and government.  
4.126.   Ecuador  considers the Dominican  Republic a valued strategic trading partner, not only 
because of our bilateral relationship, but because of the country's active participation in the 
multilateral trading system; for those reasons its trade policy decisions receive  particular attention 
from our authorities.  
4.127.   Ecuador recognizes the Dominican  Republic's commitment to free trade, capital mobility 
and productive integration, which are attributes of a vigorous market economy whose benefits are 
good for its society. Measur es such as the elimination of distortion in trade in agricultural products, 
the creation of an inclusive and resilient agricultural economy, the modernization and simplification 
of customs procedures and the implementation of trade practices that are more respectful of the 
environment and natural resources are important features of its trade profile.  
4.128.   While the Dominican  Republic enjoys robust trade with its counterparts within the 
framework of international regulatory commitments, we note that it maintains some trade 
practices such as the establishment of tariff quotas, the import licensing regime, various incentives 
to its industry and non -tariff regulations (technical regulations and sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures) that in certain cases affect imports  and impede effective access to the Dominican 
market. However, we are confident that the proper management of such trade practices, 
accompanied by initiatives and programmes aimed at the diversification of its economy and the 
promotion of foreign investmen t, will have a positive impact on the Dominican  Republic's 
relationship with its trading partners.  
4.129.   Trade between Ecuador and the Dominican  Republic is mutually beneficial for both parties; 
in 2021 there was a 21% increase in the non -oil trade balance, and although that figure could still 
rise in absolute terms, it demonstrates the capacity and interest in the recovery of bilateral ties, a 
key factor for economic reactivation in the wake of the crisis caused by COVID -19. Likewise, 
in 2021, foreign direct inv estment in Ecuador from the Dominican  Republic centred on various 
sectors, including manufacturing, business services, mine and quarry exports and construction, 
contributing to the creation of jobs in the Ecuadorian economy.  
4.130.   Ecuador wishes to highlight its  commitment to the Alliance for Development in 
Democracy  (ADD) created by the Dominican  Republic, Costa  Rica and Panama within the 
framework of the United  Nations General Assembly in 2021, which our country has recently joined. 
Ecuador fully agrees with th e objective of having an appropriate space for political dialogue, 
cooperation and the promotion of trade for sustainable development based on a commitment to 
democratic institutions and respect for human rights and the rule of law in order to generate 
mechanisms to promote the well -being of our nations.  
4.131.   On this occasion, my delegation would also like to highlight its interest in strengthening 
trade relations with the Dominican  Republic within the framework of the memorandum of 
understanding signed by our a uthorities in November  2020, which established a joint working 
group to drive and promote trade, investment and the productive linkage of both countries with a 
view to the future negotiation of a partial -scope trade agreement to promote mutual benefit.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.132.   Similarly, Ecuador would like to extend a cordial invitation to the Dominican  Republic to 
join the Informal Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade 
co-sponsored by Ecuador and 74 other Members of this Organization.  
4.133.   In thi s Trade Policy Review, Ecuador has submitted written questions mainly on risk 
analysis of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, incentives to industry, technical regulations 
and export licensing mechanisms. We thank the Dominican  Republic in advance for  its replies, 
which we look forward to receiving.  
4.134.   I would like to conclude this statement by wishing the Dominican  Republic a successful and 
fruitful conclusion to this  Trade Policy Review . 
URUGUAY  
4.135.   Uruguay wishes to extend a warm welcome to the delegation of the Dominican  Republic, 
led by Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung. We thank the Ambassador for his presentation on the 
occasion of the Dominican  Republic's fifth Trade Policy Review. We are also grateful to the 
Secretariat for its comprehensive rep ort and to Ambassador María  Pagán, for her demonstrative 
interpretation of the review.  
4.136.   At the bilateral level, trade between our countries remains steady, although there is much 
potential for growth, especially in the pharmaceutical, food and, more recentl y, services sectors. 
We believe that the ideal framework for these discussions is the working group generated by the 
Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Investment, the next meeting of which will take 
place in the first half of the year.  
4.137.   In order to facilitate trade, Uruguay has taken steps to obtain sanitary clearance for a 
number of animal products, such as meat and dairy items.  
4.138.   From a regional point of view, Uruguay strongly supports the rapprochement of MERCOSUR 
with the Dominican  Republic through  the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 and the 
creation, at a technical meeting in Santo  Domingo, of three working subgroups on sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures, investment promotion and the analysis of prospects for negotiating a 
MERCOSUR -Dominican  Republic agreement. This last area of work is important to address the 
still-high level of applied MFN tariffs in the agricultural sector.  
4.139.   At the multilateral level, we both agree that the WTO plays a key role in the rules -based 
multilateral trading  system. This provides us with the certainty needed to ensure that the 
agreements of this Organization remain relevant and up to the task of meeting global challenges. 
We both represent medium -sized economies in Latin  America and that makes us inseparable 
partners.  
4.140.   We have worked together on the implementation of the commitments made at the 
12th Ministerial Conference (the "Geneva Package"), on the implementation of the agreement to 
prevent subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, on agriculture, on all issues 
related to addressing the COVID -19 pandemic and on WTO reform.  
4.141.   We also commend the Dominican  Republic on its initiatives to improve export conditions 
for small and medium -sized enterprises, especially those led by women. In this country, 51% of 
such enterprises are women -led, a socio -economic feature of the economy that I am sure could 
also benefit from the work of the Informal Group on Trade and Gender.  
4.142.   The WTO is a multilateral Organization and MSMEs are a global issue. We need the voice 
and input of Members within the Informal Group on this issue in order to enhance the development 
of critical mass and good practices. In this regard, the Dominican  Republic is an enthusiastic 
member of the Group, showing its commitment to the imp lementation of the 2020 package of 
recommendations aimed at increasing the participation of small businesses in international trade 
through the work of the PROMIPYME National Council. We also appreciate the efforts to increase 
the visibility of the Trade4M SMEs platform through workshops and promotional activities. We count 
on that support to continue achieving results ahead of the next Ministerial Conference.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.143.   Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to Ambassador 
José Sánchez -Fung and his team for their hard work in coordinating positions and always taking a 
constructive approach in this Organization's different bodies.  
4.144.   We offer them our best wishes for a successful Trade Policy Review . 
MAURITIUS  
4.145.   Mauritius would like to welcome the distinguished delegation of the Dominican  Republic for 
its fifth Trade Policy Review, led by H.E.  José Sánchez -Fung, Ambassador and Permanent 
Representative.  We thank the Secretariat and the Dominican  Republic for completing the Trade 
Policy Review Reports . We also thank H .E.  Ms María Pagán, of the United  States, as discussant for 
her insightful remarks as discussant for today 's exercise.  
4.146.   At the outset, Mauritius would like to commend the Dominican  Republic for the bold 
measures undertaken to set the econo my back towards a sustainable growth path. With its 
proactive public policy responses such as the effective coordination of monetary and fiscal policies 
and the health policy package to counter economic challenges, these reforms have enabled the 
country to  return to pre -pandemic production levels in late 2021.  
4.147.   With the establishment of the National Development Strategy 2030, for spearheading 
growth in all spheres, we are only expecting  that strong perspectives will only unfold,  and we note 
that the fundame ntals are promising with employment levels equalling pre -pandemic numbers and 
the attractiveness of the Dominican  Republic for FDI flows.  
4.148.   It is noteworthy to highlight that the Dominican  Republic average a 5.6 % growth during 
the first semester of 2022, whi ch reflects the annual average of 5.1 % during the pre -pandemic 
area, namely between 2015 to 2021.  
4.149.   Mauritius and the Dominican  Republic have many similarities, mainly as SIDS, in terms of 
distance to main markets, high dependence on international trade and we are thus vulnerable to 
external shocks such as the COVID -19 pandemic and the ongoing geopolitical instability.  
4.150.   It should also be noted that both Mauritius and Dominican  Republic share a similar 
commitment to the smooth functioni ng of a rules based multilateral trading system that 
contributes to inclusive and sustainable development.  
4.151.   From the multilateral trading perspective, we welcome Dominican  Republic 's prompt 
ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement within the re view period and its 
implementation of the TFA by launching a series of trade facilitative measures such as the new 
General Customs Law No.  168-218, the initiative for the clearance of goods within 24  hours, the 
Exporta+ programme for the facilitation of ex ports and the fine -tuning of the single window for 
foreign trade (VUCE) initiative and the simplified authorised economic operator (AEO) status for 
MSMEs.  
4.152.   As small vulnerable states, the Dominican  Republic and Mauritius are exposed to climate 
change chall enges. Both countries will continue to cooperate to explore on ways of accessing funds 
for climate change adaptation. On the trade side, we also look forward for both countries can do 
more for export promotion and investment and in this regards we can work  towards establishing 
possible future trade and business linkages.  
4.153.   We wish the Dominican  Republic a successful Trade Policy Review.  
PANAM A 
4.154.   I would like to warmly congratulate the Head of Delegation, Ambassador 
José R. Sánchez -Fung, and the entire Dominica n delegation for their outstanding preparation of 
the Dominican  Republic's fifth Trade Policy Review. I would like to thank the discussant, 
Ambassador  María Pagán, for her excellent introductory remarks. My thanks also to the Secretariat 
and the Government  of the Dominican Republic for their respective Reports.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.155.   Over the last 25 years, Panama's goods exports to the Dominican  Republic have grown at 
an annual rate of 15.4%, from USD  1.99 million in 1995 to USD  71.4 million in 2020. The 
Dominican  Republic expor ted USD  31.5 million to Panama in 2020. The main commodities 
exported by Panama were packaged medicines, fabric goods and special pharmaceuticals. Panama 
generally ranked 15th among countries buying Dominican products, mainly packaged medicines, 
plastic caps, and petroleum gas.  
4.156.   Those figures aside, Panama and the Dominican  Republic are linked by very important 
historical and economic ties. We are both part of the Central Americ an Integration System (SICA), 
a sub -regional promotion forum to which we accord great importance. We recently held high -level 
meetings, including the LVI Ordinary Meeting of Heads of State and Government of SICA in 
November  2022, and the Meeting of the Cou ncil of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which took place in 
the Dominican  Republic in December  2022.  
4.157.   The Dominican  Republic also hosted, in July  2022, the Forum of Ministers in charge of 
Intellectual Property Issues of Central America and the Dominican  Repub lic, where they addressed 
matters related to intellectual property's relationship with trade, and economic and social 
development.  
4.158.   Our authorities maintain a constant dialogue on issues of importance for both countries. 
Our trade negotiators met recently t o expand the list of products that benefit from zero -tariff 
access under our Partial Scope Agreement.  
4.159.   Recent important developments on the world stage have had an impact on the 
Dominican  Republic's economic development and trade. Of particular note are th e effects of rising 
commodity prices as a consequence of the international geopolitical crisis, disruptions in value 
chains, and the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.160.   The Dominican economy has suffered significant economic losses, especially in the 
important tourism sect or. It has, however, proved resilient in the face of international shocks. The 
Dominican  financial system is stable, with solid assets, despite the global economic situation. The 
Dominican  Republic has made significant progress with regard to payment syste ms and 
cybersecurity, which has contributed to the growth of the domestic financial market and the 
development of an ecosystem of fintech companies.  
4.161.   Further evidence of its resilience has been the increase in its GDP per  capita, which rose 
from USD  7,138. 4 in 2015 to USD  8,971.9 at the end of 2021. Preliminary figures indicate that 
between January and June  2022 foreign direct investment increased by 8% (almost USD  2 billion) 
compared to the same period in 2021.  
4.162.   The Dominican  Republic's trade policy is foun ded on the creation of a new supply based on 
exports of "modern services", such as those pertaining to the creative economy, the audiovisual 
industry and telecommunications. It aims to harness cutting -edge technologies to strengthen the 
services sector.  
4.163.   We note with concern that the Dominican  Republic continues to rely heavily on imports of 
petroleum products, in particular for the generation of electricity. Its electricity sector continues to 
face challenges when it comes to investment in distribution and transmission, and setting tariffs 
that cover production costs and reduce losses.  
4.164.   At the same time, the Dominican  Republic continues the diversification of its energy mix, 
mainly towards natural gas, and is implementing its "Electricity Pact 2021 –30".  
4.165.   Before concluding, we would like to highlight the Dominican  Republic's demonstrated 
historical commitment to the WTO. In 2022, it underscored that commitment by opening a 
dedicated Mission to the WTO, which has continued its proven presence in the Organi zation. It is 
part of the G33 and the small, vulnerable economies group, and participates actively in multilateral 
negotiations and various joint initiatives.  
4.166.   We congratulate the Dominican  Republic for its active participation in the multilateral 
trading sy stem. We wish it success in its fifth  Trade Policy Review . WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  JAMAICA  
4.167.   Jamaica congratulates the Dominican  Republic on its fifth Trade Policy Review. We extend 
a warm welcome to its distinguished delegation led by H .E. José Sánchez -Fung, Ambassador and 
Permanent Representative of the Dominican  Republic to the WTO and the Conference of the 
United  Nations on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). We thank the Dominican  Republic for its 
detailed Report and extend best wishes to the delegation for a successful Review.  
4.168.   We express our appreciation to our discussant, Ambassador Mar ía Pagán of the 
United  States for her balanced overview of the Dominican  Republic 's trade policies, as well as to 
the Chair, and the Secretariat for their respective contributions to this re view process.  
4.169.   Jamaica and the Dominican  Republic continue to enjoy friendly relations, which began 
on 4 December  1964. Over the years, through high level visits and other engagements, including 
at the highest level, our Governments have sought to deepen o ur bilateral relations, expand the 
scope of the partnership and advance bilateral cooperation initiatives. Among the areas of mutual 
interest identified were trade and investment, tourism, transportation (particularly air links), 
education, and security co operation . Efforts have been ongoing at the technical level, to advance 
cooperation in these various areas.  
4.170.   Our bilateral relations have been further nurtured by our close geographic proximity, 
people -to-people contact and joint membership in regional, hem ispheric, and multilateral bodies, 
including the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Organi zation of American States (OAS), 
and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). We applaud the 
Dominican  Republic 's active engagement within these fora.  
4.171.   Under the CARICOM -DR FTA, Jamaica enjoys a mutually beneficial trade relationship with 
the Dominican  Republic. Jamaica regards the Dominican  Republic as an important export market 
for products such as beverages, plastics, paper and paper  products, articles of wood, electrical 
machinery and equipment, chemicals, apparel , and sugar. Jamaica 's key imports from the 
Dominican  Republic include articles of plastics, packaging material, cement, sauces, fruits, 
potatoes, pastries , and molasses. Ov er the period 2002 to 2021, our bilateral trade has grown 
by 21%. Jamaica and the Dominican  Republic are members of CARIFORUM and in this context, we 
have successfully partnered to crystalli ze our relationship with the European  Union across various 
areas o f governance, including the operation of the CARIFORUM -EU Economic partnership 
Agreement which regulates bilateral trade between both regions.  
4.172.   Jamaica commends the Dominican  Republic on the progress achieved since its last Trade 
Policy Review . The Dominican  Republic has remained one of the fastest growing economies in 
Latin America and the Caribbean, despite its vulnerability to natural disasters and external shocks. 
We note f rom the Government 's Report that during the period under review, 2015 -2021, the 
economy grew at an average annual rate of 5.1%. Additionally, the country improved its ranking 
on the World Economic Forum 's Global Competitiveness Index, moving from 82nd to 78th out of 141 
countries. Moreover, its strong investment climate has allowed it to remain the top destination for 
FDI in the Caribbean, and second in Central  America.  
4.173.   The onset of the COVID -19 pandemic resulted in the reversal of progress achieved in the  
country 's poverty reduction efforts, and the worsening of the current account deficit and other 
indicators in 2020. However, the Government 's diligent implementation of its public debt strategy, 
and other financial reforms greatly enhanced the country 's resilience; thereby, allowing it to 
weather the negative effects of the measures adopted to respond to the pandemic.  
4.174.   Jamaica appreciates the Government 's adoption of several socioeconomic policies to 
alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic on its citi zens and private sector. These included the 
National Vaccination Plan, the Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan, as well as support to the 
agricultural sector; all of which contributed to the easing of inflation and  stimulated economic 
activity domestically.  
4.175.   We, therefore, view positively the Government 's indications that the country has seen 
improvements in key indicators such as year -on-year GDP, which was 4.7% higher over 
pre-pandemic levels in 2021. GDP per  capita increased from US D 7,138.4 in 2015 to US D 8,971.9 WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  at the close of 2021. Jamaica is encouraged by the positive outlook for the Dominican  Republic 
growth prospects. We urge continued support of the Dominican  Republic 's efforts to implement its 
National Multi -Year Public Sector Plan 2021 -24, as well  as its open dialogue with key stakeholders 
in the implementation of other domestic reforms. Such actions augur well for the Government 's 
stated development objective to improve the standard of living of its citizens.  
4.176.   The Government of the Dominican  Repub lic has taken positive steps to promote 
macroeconomic stability, business/investor confidence and improve the competitiveness of its 
foreign trade. During the review period, it adopted cyber and information security regulations as 
well as strengthened its responsible agency 's capacity to undertake preventative measures to 
respond to cybersecurity threats. This domain is fast becoming an important one for the global 
community; as such, we commend the Government 's proactive approach to ensuring that its 
financial and other related sectors are adequately equipped to alleviate potential risks. This is an 
area in which Jamaica remains seized, and best practices could be exchanged, even within other 
fora. 
4.177.   Jamaica appreciates the efforts of the Dominican  Republic to consolidate its trade 
facilitation commitments, through the promotion of several regulatory initiatives such as the 
General Customs Law No.  168-21 and the introduction of the single window for foreign trade. It 
also introduced Exporta+, as a me chanism geared at transforming the Dominican  Republic into a 
logistics hub for the entire region.  
4.178.   The Dominican  Republic also has sought to strengthen its intellectual property rights 
regime through the creation of the Intellectual Property Unit in the Of fice of the Attorney General. 
This addition has already led to an uptick in number of criminal intellectual property cases. This is 
another area in which best practices could be exchanged, even within the WIPO, and with 
development partners.  
4.179.   We welcome th e Government 's commitment to contributing positively to strengthening the 
multilateral trade system, with the WTO at its centre. In this respect, Jamaica applauds the active 
and constructive engagement of the delegation of the Dominican  Republic led by Amb assador 
Sánchez -Fung. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Dominican  Republic on 
issues of mutual interest such as WTO reform, and the implementation of the outcomes of MC12.  
4.180.   We note that Members have raised questions regarding changes in the Government 's 
procurement procedures, measures directly affecting imports such as its import licensing regime, 
and implementation of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies to name a few. Jamaica looks forward 
to the exchange with the Dominican  Republic  in this regard.  
4.181.   To close, Jamaica reiterates its best wishes to the team for a successful fifth Trade Policy 
Review.  
COSTA  RICA  
4.182.   On behalf of the Government of Costa  Rica, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the 
delegation of the Dominican  Republic, headed by Ambassador Sánchez -Fung, as well as to the 
team of the Permanent Mission to the WTO, and to the authorities in Santo  Domingo. We are 
grateful for their valuable report and presentation this morning. I would also like to thank the 
discussant, Amba ssador María  Pagán, for her valuable remarks, and the WTO Secretariat for its 
report and for its work, which has been as valuable as ever.  
4.183.   The Dominican  Republic is a key trading partner for Costa  Rica. It is a relationship that has 
been strengthened thank s to the Dominican  Republic -Central America Free Trade Agreement and 
the benefits and commitments of the DR -CAFTA. It comes as no surprise that over the last decade, 
bilateral trade has grown at an average rate of 2.8%, which has positioned the Dominican m arket 
as the main destination for Costa  Rican exports in the Caribbean islands.  
4.184.   The ties between Costa  Rica and the Dominican  Republic have been further strengthened 
by the creation of the Alliance for Development in Democracy, a partnership between Costa  Rica, 
Ecuador, the Dominican  Republic and Panama that offers a model of cooperative innovation among 
like-minded democratic countries to improve the lives of their own citizens and of those WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  throughout the region by strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law and promoting 
economic prosperity.  
4.185.   International cooperation is one of the pillars of th e alliance and through it the members 
have advanced a robust economic and trade agenda. It is in this spirit of support for international 
cooperation and multilateralism that Costa  Rica is confident that, in the case brought under the 
WTO dispute settlemen t mechanism on anti -dumping measures imposed by the 
Dominican  Republic on corrugated steel bars, the Panel's rulings will be implemented when the 
time comes and that there will be no appeal "into the void".  
4.186.   Costa  Rica and the Dominican  Republic are working  increasingly closely in the multilateral 
framework, having co -sponsored the successful Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration for MC12, 
as well as the Statement on the Reform of the Multilateral Rules on Agricultural Trade also 
released at the last Minist erial Conference. We look forward to continuing to make progress 
together on these issues of common interest. We would also like to take this opportunity to invite 
the Dominican Republic to join other activities at the WTO, such as the Joint initiative on Services 
Domestic Regulation and the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions 
(TESSD).  
4.187.   We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Dominican  Republic during the period 
covered by this review to sustain growth rates close to its po tential, successfully recover from the 
effects of the pandemic and remain on the path of fiscal consolidation. The country's success as an 
international tourism destination and as a recipient of foreign direct investment in the Caribbean is 
also notable.  
4.188.   The Secretariat's Report also highlights the importance of international remittances, which 
amounted to 11% of GDP in 2021; and of the country's free trade zones, which account for 60% of 
total manufacturing exports. Both are important generators of foreig n exchange and employment 
in the country, although they are not without vulnerabilities.  
4.189.   Along these lines, we are also positively struck by the National Export Strategy for Modern 
Services, which pursues diversification into modern services such as the creative economy and 
information technology; and trade facilitation measures, including the enhancement of the 
single  window for foreign trade. We congratulate the Dominican  Republic on the progress made in 
both areas.  
4.190.   Although Costa  Rica did not submi t any questions in this review, we will follow with interest 
the implementation of the Dominican  Republic's policies on trade protection, trade facilitation, 
tourism promotion and renewable energy.  
4.191.   Finally, I would like to wish the Dominican  Republic grea t success in this Trade Policy 
Review . 
FIJI 
4.192.   Fiji welcomes the delegation of the Dominican  Republic to its fifth Trade Policy Review, ably 
led by H .E. Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung, and wishes to thank the delegation for their Report. 
We also commend the Sec retariat for its comprehensive Report and are grateful for the insightful 
remarks of th e discussant H .E. Ambassador Mar ía Pagán of the United  States.  
4.193.   As a middle -income country like the Dominican  Republic, Fiji shares much in common with 
them and are taking note also of some of the positive actions they have taken, which are 
instructive in our national context.  
4.194.   We commend the Dominican  Republic 's progressive economic growth, particularly in the 
strong economic resurgence from the COVID -19 pandemic, driven largely by their innovative 
policies that steered them through the economic shock of the health crisis.  
4.195.   We are encouraged by the Dominican  Republic 's trade policy objective geared towards 
export promotion through targeted export strategies from traditional export products to 
innovative, high quality and value -added products. We particularly take note of their streamlined WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  and flexible mechanisms such as accessing credit facilities and simplified cu stoms procedures that 
create a viable environment for business communities such as MSMEs to contribute to the value 
chain. The integration of women 's economic empowerment and leadership in trade is also noted 
and applauded.  
4.196.   The strategic geographical adva ntage enjoyed by the Dominican  Republic as a contributor 
to their economic progress is something Fiji understands and shares in common albeit in a 
different region. Coupled with sound economic policies and political leadership as presented by the 
Dominican  Republic delegation, they have recovered efficiently from the global public health crisis 
of the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.197.   Fiji commends the Dominican  Republic for their respect for the environment and natural 
resources in their development. We note that their economy has done well in its 
telecommunication sector with practically the entire population accessing the 4G technology with 
two thirds mobile broadband. This obviously provides opportunity to enhance e -commerce trade 
thus benefiting rural communities.  
4.198.   In view of the Dominican  Republic 's reliance on the service sector such as tourism which 
accounted for 56.1% of its GDP in 2021, and having weathered the storm of global shutdown to 
the travel and tourism sectors at the height of the COVID -19 pandemic, Fiji would be interested to 
learn further from some of the Dominican  Republic 's economic policies going forward that would 
help cushion future public health crises where the fragile services sector such as tourism would be 
affected.  
4.199.   In closing, Fiji wishes the delegation of the Dominican  Republic every success in its fifth 
Review.  
INDIA  
4.200.   At the outset, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic led by H.E.  José Sánchez -Fung, Ambassador  and Permanent Representative of 
the Dominican  Republic to the WTO. India is pleased to be a part of the fifth Trade Policy Review of 
the Dominican  Republic today. My delegation would further, like to commend the Government of 
the Dominican  Republic and the WT O Secretariat for their comprehensive Reports for the Review 
and would also thank the discussant Ambassador H.E.  María Pagán for her insightful remarks.  
4.201.   India and the Dominican  Republic enjoy warm and cordial relationship which was further 
strengthened by the opening of the Indian Mission in Sant o Domingo last year. Technical 
assistance and capacity building remain a strong pillar of bilateral cooperation and India is 
partnering in the human resource development efforts in the Dominican  Republic through its  ITEC 
and ICCR scholarships and other training programmes including that of diplomatic personnel and 
consular officials. From time to time, India has been assisting the Dominican  Republic through 
supply of made in India medical supplies, including during t he COVID -19 pandemic. Under the 
Vaccine Maitri Initiative, India supplied 140,000  doses of vaccines for the vaccination drive against 
the COVID -19 pandemic.  
4.202.   Bilateral trade between India and the Dominican  Republic has increased significantly in the 
last fe w years. Two -way trade increased to US D 959 million during the year 2021 -22; 106% more 
than the trade of the previous year. Main items of India 's exports include engineering goods ; drugs 
and pharmaceuticals ; automobiles ; marine products ; cotton yarn and fabrics ; plastic and linoleum ; 
tobacco ; and chemicals. Gold accounts for 90% of the Dominican  Republic 's exports to India.  
4.203.   As noted in the Secretariat Report, we are pleased that the Dominican economy has 
recovered quickly from the negative  impact of the COVID -19 pandemic with growth of 12.3% 
in 2021 and an upward trend in the first quarter of 2022. This is consistent with the strong growth 
witnessed prior to the pandemic, i.e., between 2014 and 2019, when the average annual GDP 
growth rate reached 6.2%, exceeding the historical average. We appreciate the changes in policies 
concerning customs regime made during the review period aimed at modernizing and simplifying 
customs regimes and procedures, we also take note of changes made to the gove rnment 
procurement as well as competition law regimes.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.204.   We are committed to unleashing the full potential of our bilateral trade, investment,  and 
development partnership for the benefit of our two peoples. We are also pleased with the close 
collaboration w ith the Dominican  Republic in the multilateral fora and appreciate its support to 
India in its work across that domain, including its active participation in International Solar 
Alliance, as one of its first members. We look forward to working closely with  the 
Dominican  Republic on mutually beneficial issues across the WTO agenda. We wish the delegation 
of the Dominican  Republic a productive and successful Trade Policy Review.  
PARAGUAY  
4.205.   The Republic of Paraguay would like to extend warm greetings to the dele gation of the 
Dominican Republic headed by Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung. We would also like to thank you, 
Madam Chair, for conducting this review, and the discussant and the Secretariat for the 
comprehensive Report.  
4.206.   In the period covered by this review the Dominican  Republic has sustained significant 
growth and although t he COVID -19 pandemic affected its economy, just as it did to all, it gives us 
satisfaction to see that the country has managed to recover quickly, as shown by its strong 
rebound in growth in 2021 and the continuing trend.  
4.207.   The Dominican  Republic and Paragua y share not only a common region but also an interest 
in securing and strengthening multilateral trade rules given the importance of trade for our 
economies.  
4.208.   Our countries trade in a range of goods, but there is still great potential for expansion, and 
we reiterate our interest in advancing talks with a view to reaching a trade agreement to expand 
our trade bilaterally and with MERCOSUR.  
4.209.   On behalf of my country, I reiterate my congratulations to those responsible for conducting 
this review and to the deleg ates of the Permanent Mission of the Dominican  Republic . 
HONDURAS  
4.210.   Our country warmly welcomes the entire team from the Dominican  Republic, led by its 
distinguished Head of Delegation, Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung, Permanent Representative of 
the Dominican  Republic to the World Trade Organization and the United  Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development, and thanks them for their statement and report.  
4.211.   We extend our thanks to you, Chair, for your leadership and guidance; to the discussant 
Ambassador  Pagán fo r her valuable contribution; and to the WTO Secretariat for the excellent 
work carried out.  
4.212.   In terms of the Reports examined, we are pleased to note that during the period under 
review, the Dominican  Republic recorded average annual GDP growth of 5.1%, in line with its 
potential, and that in the first six months of 2022, it averaged year -on-year growth of 5.6%, 
driven mainly by the recovery in tourism and the buoyancy of sectors such as construction, t rade, 
transportation, farming, health, and manufacturing in free zones . 
4.213.   The Dominican  Republic has been one of the fastest growing economies in Latin  America 
and this growth has been reflected in a stabilization of the open unemployment rate, improved 
quality of life and a significant reduction in poverty indicators.  
4.214.   At the same time, we note that, during the period under review, the Dominican  Republic 
made significant progress as regards payment systems and cybersecurity, which contributed to the 
growth of  the domestic financial market and the development of an ecosystem of fintech 
companies.  
4.215.   We cannot fail to mention the participation of the Central  Bank of the Dominican  Republic 
as manager of a cross -border payment system called the Central American Interconnected 
Payment System, which is linked to the settlement systems of the central banks of the member 
States of the Central American Monetary Council (CMCA), which includes our country.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.216.   This has enabled the settlement in real time of low -cost, secure and efficient intra -regional 
payments and has contributed to the consolidation of regional operations on a single service 
platform, strengthening the regional financial integration of the member countries.  
4.217.   We also note the efforts made by the Dom inican  Republic to adopt changes in trade 
protection policy, including the introduction of provisions for sunset and changed circumstances 
reviews and a procedure for determining whether circumvention practices are taking place.  
4.218.   We are pleased to learn fro m the Reports that renewable energy sources doubled their 
contribution to electricity generation between 2015 and 2021.  
4.219.   We note that tourism is the main service export, with revenues averaging 8.7% of GDP 
between 2015 and 2019 and those revenues increasing  by 112.6% year -on-year in 2021.  
4.220.   Turning to maritime transport, we should highlight the efforts made by the 
Dominican  Republic to carry out infrastructure projects in a bid to attract new flows of cruise ship 
visitors and to position itself as a platform f or maritime trade.  
4.221.   Notably, in its foreign trade strategy, the Dominican  Republic promotes women's export 
culture as an important tool to increase exports and turn women into drivers of growth and 
poverty reduction.  
4.222.   Relations between our sister countries w ere formalized in 1924 and have consolidated over 
time, enabling us to establish cooperation and integration mechanisms in a variety of areas.  
4.223.   Our trade relationship, which continues to be governed by two coexisting trade 
agreements, has enabled us to exp and, deepen and diversify our trade and, in 2021, to export 
around USD  45 million in preparations of cereals, flour, foundry products, tobacco and coffee, and 
to import around USD  17 million in pharmaceuticals, milling industry products, miscellaneous 
edible preparations, and plastics and articles thereof.  
4.224.   Net FDI flows from the Caribbean amounted to USD  21 million, mainly from Bermuda, the 
Dominican  Republic and the British Virgin Islands, among others.  
4.225.   Honduras hopes to continue working and collaborating with our Dominican brothers and 
sisters to take advantage of our trade agreements, while deepening and modernizing the regional 
integration process and protecting a transparent, fair and open multilateral system.  
4.226.   Lastly, our country welcomes this new oppor tunity to share and examine the trade policies 
and practices of the Dominican Republic, and we wish the country every success in the 
presentation of its fifth Trade Policy Review . 
KENYA ON BEHALF OF THE ACP GROUP  
4.227.   I deliver this  statement on behalf of the ACP Group. I wish to extend a warm welcome to 
the delegation of the Dominican  Republic  led by  Ambassador José Sánchez -Fung, Permanent 
Representative of the Dominican  Republic to the WTO  and UNCTAD  to its fifth Trade Policy Review . 
4.228.   The Dominican  Republic has shown immense  commitment and determination to improve 
its economic landscape, the Dominican  Republic  record ed average year-on-year growth of 5.6 % 
during the first six  months of 2022, the positive trend in the economic activity during this peri od 
was driven by the recovery in tourism and the buoya ncy of some sectors . With regard to 
employment, the total employment in  January to March  2022 was similar to its level  in the same 
quarter of 2019 prior to the pandemic, with record figures for the free  zone sector in June  2022 
and 100% recovery of employment in the t ourism sector.  
4.229.   The A CP Group notes that between 2015 and 2021 the Dominican  Republic saw GDP 
growth at an average annual rate of 5.1% . This steady growth  reflects the positive impacts of the  
efficient coordination of monetary and fiscal policies , which has made it possible to strengthen 
macroeconomic fundamentals . Despite the pandemic, the diversification of the production 
structure and implementation of reforms h elped  to sustain the growth that was observed between WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  2015 and 2019 and contributed to rapid economic recovery in 2021, following the crisis caused by 
the spread of COVID -19.  
4.230.   The Dominican  Republic's economic external sector have continued to perform well , with 
the total exports during the first half of 2022, standing at 16.5%, higher than during the same 
period of the previous year, imports of goods and services also saw it  by 40.6% compared 
to 2020, a trend that reflects an  improvement in domestic demand for foreign goods and services . 
There is also significant reduction in poverty indicators and concomitant  expansion of the middle 
class, reflecting the improved quality of life of the citizenry . Stability aide d by t he correct monetary 
policy management of the Central  Bank of the Dominican  Republic, has kept expectations of 
economic agents , anchored, and facilitate d the private sector's investment and consumption 
decisions, laying  the foundation for s ustainable growth.  
4.231.   The A CP Group  also commends the Dominican  Republic for focusing on implementing 
policies and program mes that are aligned with the strategic pillars of the agricultural  sector . The 
Dominican  Republic 's Ministry of Agriculture l aunched a comprehensive program me to mitiga te the 
effects of raising prices of commodities and crude oil that have affected the international market 
pushing up , in turn, production and transport costs . The  program me also covers the repair and 
improvement of roads connecting f arms in 28 communities,  drilling of two wells  to supply water to 
the necessary areas and the delivery of input such as seeds and seedlings  to farmers . 
4.232.   Also noteworthy , the General Customs Law No. 168-21 was designed to be a modern and 
efficient legal instrument that conforms to international rules and standards in line with the reality 
of national legislation . This law incorporates international commitments such as environmental 
agreements and the trade facilitation agreement, the practice of non-intrusive and non -invasive 
inspections and the use of information technology and e -payment through banks , it lists the 
customs procedures and regi mes in a clear and o rder manner, institutes advance declarations and 
advanced rulings and brings together  all the customs regimes, it also allows for the transmission of 
documentation prior to the arrival  of means of transport and establishes facilitation measures such 
as the single window for foreign trade, which allows for all information from import ers and 
exporters by the  particip ating agencies to be submitted electronically.  
4.233.   The A CP Group wishes to commend the Government of the Dominican  Republic for the 
establishment  of the National Development Strategy 2030 as a main tool for coordinating its goals 
and lines of action to achieve  development  in the framework of a participatory democracy that 
guarantees the social and democratic rule of law and promote s equity, equal opportunities , and 
social justice among other important issues . 
4.234.   The ACP Group  notes that the country has a number of  political , economic, social , and 
legal advantages that combin e with its natural potential have enabled it to establish itself as a top  
destination  for FDI in the Caribbean and the second in Central  America . The ACP Group also wishes 
to commend ProDominicana, which has  started to work , to create, to maintain , and to expand 
digital ecosystem with tools focused on trade intelligence, capacity building , and facilitating 
business links over the past three years . Going forw ard, the g rowth prospects for the 
Dominican  Republic 's economy  remain good . 
4.235.   To conclude, the ACP Group underlines the Dominican  Republic 's commitment to continue 
making a positive contribution to the multilateral trading system by actively participating in the 
Organization's  various bodies and the negotiating processes, and other coalitions such as the 
ACP Group.  
BRAZIL  
4.236.   Brazil would like to welcome the delegation from the Dominican  Republic, headed by 
H.E. Ambassador José  Sanchéz -Fung. Brazil congratulates the Government of the 
Dominican  Republic for engaging its fifth  Trade Policy Review.  We thank the Government for 
providing Members with an overview of the country's economic performance, trade policies , and 
adherence  to the multilateral tr ading system. We also would like to express our appreciation to the 
WTO Secretariat for its comprehensi ve Report , as well as for you, Chair, and the discussant , 
Ambassador Mar ía Pagán , for your contribution to a successful trade monitor ing exercise . WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  4.237.   Brazil attaches great importance to Trade Policy Reviews in the understanding that they 
contribute to enhance  transparency and predictability for trade stakeholders . In the current 
context of a multiple crisis, the COVID -19 pandemic , climate change , international conflicts, 
information is one of the most important tools that WTO Members have at their disposal to 
cooperate and coordinate  in order to find a resilient path to growth and sustainable development . 
4.238.   Brazil and the Dominican  Republic coincide in values and in interests such as strengthening 
of regional integration, economic development , and fight against s ocial inequality. In this regard, 
we commend the Dominican  Republic for adopting a set of fiscal and monetary policies that ha ve 
allowed the country's economy to rebound from the COVID -19 impact and resume  its growth 
trajectory in 2021 and 2022 converging towards its potential GDP performance.  
4.239.   We would also like to take note of the current profile of the Dominican  Republic 
merchandise exports in which manufacture goods  account for the majority of the countr y's 
exports. At the same time, Brazil also sees the  Dominican  Republic strategy for the future as an 
example to be followed, focusing on exports of innovative and high -quality goods and services. 
The addition of "value on exp orts" is a common challenge for all Latin  American countries.  
4.240.   Moving on to WTO issues , Brazil notes with satisfaction  the enactment of new Customs Law  
aimed at  modern ize and simplify c ustoms  regimes and procedures and the adoption of the 
handbook of good technical regulation practice to ensure the transparency of its  domestic 
procedures, those initiatives are testimony to the countr y's adherence to the multilateral trading 
system , Since the former meant to implement the Trade Facilitation Agreement  and the latter  is 
based on the WTO  TBT code of good practice.  
4.241.   Brazil attaches great importance to agriculture in the multilateral trading system  and 
appreciate s the Dominican  Republic's support to the elimination of distortions in trade in 
agricultural products and the creation of an inclusive and resilient agriculture econ omy. Brazil 
regrets, however, that out of  the Dominican  Republic tariff peaks , including  tariffs ranging for 40% 
to 99%, are for agriculture products . We call  the Dominican  Republic to deepen internal reforms in 
favour  of agricultural liberalization . 
4.242.   Regarding our bilateral  relations, it is worth noting that trade flows between Brazil and the 
Dominican  Republic have almost returned to pre -pandemic levels  and that Brazil's investments in 
the country contribute to the cre ation of thousands  of jobs, with the potential to improve such 
figures, especially due to the signing during the review period of a Memorandum of Understanding 
of Cooperation and Trade Investments . Another bilateral arrangement that was signed since the 
Dominican Republic 's last TPR, is the Agreement on Tourism and Business Visa Exemption , 
consider ing that tourism still makes a vital contribution to the Dominican economy, such an 
agreement  represents more than a simple reduction of paperwork and red tape.  
4.243.   Brazil wishes the delegation of the Dominican  Republic a successful conclusion of its 
fifth Trade Policy Review . 
JAPAN  
4.244.   Japan welcomes the distinguished delegation of the Dominican  Republic, headed by 
Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung. Japan also expresses its a ppreciation to the Government of the 
Dominican  Republic and to the WTO Secretariat for their respective Reports produced for this 
review, as well as to the discussant, H.E.  Ms María Pagán, Ambassador of the United  States for her 
insightful illustrations.  
4.245.   The Dominican  Republic and Japan share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, 
human rights, and the rule of law, and have developed friendly and cooperative relations over the 
years. We also recognize that Japanese emigrants and the Japanese commun ity have served as a 
bridge between our two countries.  
4.246.   Starting with a general observation, Japan acknowledges that the Dominican  Republic has 
achieved economic growth and higher employment levels by maintaining an open market. We are 
aware that the stabil ity and efficiency of the business environment is highly appreciated, especially WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  within the free trade zone, which accounts for 60% of the export share, with well -developed 
facilities and duty -free measures.  
4.247.   According to the Secretariat's Report, the Domin ican Republic experienced a sharp decline 
in trade in services, particularly tourism, due to the impact of COVID -19, but the economy has 
since reversed its downward trend and increased to levels above pre -pandemic levels, and we 
expect the recovery to be e ven stronger in the future.  
4.248.   Taking this opportunity, I would like to touch upon several specific issues on trade policies 
of the Dominican  Republic.  
4.249.   First, regarding our economic relationship, we recognize that the CAFTA -DR is an ideal 
platform for Japanese companies that manufacture products for the North  American market to 
expand their global operations. In addition, Japanese companies operating in the 
Dominican  Republic 's free zones have also appreciated the speedy and appropriate customs 
clearanc e procedures. Japan hopes to deepen its economic relationship with the 
Dominican  Republic as an important trading partner in the future.  
4.250.   Next, regarding engagement in the WTO, Japan believes that promoting and encouraging 
Member States' participation in ne gotiations is important for improving the WTO 's rules negotiation 
function, and supports the Dominican  Republic 's participation in the JSI discussions on MSMEs and 
IFDs. Japan encourages the Dominican Republic to participate in the JSI e  commerce as well.   
4.251.   In addition, as pointed out in the Secretariat 's Report, we recognize that various WTO 
notifications have been undertaken since the last Review, and we hope to further see a positive 
attitude toward transparency. We look forward to the Dominican  Republic 's continued efforts as a 
partner in maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.  
4.252.   With respect to regional trade agreements, Japan is aware that the Dominican  Republic has 
established free trade agreements with the  European  Union, the United  States and 
Central  American and Caribbean countries, such as CAFTA -DR, CARIFORUM -EUEPA, and 
CARIFORUM -UKEPA, through which the market is open to about 1  billion people. We hope that 
these RTAs will be well implemented and that t hey will complement the multilateral trading 
system.  
4.253.   In closing, we wish the delegation of the Dominican  Republic a successful Trade Policy 
Review.  
PERU 
4.254.   Peru presents its compliments to His  Excellency Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung and his 
delegation, and wishes to associate itself with the appreciation expressed by other delegations for 
the report presented on the Dominican  Republic's macroeconomic performance and trade policy 
regime on the occasion of its fifth Trade Policy Review. We are also grateful to the Secretariat for 
its Report to Members, and to Ambassador María  Pagán for her apposite and precise comments as 
discussant.  
4.255.   Echoing the sentiments expressed by other Members, our delegation appreciates the 
Dominican  Republic's notable ec onomic growth in the period under review, overcoming as it has 
the adverse impacts that we all suffered as a result of the COVID -19 pandemic. This growth was 
based on the strength of its services sector and the expansion of other sectors such as 
constructi on and local manufacturing.  
4.256.   Also noteworthy is the deployment of new measures to modernize and simplify customs 
regimes and procedures through a new Customs Law, which, once fully implemented, will 
harmonize Dominican domestic legislation with the interna tional commitments the country has 
undertaken multilaterally and bilaterally over the past three decades.  
4.257.   In terms of our bilateral trade relations, the Dominican  Republic is our top trading partner 
in the Caribbean, and our bilateral trade set a record in 2021, amounting to USD  136 million as a 
result of the increase in Peru's exports, which had declined during the previous three years. WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  However, we believe that there are still mutual trade opportunities in both the agricultural and 
services sector s that we are confident both nations will be able to harness.  
4.258.   Turning to the multilateral system, I would like to commend the Dominican  Republic on its 
active role and efforts in this forum and to express sincere appreciation for the fact that this 
review  has served as a framework for it to renew its commitment to the stability and solidity of the 
multilateral trading system.  
4.259.   Having made these remarks, it only remains for me to thank the delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic for this exercise, and to wish i t a successful Trade Policy Review . 
BARBADOS ON BEHALF OF THE CARICOM GROUP1 
4.260.   This statement is made on behalf of the CARICOM  Group. We also align with the statement 
by Kenya on behalf of the ACP  Group.  
4.261.   We congratulate the Dominican  Republic on its fifth Trade Policy Review and commend 
Ambassador S ánchez -Fung and his team for the quality of their Report. We express our 
appreciation to the discussant, H.  E. Ms María Pagán (United  States), for her interesting analysis 
and observations. We thank the Secretariat for their usual thorough preparations of this trade 
policy review.  
4.262.   CARICOM and the Dominican  Republic are long standing partners having signed the 
CARICOM -Dominican  Republic Free Trade Agreement that entered into force in 2001. CARICOM 
and the Dominican  Republic also partnered as CARIFORUM to negotiate comprehensive economic 
partnership agreements  with the European  Union and the United  Kingdom to regulate inter 
regional trade. We have a long history of collaboration around trade.  
4.263.   We commend the Dominican  Republic for its economic resilience and proactive policy 
response aimed at returning its economy to its pre -pandemic days.  
4.264.   The small vulnerable economies in the region all share similar economic structures and 
vulnerabilities, and the pandemic a rrested our growth trajectories and forced us to take immediate 
policy action to get into the path of recovery.  
4.265.   We commend the Dominican  Republic for the efforts it has made including the through the 
establishment and recommitment to its National Developme nt Strategy . 
4.266.   The CARICOM Group recognizes the importance of the agriculture sector to the economy as 
it serves as the major source of employment especially in rural communities. We recogni ze the 
efforts made to strengthen this sector by implementing progra mmes which seek to modernize and 
develop the sector as a competitive and profitable market for producers.  
4.267.   In closing, the CARICOM  Group wishes the delegation of the Dominican  Republic continued 
success. We partner in the region  and we partner here at the m ultilateral level and we will 
continue to support each other 's developmental goals.  
BARBAD OS 
4.268.   We know the impact that the pandemic had on the economy of the Dominican  Republic . 
We know it because we felt it as well. From a 6 % annual GDP growth between 2014 and 2019, to 
its first recession in nearly 17  years, the D ominican  Republic , like all of us in the Caribbean region, 
was suddenly faced with economic contraction, decline in central government tax revenues and 
inflation driv en by higher prices for imported inputs, fuels, and food.  But we are nothing is not 
resilient in our region. Hence , we welcome that through Government 's imposition of measured 
expansionary monetary policy; fiscal support and an increase in public spending on social 
protection programmes aimed at sustaining private sector recovery, the country 's economy 
recovered quickly: recording GDP growth of 12.3 % in 2021. Barbados knows what it takes as a 
 
1 The following statements were delivered during the second day of the meeting.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  small, vulnerable economy to do this: courage, strong economic fu ndamentals and placing the 
needs of your people at the fore.  
4.269.   The Dominican  Republic has a plan. And that plan is to continue to use trade policy as a 
tool for diversification including into new value -added  export products, such as those related to the 
creative economy, the audio -visual  industry, telecommunications , and information technology. 
There is much other small vulnerable economies can learn from the D ominican  Republic  as it 
embraces this new growth trajectory.  
4.270.   Barbados is a signatory to a reciprocal  trade agreement between CARICOM and the 
Dominican  Republic. While Barbados ' exports to the Dominican  Republic have fluctuated over the 
period since its last Trade Policy Review , the trade relationship has been characterized by annual 
trade deficits in fav our of the Dominican  Republic. We continue to be concerned about the uneven 
application of Law 173 and look forward to continuing discussions on this.  
4.271.   At the multilateral level, your commitment to the multilateral trading system and its 
principles is unden iable. Barbados looks forward to working with Ambassador Sánchez -Fung and 
his team as we pursue our shared objectives.  
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  
4.272.   My delegation aligns with the CARICOM and ACP  Group statements.  
4.273.   Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to participate in the fifth Trade Policy Review of the 
Dominican  Republic. We join others in welcoming to Geneva the capital -based members of the 
delegation and in commending the Head of Delegation, Ambassador José  Sánchez -Fung. Kudos to 
you, Ambassador, on your astute leadership both during the course of this review and, broadly 
speaking, of your diligent team here in Geneva. My delegation also wishes to acknowledge and 
commend the establishment of the Dominican  Republic 's dedicated WTO Mission in April  2022 and 
to applaud the Dominican  Republic for its valuable contributions, both at the WTO and in wider 
international Geneva.  
4.274.   Thank you as well to the discussant, Ambassador María  Pagán, for highlighting key 
developments relati ng to the economic and trade policy measures of the Dominican  Republic since 
the last Review and for highlighting key themes emerging from the questions posed by Members.  
4.275.   Madam e Chair, we also thank you for stepping in to chair this meeting, and we thank t he 
Secretariat and the Government of the Dominican  Republic for the preparation of their respective 
Reports ahead of this review.  
4.276.   We join others in recogni zing the enviable outcomes to the policy approaches adopted by 
the Dominican  Republic in the context  of the COVID -19 pandemic, including the notable increase in 
GDP by 12.3% between 2020 and 2021. The Dominican  Republic has demonstrated economic 
resilience despite the vulnerability to exogenous shocks typically associated with small island 
developing states (SIDS)  and, in this regard, the people -centric approach and poverty prevention 
efforts highlighted by Ambassador  Pagán are worthy of note. In fact, there are valuable lessons 
that other SIDS could draw from the Dominican  Republic 's approach to trade po licy, both in the 
context of the COVID -19 pandemic and in the current context of the multidimensional, intersecting 
global crises relating to conflict, food insecurity and climate, among other elements. It is 
commendable that a prudent mix of fiscal and mo netary measures have yielded sustained 
economic growth and that the Dominican  Republic has remained open to international trade in 
goods and services, in recognition of the critical role of trade as a driver of economic growth and 
sustainable development. In this regard, we commend the Dominican  Republic on its commitment 
to the rules -based multilateral trading system and to the WTO. We also recogni ze progress 
achieved regarding customs -related domestic legislation and implementation of the Trade 
Facilitati on Agreement.  
4.277.   Bilateral ties between Trinidad  and Tobago and the Dominican  Republic remain strong and 
our trade relations, in particular, are robust. In 2021, for example, Trinidad  and Tobago 's exports 
to the Dominican  Republic were valued at USD  78.5 million and included Liquefied Natural Gas, 
urea, glass bottles and cereals. Imports from the Dominican  Republic to Trinidad  and Tobago for WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  the same period were valued at roughly half of the figure for exports, at USD  38.9 million. These 
imports included g ypsum, soft drinks, plastic items , and bananas. Officials from both countries 
continue to explore ways in which to boost trade, increase investment and strengthen cooperation, 
including as they relate to the shared imperative for economic and export divers ification. In fact, 
Trinidad  and Tobago has benefited from bilateral discussions on the Dominican  Republic 's Free 
Trade Zone in efforts relating to the establishment of a Special Economic Zones authority in 
Trinidad  and Tobago. It is understood that both c ountries have expressed keenness with respect to 
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Promotion of Trade, Investment and 
Productive Chains as part of a broader effort to enhance our trading relationship.  
4.278.   The CARICOM -Dominican  Republic Free Trade Agreement provides an important framework 
and platform for trade between Trinidad  and Tobago, CARICOM and the Dominican  Republic, and 
the CARIFORUM -EU and CARIFORUM -UK Economic Partnership Agreements have served as 
invaluable contexts for the strengt hening of regional ties, trade and cooperation.  
4.279.   Here in international Geneva, the Dominican  Republic and Trinidad  and Tobago collaborate 
closely and often on a number of key issues of interest for our countries. As small island 
developing states, we conti nue to work side by side, codo a codo, to secure and advance the 
interests of our small and vulnerable economies (SVEs), for example at UNCTAD, WIPO and the 
Human Rights Council. At the WTO in particular, our shared membership of GRULAC, the SVE 
Group and ACP Group have facilitated joint advocacy and defence of our interests on a range of 
issues, including fisheries subsidies, agriculture, trade and natural disasters and electronic 
commerce. Both delegations share a keen interest in advancing development -related 
considerations at the WTO and the delegation of the Dominican  Republic can rest assured of the 
support of Trinidad  and Tobago for its leadership efforts and aspirations in this regard.  
4.280.   Finally,  notwithstanding the economic resilience and prowess demonstrated by the 
Dominican  Republic, and in highlighting once again the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by 
SVEs, I take this opportunity to reference the 2015 Nairobi Ministerial Decision regarding 
substantially and meaningfully addressing the needs of SVEs in every area of WTO work. I also 
wish to reiterate perspectives outlined in this house on problematic categori zation that impedes 
access to TACB for SVEs and SIDS like the Dominican  Republic and Trinidad  and Tobago.  
4.281.   In closing, Trinidad  and Tobago commends the Dominican  Republic once again on its 
achievements since its last Review and congratulates the delegation i n advance on the completion 
of a successful TPR.  
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  5  REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMI NICAN  REPUBLIC  AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS  
5.1.  Distinguished Ambassador Athaliah  Lesiba  Molokomme, Permanent Representative of 
Botswana to the WTO and acting Chair of the W TO Trade Policy Review Body; esteemed 
Ambassador María  Pagán, Permanent Representative of the United  States of America to the WTO; 
colleagues from Member States and the WTO Secretariat; members of the delegation and 
Permanent Mission of the Dominican  Repub lic. 
5.2.  Well-functioning trade depends on cooperation between economies around the world. 
However, meeting the requirements for that to happen is costly, especially for developing 
countries.  
5.3.  The preparatory work for the fifth Trade Policy Review of the Domini can Republic started in 
January  2021, and involved a great deal of effort and dedication by everyone concerned. Just a 
few hours ago, on behalf of the Government of the Dominican  Republic, I expressed our 
satisfaction in being here to present this review —a fundamental instrument for the transparency of 
the multilateral trading system —and thus in meeting one of the basic commitments undertaken by 
all WTO Members.  
5.4.  I reiterate how pleased we are —now doubly so because of the warm welcome we have 
receive d from all of you —and the sense of satisfaction of a duty fulfilled. We appreciate your 
statements and have paid special attention to all of your comments and questions, both those in 
writing and those raised at the last session.  
5.5.  I would also like once aga in to express our deep appreciation to Ambassador  Molokomme, 
Ambassador  Pagán, and our colleagues in the WTO Secretariat for their valuable contributions and 
support in this fifth Trade Policy Review of the Dominican  Republic.  
5.6.  We also wish to reiterate our  thanks to the representatives of the Member States who have 
accompanied us during these two days, in which, in a spirit of transparency, we have described 
what the country has achieved through its open trade policy and in line with the principles and 
objectives of this Organization, which promote a better quality of life for our population in a 
sustainable and inclusive way, while respecting the natural environment.  
5.7.  The statements delivered by Member States highlight the pace of growth of the 
Dominican  economy during the period covered by the pre -COVID -19 review, as well as the rapid 
recovery following the pandemic. This outcome reflects the resilience of the Dominican economy 
and the effectiveness of timely monetary and fiscal policy measures, which have c ontributed to the 
expansion in GDP at a rate of growth that has more or less matched the economy's potential.  
5.8.  Another aspect that Members have appreciated are the enhancements aimed at facilitating 
investment and the business climate, the result of measure s adopted to strengthen legal certainty 
and transparency. In this regard, we wish to make clear our government's commitment to making 
our country an increasingly secure destination for investment. We will also continue to participate 
actively in discussion s on investment facilitation, with a view to reaching an agreement before 
MC13.  
5.9.  Services have also attracted the interest of participants, which reflects the importance of 
trade in services in the world economy and its impact on employment generation and i nvestment 
diversification. In this regard, the Dominican  Republic has been pursuing a series of strategies that 
contribute to the development of those activities. We therefore value the suggestions to participate 
in the Joint Statement Initiatives on e -commerce and services domestic regulation.  
5.10.  As we all know, intellectual property is a key element in the development of modern 
services and the creative economy. That is why the Dominican  Republic has redoubled its efforts to 
protect them. It was for those re asons that an intellectual property unit was created at the Office 
of the Attorney -General; that specialized prosecutors were appointed throughout the country to 
ensure that the interests of rights holders are enforced, and consumers protected; and that th e 
National Intellectual Property Council was recently established. Several WTO Members have 
supported these initiatives.  WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  5.11.  In addition, the policies implemented in the area of payment systems and cybersecurity 
have contributed to the expansion of the nationa l and regional financial market and to the 
development of fintech companies, an initiative that you have positively received, which motivates 
us to continue working on the regional agenda, as with the Alliance for Development in 
Democracy, which we hope ca n be expanded to other groups of countries.  
5.12.  As we have previously stated, the Dominican  Republic continues to make progress in trade 
facilitation with the aim of reducing administrative costs and customs procedures, and, to this end, 
the Implementing Regul ations for Law No.  168-21 were recently promulgated by Presidential 
Decree No.  755-22. In addition, we have worked to strengthen the Despacho 24 horas, Exporta+, 
Single Window for Foreign Trade and simplified authorized economic operator programmes as tool s 
to strengthen our competitiveness in trade.  
5.13.  Likewise, since 2021, the country has strengthened its import licensing system for 
agricultural products by creating a register of agricultural importers to streamline the 
administration of such licences. In ad dition, it has notified all implementing regulations for the 
administration of tariff quotas and licences, through Decrees Nos.  319-22, 553 -22 and 554 -22, in 
a clear expression of its commitment to transparency, predictability, and legal certainty for 
economic operators.  
5.14.  Our country reiterates its commitment to the rules -based multilateral trading system, and it 
will continue to participate actively in WTO negotiations and in the strengthening of the 
Organization's bodies. We also wish to express our desir e to continue to participate actively in the 
working groups on MSMEs and on trade and gender. Likewise, we wish to report that the country 
is making efforts to ratify the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, one of the main commitments 
undertaken at MC12 . 
DISCUSSANT  
5.15.  It has been an honour  to participate as the discussant in this fifth  Review of the 
Dominican  Republic's trade policy. The 26  Members who spoke on Tuesday all highlighted the 
Dominican  Republic's commitment and contributions to the multilateral trading system, its role as 
an important regional trading partner, and the country's resilience to weather external shocks 
including the C OVID -19 pandemic and global supply shocks brought about by the 
Russia n Federation 's unprovoked war in Ukr aine. According to the World  Bank, over the last 
decade it has been the second fastest growing economy in Latin  America and the Caribbean.  
5.16.  Members universally commended the Dominican  Republic's response to the C OVID -19 
pandemic, highlighting the country's macroeconomic stability and mix of fiscal and policy 
measures undertaken to help weather the C OVID -19 storm and alleviate the negative impact of 
the pandemic.  
5.17.  I echo one Member's call to the Dominican  Republic to share its experiences at the WTO of 
how the  policies it pursued in response to the C OVID -19 pandemic could apply to disaster 
preparedness more broadly, and help potentially cushion against future crises. Let's not forget that 
just over the last five  years, the Dominican -Republic has also had to dea l with devastating 
hurricanes – Irma, María, and Fiona. I know all too well the devastating effects on every aspect of 
life as a result of those hurricanes. The Dominican  Republic's experiences and perspectives on how 
to recover from these events would als o be very valuable.  
5.18.  There is an informal event on disaster preparedness that is being organized by the 
Secretary of the Trade Facilitation Committee on the margins of the March  2023 formal meeting. 
I would encourage the Dominican  Republic to participate in  this informal event.  
5.19.  Most Members highlighted the trade facilitative measures the Dominican  Republic has 
undertaken to help improve competitiveness, including the enactment of a new customs law aimed 
at modernizing and simplifying customs procedures, clea ring goods within 24  hours, and 
simplifying authorized economic operator (AEO) status for MSMEs.  
5.20.  Several Members noted the Dominican  Republic's role as a founding member of the Alliance 
for Development in Democracy along with Costa  Rica and Panama, with Ec uador recently joining. WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  The Alliance offers a model of cooperative innovation between like -minded countries to improve 
the lives of their citizens and the citizens of the entire region by strengthening democratic 
institutions and promoting economic prosper ity. I would note that the United  States recently 
signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alliance to work together to strengthen supply 
chain resiliency, with a view to sharing best practices and results with the entire region.  
5.21.  The Dominican government's focus on putting "quality of life" at the heart of its 
development objectives and its promotion of initiatives like the Alliance for Development in 
Democracy are the embodiment of the principles and broader economic welfare goals  set out in 
the Marrakesh Agreement - putting people first. The same can be said of the Dominican 
government's focus on integrating women and MSMEs into the country's development and trade 
policy objectives, and its participation in the WTO's Informal Work ing Group on Trade and Gender, 
and on MSMEs.  
5.22.  It is no wonder then that several Members noted their strong bilateral and regional trading 
relationships with the Dominican  Republic, and their interest in forging even closer trade and 
investment ties through new trade agreements and cooperation.  
5.23.  A number of Members highlighted the importance of transparency, which Ambassador 
Sánchez -Fung noted in his opening statement on Tuesday as one of the highest priorities for the 
Dominican Government. One Member encouraged the Dominican  Republic to join efforts to 
enhance and improve WTO technical assistance for transparency and meeting notifica tion 
requirements. Again, I think that would be much welcomed.  
5.24.  Given its desire to improve its competitiveness in newer sectors like ICT and improvements 
to the financial system and innovation ecosystem, a number of Members urged the 
Dominican  Republic to broaden its participation into other WTO activities, including the joint 
statement initiatives on e -commerce and services domestic regulation, as well as ratify the 
Information Technology Agreement.  
5.25.  As I noted on Tuesday, I was pleased to hear that the Dom inican  Republic will be 
participating as an observer in the Committee on Government Procurement. A number of Members 
encouraged the Dominican  Republic to follow through and join the Government Procurement 
Agreement.  
5.26.  Turning to ongoing trade irritants, some  Members expressed concerns related to the 
Dominican  Republic's use of import licensing, SPS measures, and non -tariff barriers. In addition, 
some Members raised concerns about the Dominican  Republic's use of tariff peaks for certain 
agricultural goods, and  encouraged the Dominican  Republic to pursue deeper agricultural reforms 
and market liberalization.  
5.27.  Despite these, the overall sense was of a membership that is very interested in 
strengthening their economic cooperation with the Dominican  Republic on a bi lateral, regional, and 
multilateral basis here at the WTO.  
5.28.  I personally look forward to further cooperation with the Dominican team here in Geneva, 
especially Ambassador Sánchez -Fung on the many important issues that we are seeking to 
address. I believe yo u bring very valuable perspectives and lived experiences that can help us 
move our reform and other agendas along. I would highlight that there are ongoing discussions on 
ways to improve the functioning of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism to bring greater  
value -added to the Membership. Your views, having just concluded this Trade Policy Review , would 
be welcome.  
5.29.  In conclusion, I offer my congratulations to the Dominican  Republic for its contributions to 
the WTO and for its economic resilience during diffic ult times. Many thanks to the delegation of the 
Dominican  Republic, the Secretariat team, the interpreters, and all the Members that have 
participated in this review. I think it was a "home run" . 
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  EUROPEAN  UNION  
5.30.  The EU would like to thank the delegation of the Dominican  Republic for the overview of the 
main developments , as well as challenges in economic and trade policies , since the last Trade 
Policy Review, that we heard Tuesday morning and this morning , as well as  for the very 
comprehensive replies to the advance questions we submitted . We would notably like to thank for 
the ample  responses provided on the questions we posed on intellectual property protection , and 
would like  to commend the Dominican  Republic for the creation of the instituti on of the liaison 
prosecutor especially , and improve enforcement as a result of that.  We have submitted a few 
follow -up questions yesterday on areas of  some concern and continued interest for the EU . 
Notably , we are seeking further clarification regarding granting the due preferential tariff 
treatment,  new proposed national implementing legislation for the customs law,  continued de facto 
ITBIS discrimination between imported and like national products , and publishing all relevant 
information on the necessary tests to guarantee sanitary and phytosanitary compliance in its main 
export markets.  We look forward to the replies in due time.  
5.31.  The EU notes that this review has been very useful for better understanding the trade policy 
and practices of the Dominican  Republic and we trust that Dominican  Republic will take due into 
account  some of the very few challenges highlighted by Members.  
5.32.  The E U looks forward to continuing our close cooperation in both , multilateral and bilateral , 
fora as mentioned on the first day of this review. The estimates  suggest that  our bilateral trade 
will likely have, again, set a new record this year and this success is yet another example of the 
benefits of an open and rules -based trade relationship . 
5.33.  Finally , the EU would like to thank the Dominican  Republic for its constructive  participation 
in this review and its continued engagement and commitment in the multilater al trading system. 
On behalf of the EU , I would like to congratulate the Dominican  Republic for the successful 
fifth Trade Policy R eview.  
UNITED  STATES  
5.34.  The United  States welcomes this opportunity to restate our appreciation to Ambassador 
Sánchez -Fung for his stewardship of this review and for the considerable effort the Government of 
the Dominican  Republic has invested in not only undertaking this review but also in supporting and 
enriching the work of the WTO across Committees and other activities.  
5.35.  I would like to acknowledge the hard work and tireless efforts of the large delegation from 
the Dominican  Republic here today, the United  States knows very well how much time and effort is 
required behind the scenes to engage in a Trade Policy Review and we sincerely appreciate the 
long hours you have undoubtedly invested in preparing for the Review and responding to the 
questions posed by Members.  
5.36.  I would also like to reiterate the value the United  States places on its relationship with the 
Dominican  Republ ic, both in our bilateral trade relations and in our cooperation here at the WTO.  
We hope that this review will result in even closer cooperation here in Geneva, as we believe this 
review has demonstrated that the Dominican  Republic has a lot to share with  Members.  
5.37.  On Trade Facilitation, a large number of Members highlighted the Dominican  Republic 's 
domestic reforms and continued improvements in customs. We hope that the TF Committee 
remains a venue where you will share your experiences with others and tha t together we can lead 
meaningful cooperative work that supports your ongoing domestic reform efforts. We also look 
forward to working closely with the Dominican  Republic customs authorities through our new EDGE 
technical assistance fund.  
5.38.  The United  State s and other Members also raised questions about the Dominican  Republic 's 
administration of SPS measures. We look forward to working together with your delegation as part 
of the SPS work plan for new and emerging issues facing agricultural trade.   
5.39.  Apprecia te the update you have provided today regarding your efforts to fulfil WTO 
transparency obligations, particularly with respect to agricultural products. Again, we want to WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  extend an invitation to the Dominican  Republic to join with the United  States and oth er Members 
to contribute to improving the WTO 's technical assistance to developing countries aimed at 
improving domestic coordination mechanisms needed to effectively fulfil WTO transparency 
requirements.  
5.40.  Finally, we greatly appreciated hearing directly f rom the Dominican  Republic about its 
dedicated focus on fostering policy development aimed at improving the lives of its citizens and 
economic competitiveness through a series of ambitious national development plans. A significant 
number of Members also ex pressed interest in this focus. We hope that we are able to engage 
more and learn more about how the Dominican  Republic develops and implements these plans.  
5.41.  We congratulate the Dominican Republic on a successful T rade Policy Review  
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  6  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
6.1.  The fifth Trade Policy Review of the Dominican  Republic was an excellent opportunity to get a 
clearer understanding  of the country's main developments, achievements and challenges in its 
trade and investment policies since the pr evious Review in 2015. I would like to thank the 
Dominican delegation, led by H.E.  Ambassador Sánchez -Fung, Permanent Representative of the 
Dominican  Republic to the WTO, for their constructive and valuable engagement throughout the 
review process. I would  also like to thank H.E.  Ambassador María  Luisa Pagán of the United  States, 
our discussant, whose comments contributed to enriching our discussions. The more 
than 200 questions submitted before the meeting and the 28 delegations that took the floor 
highlig ht the importance Members attach to the trade and related policies of the 
Dominican  Republic. Members greatly appreciated the written responses provided by the 
Dominican  Republic and look forward to receiving outstanding responses no later than one month 
after this meeting is adjourned.  
6.2.  Members commended the Dominican  Republic for having recovered quickly from the negative 
effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. GDP declined by 6.7% in 2020, but recovered strongly in 2021, 
expanding by over 12%. This was due to t he adoption of sound macroeconomic policies that 
included a fiscal package  of over 4% of GDP, a liquidity injection, and a reduction in reserve 
requirements. Members noted that the Dominican  Republic showed impressive economic resiliency 
during the pandemi c, especially considering the challenges that vulnerable economies such as the 
Dominican  Republic face due to climate change.  
6.3.  Members noted that the Dominican  Republic's trade policy regime had remained in general 
open and transparent, with few obstacles. This is reflected in the importance that trade in goods 
and services has for the economy , accounting for over half of GDP. Tourism remains one of the 
main sources of foreign exchange, followed by exports from free trade zones and remittances from 
Dominican s abroad, which, combined, totalled some USD  23 billion, or over 25% of GDP in 2022. 
In this context, Members noted the heavy reliance on exports which are manufactured in free 
trade zones and in one single market.  
6.4.  Members acknowledged that the Dominican  Republic had achieved strong economic growth 
and higher employment levels by maintaining an open market. In this regard, Members noted 
efforts made to maintain an attractive climate for business and investment, such as the 
implementation of secure payment s ystems and the development of a FinTech industry. However, 
the Dominican  Republic was encouraged to continue strengthening the rule of law. Foreign direct 
investment is expected to assist the Dominican  Republic in diversifying exports, especially in 
"moder n services". In this context, the Dominican  Republic was encouraged to ratify the 
WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA). In addition, Members noted that the electricity 
sector continued to face challenges due to the lack of investment in transmission and distribution, 
and reliance on imported petroleum fuel, despite diversification efforts; this could affect Dominican 
international competitiveness.  
6.5.  Members appreciated the active engagement of the Dominican  Republic in the WTO and its 
strong commitment to a rules -based multilateral trading system. Members were pleased to note 
that since September  2022 the Dominican  Republic has participated in the Committee on 
Government Procurement as an observer. Members also highlighted the participation of the 
Domini can Republic in the joint initiatives on MSMEs and investment facilitation for development, 
and was invited to participate in other initiatives, such as those related to e -commerce and 
services domestic regulation. While t he Dominican  Republic's efforts to  involve women in trade 
were highly appreciated, more information was sought on how to effectively integrate women into 
development plans and international trade. Some Members referred to its overall good notification 
record and urged the Dominican  Republi c to submit outstanding notifications to further contribute 
towards transparency.  
6.6.  Members noted that there had been significant changes in the Dominican  Republic's customs 
regime, as new customs legislation had been issued to modernize and simplify customs  regimes 
and procedures, to facilitate trade including electronic declarations and provisions on advance 
rulings. In this context, Members congratulated the Dominican  Republic for recently adopting 
regulations to fully implement this law. In addition, Memb ers welcomed that, despite the current 
economic difficulties, tariffs had remained relatively low, with an average MFN rate of 7.8% 
in 2021, the same as in 2014; some 54% of tariff lines are zero -rated. However, some WT/TPR/M/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
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  discrepancies were noted regarding the application of MFN and preferential tariffs, and other 
charges affecting imports. Although few non -tariff barriers are applied, it was noted that the 
Dominican  Republic maintained a system of import licensing, which raised some concerns.  
6.7.  Some  Members also referred to the outdated nature of some SPS legislation. Members 
commended the Dominican  Republic for ensuring greater transparency and predictability in the 
procedures to develop technical regulations. Members appreciated the entry into forc e of the 
competition law, which increased efficiency in the economy. New developments regarding the IPR 
regime were positively welcomed; however, concerns remained regarding the patent review and 
approval process and piracy.  
6.8.  On agriculture, Members were pl eased to note the shift towards sustainable agriculture 
practices during the review  period and how these practices had contributed towards increased food 
security, rural jobs, and agricultural exports. Nonetheless, concerns were raised on some domestic 
support programmes, high levels of tariff protection, and exemptions for import licences.  
6.9.  Members recognized and commended the Dominican  Republic's holistic approach to 
improving the lives of its citizens and economic competitiveness through a series of ambit ious 
national development plans. Members encouraged the Dominican  Republic to share its experiences 
on the impact of these policies, and the policies  put in place to deal with future crisis.  
6.10.  In closing, I would like to point out that our discussions highli ghted the importance Members 
attach to the Dominican  Republic's  trade and related policies and to its engagement in the 
multilateral trading system. The Review of the Dominican  Republic's trade policies and practices 
will be successfully concluded, to the benefit of all the Membership, when all outstanding answers 
to the questions raised have been provided in one month. Lastly, let me thank the delegation of 
the Dominican  Republic, the discussant, all delegations that participated, and the Secretariat for 
achieving a successful Trade Policy Review of the Dominican  Republic . 
 
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