RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/S/435  
29 November  2022 
(22-8695) Page: 1/171 
Trade Policy Review Body   
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT  
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  
This report, prepared for the fifth Trade Policy Review of Dominican Republic, has been drawn up by 
the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement 
establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishin g 
the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Dominican Republic on its trade policies and 
practices.  
 
Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Mr Angelo Silvy 
(tel.: 022 739 5249), Ms Eugenia Lizano (tel.: 022 739 6578), Mr Cristian Ugarte or Ms Stephanie 
Doranges -Patoret (tel.: 022 739 5497).  
 
Document WT/TPR/G/435  contains the policy statement submitted by Dominican Republic.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the 
first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Dominican Republic. This report was 
drafted in Spanish . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 2 - 
 
  CONTENTS  
SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
1   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  ................................ ................................ ........................  12 
1.1   Main Features of the Economy  ................................ ................................ ..................... 12 
1.2   Recent Economic Developments  ................................ ................................ ................... 14 
1.2.1    Real sector  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 14 
1.2.2    Fiscal policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 16 
1.2.3    Monetary and exchange -rate policy  ................................ ................................ ............ 23 
1.2.4    Balance of payments  ................................ ................................ ................................ 26 
1.3   Developments in Trade and Investment Flows  ................................ ................................ 29 
1.3.1    Trade in goods  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 29 
1.3.1.1    Composition of trade in goods  ................................ ................................ ................ 29 
1.3.1.2    Direction of merchandise trade  ................................ ................................ ............... 31 
1.3.2    Trade in services  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....33 
1.3.3   Foreign direct investment (FDI)  ................................ ................................ ................. 34 
2   TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES ................................ ................................ ...........  36 
2.1   General Framework  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....36 
2.2   Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  ................................ ................................ ........ 38 
2.3   Trade Agreements and Arrangements  ................................ ................................ ........... 40 
2.3.1    WTO ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 40 
2.3.2    Regional and preferential agreements  ................................ ................................ ........ 41 
2.3.3    Other agreements and arrangements  ................................ ................................ ......... 43 
2.4   Investment Regime  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....43 
2.4.1    Legal framework  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......43 
2.4.2    Investment incentives  ................................ ................................ .............................. 46 
3   TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  ................................ ........................  49 
3.1   Measures Directly Affecting Imports  ................................ ................................ .............. 49 
3.1.1    Customs procedures and requirements  ................................ ................................ .......49 
3.1.2    Customs valuation  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...52 
3.1.3    Rules of origin  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 52 
3.1.4    Tariffs  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 53 
3.1.4.1    Structure and levels  ................................ ................................ .............................. 53 
3.1.4.2    Preferential tariffs  ................................ ................................ ................................ .54 
3.1.4.3    Tariff quotas  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 55 
3.1.4.4    Tariff concessions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .56 
3.1.5    Other charges affecting imports  ................................ ................................ ................. 56 
3.1.6    Import prohibitions, restrictions and licensing  ................................ ............................. 59 
3.1.7    Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures  ................................ ................. 61 
3.1.7.1    Anti-dumping and countervailing measures  ................................ .............................. 61 
3.1.7.2    Safeguard measures  ................................ ................................ ............................. 63 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 3 - 
 
  3.2   Measures Directly Affecting Exports  ................................ ................................ .............. 64 
3.2.1    Export procedures and requirements  ................................ ................................ .......... 64 
3.2.2    Export duties, charges and other levies  ................................ ................................ ......66 
3.2.3    Export prohibitions, authorizations and licensing  ................................ .......................... 66 
3.2.4    Export support  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 67 
3.2.5    Export finance, insurance and promotion  ................................ ................................ ....67 
3.3   Measures affecting production and trade  ................................ ................................ .......68 
3.3.1    Incentives  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 68 
3.3.2    Standards and other technical requirements  ................................ ............................... 70 
3.3.3    Sanitary and phytosanitary  measures  ................................ ................................ ......... 74 
3.3.4    Competition policy and price controls  ................................ ................................ ......... 76 
3.3.4.1    Competition policy  ................................ ................................ ................................ 76 
3.3.4.2    Price controls ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 79 
3.3.5    State trading, state -owned enterprises, and privatization  ................................ ............. 79 
3.3.6    Government procurement  ................................ ................................ ......................... 80 
3.3.6.1    Legal framework  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...80 
3.3.6.2    Institutional framework ................................ ................................ .......................... 82 
3.3.6.3    Procurement procedure  ................................ ................................ ......................... 83 
3.3.7    Intellectual property rights  ................................ ................................ ........................ 87 
4   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  ................................ ................................ .....................  92 
4.1   Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  ................................ ................................ ................ 92 
4.1.2    Measures affecting imports and exports  ................................ ................................ ......96 
4.1.3    Domestic support ................................ ................................ ................................ .....97 
4.1.4    Fisheries  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  100 
4.2   Mining and Energy  ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 103 
4.2.1   Mining  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  103 
4.2.2    Hydrocarbons  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  107 
4.2.3    Electricity  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  109 
4.3   Manufacturing  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  112 
4.4   Services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  115 
4.4.1    Financial services  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 115 
4.4.1.1    Banking  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  116 
4.4.1.1.1    General features and prudential indicators ................................ ...........................  116 
4.4.1.1.2    Regulatory framework  ................................ ................................ ......................  118 
4.4.1.1.3    International financial zone regime  ................................ ................................ ..... 123 
4.4.1.2    Insurance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..........  124 
4.4.1.3    Securities market  ................................ ................................ ................................  126 
4.4.1.4    Payment systems and cybersecurity  ................................ ................................ ...... 127 
4.4.2    Telecommunications  ................................ ................................ ...............................  128 
4.4.3    Transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  133 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 4 - 
 
  4.4.3.1    Air transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 133 
4.4.3.2    Maritime transport and port activities  ................................ ................................ .... 138 
4.4.3.2.1    Maritime transport  ................................ ................................ ...........................  138 
4.4.3.2.2    Ports ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  139 
4.4.4    Tourism  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................  141 
5   APPENDIX TABLES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 144 
 
CHARTS  
 
Chart 1.1 Tax expenditure by tax type and as a percentage of GDP, 2015 -22 ............................ 23 
Chart 1.2 Merchandise trade by main products, 2015 and 2021  ................................ ............... 30 
Chart 1.3 Free zone trade by main products, 2015 and 2021  ................................ ................... 31 
Chart 1.4 Merchandise trade by trading partner, 2015 and 2021  ................................ .............. 32 
Chart 1.5 Free zone merchandise trade by trading partner, 2015 and 2021  ............................... 33 
Chart 2.1 Trade agre ements in force in 2022  ................................ ................................ ......... 42 
Chart 3.1 Frequency distribution of tariffs, 2014 and 2021  ................................ ...................... 54 
Chart 3.2 Anti -dumping and anti -subsidy investigations and adoption of measures, 2022  ........... 62 
Chart 3.3 Safeguard investigation procedures  ................................ ................................ ........ 63 
Chart 3.4 Composition of SIDOCAL ................................ ................................ ....................... 70 
Chart 3.5 Drafting procedure for a technical regulation  ................................ ........................... 72 
Chart 3.6 Procedure for drafting Dominican standards  ................................ ............................ 73 
Chart 3.7 Data on industrial property protection rights, 2015 -21................................ .............. 91 
 
TABLES  
 
Table 1.1 Main economic indicators, 2014 -first quarter 2022  ................................ ................... 12 
Table 1.2 Statement of central Government and NFPS budgetary operations,  
2014-first quarter 2022  ................................ ................................ ................................ ......18 
Table 1.3 Central Government expenditure on social protection programmes in response to 
COVID -19, February  2022 ................................ ................................ ................................ ...20 
Table 1.4 Main monetary indicators, 2014 -first quarter 2022  ................................ ................... 24 
Table 1.5 Ba lance of payments, 2014 -21 ................................ ................................ .............. 27 
Table 1.6 Services balance, 2015 -21 ................................ ................................ .................... 34 
Table 1.7 FDI flows by sector, 2014 -21 ................................ ................................ ................. 35 
Table 1.8 FDI flows by country of origin, 2014 -21 ................................ ................................ ..35 
Table 2.1 Measures to promote exports, 2015 –22 ................................ ................................ ..39 
Table 2.2 Restrictions on foreign investment, 2022  ................................ ................................ 44 
Table 2.3 Investment and/or production incentives, 2022  ................................ ....................... 46 
Table 3.1 Main laws relating to customs procedures, 2022  ................................ ...................... 50 
Table 3.2 Structure of MFN tariffs, 2014 a nd 2022  ................................ ................................ .53 
Table 3.3 Summary analysis of preferential tariffs, 2021  ................................ ......................... 55 
Table 3.4 Customs service fees, 2022  ................................ ................................ ................... 56 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Table 3.5 ISC rates, 2022  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...57 
Table 3.6 Tax on hydrocarbons, 2022 (July)  ................................ ................................ .......... 58 
Table 3.7 Import prohibition, 2015 -22 ................................ ................................ .................. 59 
Table 3.8 Products subject to import licensing, 2022  ................................ .............................. 60 
Table 3.9 Anti -dumping investigations init iated and measures adopted, 2015 -21 ....................... 63 
Table 3.10 Specific export procedures, 2022  ................................ ................................ ......... 65 
Table 3.11 Export taxes on fish and shellfish, 2022  ................................ ................................ 66 
Table 3.12 List of prohibited exports, 2015 -22 ................................ ................................ .......66 
Table 3.13 Export restrictions and controls, 2015 -22 ................................ .............................. 67 
Table 3.14 Selected sectoral tax incentives, 2015 -22 ................................ ............................. 68 
Table 3.15 Selected public enterprises, 2022  ................................ ................................ ......... 80 
Table 3.16 Chief instruments enacted in relation to government procurement, 2015 -22 ............. 81 
Table 3.17 Contracts processed through the Transaction Portal, 2018 -21 ................................ ..83 
Table 3.18 Selection procedures  ................................ ................................ .......................... 84 
Table 3.19 Amounts awarded through selection procedures, 2015 -21 ................................ .......85 
Table 3.20 Thresholds determining the selection procedure,  2022 ................................ ............ 86 
Table 3.21 Requirements and terms of intellectual property rights protection, 2022  ................... 88 
Table 4.1 Main agricultural sector indicators, 2015 -21 ................................ ............................ 92 
Table 4.2 Top agricultural sector exports and imports, 2015 -21 ................................ ............... 93 
Table 4.3 Main laws governing the agricultural sector, 2022  ................................ .................... 94 
Table 4.4 Major agricultural sector institutions, 2022  ................................ .............................. 95 
Table 4.5 Government agencies involved in the fisheries sector  ................................ .............  101 
Table 4.6 Production, trade and share of GDP of the mining sector, 2015 -21 ...........................  104 
Table 4.7 Supply and demand in the national grid, 2015 –21 ................................ ..................  109 
Table 4.8 The manufa cturing sector's share of GDP and employment, 2015 –21 .......................  113 
Table 4.9 Manufacturing exports, by regime and by main activity, 2015 –21 ............................  113 
Table 4.10 Banking system indicators, 2015 -21 ................................ ................................ ... 117 
Table 4.11 Insurance and reinsurance market indicators, 2015 -20 ................................ .........  124 
Table 4.12 Telecommunications indicators, 2015 -21 ................................ .............................  129 
Table 4.13 Main regulations and standards approved, 2015 -22 (June)  ................................ .... 130 
Table 4.14 Air traffic, 2015 -21 ................................ ................................ ...........................  134 
Table 4.15 Air service agreement modalities: bilateral agreements ................................ .........  136 
Table 4.16 Port operations, 2015 -22 (June)  ................................ ................................ ........  139 
Table 4.17 Tourism indicators, 2015 -22 (June ) ................................ ................................ .... 141 
Table 4.18 Tax incentives for tourism projects or tourism activities  ................................ ........  142 
 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 6 - 
 
  BOXES  
 
Box 1.1 Base primary balance, structural primary balance and fiscal stimulus  ............................ 17 
Box 2.1 Constitutional reform process  ................................ ................................ .................. 37 
Box 2.2 Legislative procedure  ................................ ................................ .............................. 37 
Box 2.3 The role of women in Dominican exports  ................................ ................................ ...40 
Box 3.1 Main changes introduced by Law No.  168-21 ................................ ............................. 49 
Box 4.1 CODOPESCA measures for the preservation of fishery resources  ................................  103 
 
APPENDIX TABLES  
 
Table A1.1 Exports of consumer goods and re -exports by HS section and main HS  chapter,  
2015-21 ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  144 
Table A1.2 Exports from free zones by HS section and main HS chapter, 2015 -21 ...................  146 
Table A1.3 Total imp orts (f.o.b.) by HS section and main HS chapter,  2015-21 .......................  148 
Table A1.4 Imports of consumer goods and reimports (f.o.b.) by HS section and main  
HS chapter, 2015 -21 ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  150 
Table A1.5 Free zone i mports (f.o.b.) by HS section and main HS chapter, 2015 -21 .................  152 
Table A1.6 Exports of consumer goods and re -exports by trading par tner, 2015 -21 .................  154 
Table A1.7 Merchandise exports from free zones by trading partner, 2015 -21 .........................  155 
Table A1.8 Total merchandise imports (f.o.b.) by trading partner, 2015 -21 .............................  156 
Table A1.9 Imports of consumer goods and reimports (f.o.b.) by trading partner, 2015 -21 ....... 157 
Table A1.10 Merchandise imports into free zones (f.o.b.) by trading partner, 2015 -21 ..............  158 
Table A2.1 Trade measures notified to the WTO, 1 January 2015 -31 August 2022  ...................  159 
Table A3.1 Customs procedures  ................................ ................................ .........................  161 
Table A3.2 Summary analysis of the MFN tariff, 2021  ................................ ...........................  163 
Table A3.3 Tariff lines where the applied MFN rate exceeds the bound rate, 2021  ....................  165 
Table A3.4 MFN tariff quotas and import volume, 2021  ................................ .........................  168 
Table A3.5 Preferential tariff quotas and import volume, 2021 -22 ................................ ..........  169 
Table A3.6 Legislation on animal and plant health and food safety, 2022  ................................  170 
 
 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 7 - 
 
  SUMMARY  
1. The Dominican Republic is a middle -income country with per capita GDP that amounted to 
around USD 9,000 in 2021 . The Dominican economy has recovered quickly from the negative i mpact 
of the COVID -19 pandemic . The country's GDP grew by more than 6% each year between 2014 and 
2019, only to shrink  by 6.7%  in 2020. It nevertheless  rebounded strongly in 2021, with growth of  
12.3% . The trend continued into the first few months of 2022,  with growth of 6.1% in the 
first quarter, reflecting a convergence towards potential GDP performance.   
2. The Dominican economy is primarily dominated by services, which accounted for 56% of GDP 
in 2021 , with activities related to the tourism sector and inte rnal trade taking the lead . In 2021, 
manufactured goods accounted for 15% of GDP, construction 14% and agricultural production 6%. 
The Dominican economy was hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemic, particularly the tourism services 
sector. In 2021, however, rapid economic growth meant that most sectors recorded higher levels of 
activity than at the start of the pandemic . The following economic activities accounted for the most 
considerable growth: hotels, bars and restaurants ; construction ; local man ufacturing ; free zones ; 
commerce ; and transport and storage . 
3. During the review period , fiscal policy sought to achieve fiscal consolidation in the medium 
term. The public sector deficit fluctuated between 2.3% and 2.7% of GDP in the 2014-19 period , 
before increasing to 7.6% pf GDP in  2020 as a result of the decline in economic activity and the 
measures taken to address the pandemic. The deficit shrank to 2.6% of GDP in 2021, thereby 
reflecting the rapid growth of the economy . To counter the negative effects  of the pandemic , the 
authorities introduced a fiscal package of around USD 4.2 billion, an amount equivalent to more than 
4% of GDP .  
4. In order to enhance the fiscal package, the Central Bank injected around USD 4  billion in 
additional liquidity, eased reserve requirements and reduced interest rates . An inflation target of 
4.0%±1 .0% per year has been applied since 2015 . Compliance with th is target was relaxed during 
the pandemic . Inflation nevertheless remained within the target range for most of the review period, 
but exceeded the target in 2021 (8.5%) mainly due to higher energy prices and disruptions in the 
supply chain . 
5. The current acc ount of the balance of payments shows  a structural deficit, which averaged 
1.3% of GDP between 2015 and 2020. Remittances, amounting to more than 10% of GDP, partly 
offset the merchandise trade deficit. As a result of the COVID -19 pandemic's negative impac t on 
economic activity, the current account deficit rose to 1.7% of GDP in 2020, mainly due to the decline 
in tourism revenue and remittances from abroad. As growth resumed in 2021 and imports increased, 
the current account deficit rose, reaching 2.8% of G DP in 2021 . 
6. Trade in goods and services is of great importance to the Dominican Republic, since it accounts 
for more than half of the country's GDP . The main sources of foreign exchange are tourism receipts, 
free zone exports and remittances from Dominican  nationals , which in 2021 totalled around 
USD 23 billion , or more than 25% of GDP . Manufactured goods, particularly textiles and clothing 
and metal products, account for over  50% of merchandise exports , while motor vehicles constitute 
the main import category . The Dominican Republic's main export market is the United States, with 
a share of 20.5% of exports from the customs territory in 2021 and 78.2% of exports from free 
zones . Other export markets are Switzerland  (20.3% of total exports ), India (15 .7%), Hait i (12.4%) 
and the European Union (11.3%). The United States is also the Dominican Republic's leading 
supplier, providing 38.8% of the country's total domestic imports in 2021, followed by China (17.6%) 
and the European Union (11.6%). Exports from f ree zones are of key importance, accounting for 
60% of total exports in 2021.  
7. During the review period, the Dominican Republic saw an upsurge in foreign direct investment 
(FDI) flows. Between  2014 and 2021, FDI flows into the Dominican Republic totalled 
USD 21,610 million (equivalent  to an average of around USD 2.7 billion per year ). The main sectors 
to receive  such investment were tourism (28.8%), commerce  (20.5%) and real estate (17.4%) . The 
main sources of FDI during the same period were the United State s (25.7% of the total ), 
Canada  (10.2%), Spain  (7.3%) and Mexico (7 .3%). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 8 - 
 
  8. The main objective of the Dominican Republic's trade policy is to promote exports . The 
Dominican export strategy is based on both the promotion of traditional export products and the 
creation of a new supply based on exports of "modern services", which are those pertaining to the 
creative economy, the audiovisual industry, telecommunications and information technology. The 
aim is to supply goods and services that are more sophisticated,  competitive and diverse, by focusing 
on innovation, quality and value added . It is hoped that the export sector will also benefit from 
taking advantage of existing markets and seeking new trade opportunities. Various steps have been 
taken to facilitate exports, including the streamlining of procedures and the introduction of more 
flexible conditions for accessing credit . In order to support the export sector, the Dominican Republic 
seeks to ensure an attractive environment for foreign investor s, through, for instance, the free zone 
regime and other incentives that support domestic production's integration into the international 
market . The Dominican authorities believe that the extent of the country's integration into 
international markets also  depends on women's empowerment and leadership in trade . 
9. The Dominican Republic has been a Member of the WTO since 1995 and grants, as a minimum, 
most-favoured -nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners . This is its fifth Trade Policy Review . 
The D ominican Republic is committed to the multilateral trading system, which it believes should 
contribute to inclusive, sustainable and fair development . The Dominican Republic supports the 
elimination of distortions in trade in agricultural products and the creation of an inclusive and resilient 
agricultural economy. It also favours trade practices that are more respectful of the environment 
and natural resources. In 2016, it ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), and implements 
the Agreement in acc ordance with its commitments thereunder . The Dominican Republic did not 
make use of the dispute settlement mechanism during the review period . 
10. The Dominican Republic has preferential trade agreements with Central America, the 
United  States, Panama, the Uni ted Kingdom, the European Union, the Caribbean Community and 
the member States of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) , all of which have been notified to the 
WTO. All the se agreements, except for the agreement with Panama (a partial scope agreement) , 
cover  trade in goods and services . The agreement with the United Kingdom was the only one to 
enter into force for the Dominican Republic during the review period . 
11. One of the most significant changes concerning the Dominican customs regime during the 
review period w as the enactment of a new Customs Law aimed at modernizing and simplifying 
customs regimes and procedures. This Law, which is not yet fully implemented, harmonizes 
Dominican domestic legislation with the international commitments undertaken multilateral ly and 
bilateral ly over the past three decades . In addition to streamlining customs formalities and 
procedures, the new Customs Law legalized electronic declarations and the use of electronic means . 
The National Trade Facilitation Committee  was created in 201 7 to facilitate interaction with other 
trade control agencies and the private sector , and to implement the TFA. The Dominican Republic  
applies a customs valuation system based on the WTO  Customs Valuation Agreement  and uses 
preferential and non -preferentia l rules of origin. Non -preferential rules are used to determine the 
origin of imports subject to anti -dumping or countervailing duties, safeguard measures or import 
quotas .  
12. During the period under review, no major changes were made to the Dominican Republ ic's 
tariff schedule . Only ad valorem  tariffs are applied. While s ome tariffs increase d slightly, the simple 
average MFN tariff remained unchanged from 2014 , at 7.8% . This was partly due to an increase in 
the number of tariff lines, which rose from 7,048 at the Harmonized System (HS 2012) eight-digit 
level in 2014 to 7,242 ( HS 2017) in 2022. In particular, an increase was seen in the number of lines 
subject to tariff ra tes higher than 15%, which are applied mainly to agricultural products 
(WTO definition ). Tariff rates above 25%  apply to 72 lines, which mainly comprise agricultural 
products. The Dominican Republic applies tariff quotas under both the WTO and its trade 
agreements . The country has bound all its tariff lines in the WTO at rates ranging from 0% to 99% . 
The use of quotas varies; when imports are needed to meet demand or maintain reserves, market 
access is expanded, meaning that quota usage may exceed 100%.  
13. The Dominican Republic maintains import prohibitions and restrictions for reasons of public 
health and safety, animal and plant health, and environmental protection, and in order to comply 
with the requirements of international agreements . Most existing  prohibitions are for plant and 
animal health reasons, and their objective is to prevent the entry of pests and diseases into the 
national territory . During the review period, there were no changes to either the import licensing 
system or the procedure for obtai ning import licences . The Dominican Republic makes limited use WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 9 - 
 
  of corrective trade remedies . In 2015-21, no changes were made to the country's trade defence 
legislation and instruments ; two dumping investigations were initiated, but no investigations were 
initiated in respect of subsidies or safeguard measures .  
14. The new Customs Law regulates the export process and establishes the time limits, rights, 
obligations and responsibilities of exporters  in order to give  the export regime greater legal certainty, 
predictability and transparency . The Dominican Republic requires licences for, and maintains 
restrictions and prohibitions on, the export of a limited number of products . Fish and shellfish are 
the only products subject to export duties . 
15. Under the drawback procedure , exporters can obtain the repayment (total or partial) of the 
import duties and taxes charged on goods that are to  be exported or on the inputs used in their 
production . Exporters can also use the inward processing procedure. ProDominica na is the 
government agency  responsible for promoting exports and FDI, and operates in several areas in 
coordination with other government institutions involved in foreign trade . In 2021, the National 
Export Bank became the Export and Development Bank (BAN DEX), which channel s financial 
resources to export -oriented sectors, through financing and lines of credit for exports, and other 
products, such as export factoring, export credit insurance and other SME -oriented products .  
16. The Dominican  Republic grant s tax incentives to certain sectors or for certain activities. The 
incentives comprise exemption (generally in full) from various taxes such as the tax on the transfer 
of industrialized goods and services ( ITBIS ), income tax (ISR), the selective consumption ta x (ISC), 
the wealth tax and the tax on the use of goods and licences. The sectors and activities targeted by 
the incentives are tourism, electricity generation, the textiles industry,  manufacturing,  the film 
industry, mining and agriculture . During the rev iew period, incentives for manufacturing and industry 
expired and were subsequently reintroduced for a period of 15 years . The incentives scheme for 
industries located in border provinces was amended in 2021 : most of the benefits of the previous 
scheme wer e retained and the validity of the incentives was extended to 30 years . The scheme to 
promote renewable energy has been extended to include new energy production sources, and 
incentives have been introduced for solid waste processing .  
17. The free zone regime , which the Dominican Republic notified to the WTO as a subsidy 
programme, has not undergone any substantial changes since the previous review in 2015 . This 
means that enterprises located in free zones continue to enjoy the same tax benefits, while the 
National Council for Free Export Zones (CNZFE) remains responsible for the regime .  
18. The procedure for drafting a technical regulation has not changed since 2015, and ministries 
and other state agencies are responsible for drafting their own technical regulati ons. In 2021, in 
order to ensure the transparency of the procedure, the Dominican Republic adopted the Handbook 
of Good Technical Regulation Practices (GBPRT) , which is  based  on the WTO TBT Code of Good 
Practice . Certification is usually voluntary, except for certain  types of cement and steel bars . This 
requirement applies to imported and domestically produced goods . Between  2015 and 2022, 
two specific trade concerns regarding Dominican technical regulations were raised at the WTO . 
19. The aim of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) system of the Dominican Republic is to 
prevent, by means of three systems, the introduction into the national territory of pests or diseases. 
Those systems are sanitary and phytosanitary protection at the nat ional borders; surveillance and 
diagnostic capacity to detect pests, diseases and sanitary issues; and the capacity to respond in 
agile fashion to emergencies. The Dominican Republic places special emphasis on enhanced border 
protection through the install ation of inspection infrastructure. Moreover, exporting establishments 
are inspected and agricultural products for export are certified. The drafting of SPS measures is 
governed by the regulations of the relevant ministries. There is no single centralized mechanism for 
the preparation  of these regulations . However, they are drafted largely along the same lines as the 
technical regulations.  
20. The government procurement procedure has undergone  some significant changes during the 
review period, including the ena ctment of the Law on Public -Private Partnerships in 2020. The 
Transaction Portal of the Computerized Management System for Procurement and Contracts of the 
Dominican State came online in 2017 , a technological tool to manage government procurement of 
goods,  works, services. The Dominican Republic has six government procurement selection 
procedures (open tendering, restricted tendering, construction contract lottery, price comparison, WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 10 - 
 
  small scale purchasing and reverse auction). A series of thresholds is used  to determine which 
procedure is appropriate. Dominican legislation encourages the purchase of products of national 
origin and reserves contracts exclusively to MSMEs and business run by women. The 
Dominican  Republic is not party to the WTO Agreement on Go vernment Procurement nor does it 
have observer status.  
21. The Competition Law, which was enacted in 2008, came into force in 2017 and its 
implementing regulations were issued in 2020. The Law applies to all sectors of the economy, except 
those that have regul atory bodies. Competition in those sectors is regulated by laws specific to those 
sectors. The National Competition Commission (Pro Competencia) is responsible for enforcing the 
Law. In 2021, with a view to improving the implementation of the competition s ystem, the 
Dominican  Republic issue d several regulations to adopt the penalties reduction regime, among other 
things. Control of economic concentrations is regulated by sectoral provisions. Sugar, fuel and 
natural gas prices and electricity tariffs are sti ll controlled. The Dominican Republic's intellectual 
property regime has not changed substantially since 2015. The number of patents awarded to 
residents is relatively low, owing to the fact that the economy is geared towards activities that make 
little us e of innovation. However, the Dominican Republic has adopted the Innovation Policy 2030 to 
promote investment in R&D.  
22. The agricultural sector contributed 5.7% to GDP in 2021. The average MFN tariff for 
agricultural products (WTO definition) increased sligh tly from 2014 , from 14.2% to 14.5% . In the 
Dominican Republic, the highest tariffs, ranging from 40% to 99%, are used only for agricultural 
products such as rice, sugar, meat, dairy products and vegetables. On average, the highest tariffs 
were used for dai ry products (25.9%) and sugar and confectionery (24.2%). Nevertheless, most of 
the aforementioned products are subject to tariff quotas and may therefore be afforded less 
protection. The Dominican Republic notified the WTO that it did not grant any export subsidies for 
agricultural products during the period 2015 -21. However, the Dominican Republic also supports the 
agricultural sector through a series of programmes.  
23. Businesses located in free zones continue to be of major importance for the 
Dominican  econo my and manufacturing activity, given that 60% of manufacturing exports in 2021 
were produced under the free zone regime. Since  2021, manufacturing and industry have also been 
eligible for the incentives available for businesses in the border area. Average tariffs applied to 
non-agricultural products have not changed significantly since 201 4 and have increased for only a 
few products, specifically fish and fish products (from 17.1% in 2014 to 17.4% in 202 1).  
24. The mining sector has enjoyed vigorous growth dur ing the period under review, particularly 
in connection with the exploitation of gold and silver deposits. Foreign investment has played a key 
role in the development of these activities, which have made the Dominican Republic one of the 
region's leading e xporters of gold. The main mining centres are in reservas fiscales , 
government -reserved mining areas, and their exploitation is governed by special contracts in the 
framework of the Mining Law. Some non -metallic mining activity is also carried out, albeit on a 
smaller scale, and, during the period 2015 -22, efforts have been made to promote the value added 
and export of certain processed products. In 2019, the Dominican Republic award its first concession 
for the exploitation of hydrocarbons.  
25. The Dominican Republic continues to rely heavily on imports of petroleum products, in 
particular for the generation of electricity. During the review period, the Dominican Republic has 
diversified its energy mix considerably, mainly towards natural gas. Considerable inv estment has 
been made in electricity generation and in the conversion of existing infrastructure. In addition, 
renewable energies have doubled their share in electricity generation. Nevertheless, challenges 
remain to efforts to improve the functioning of t he electricity sector, such as the lack of investment 
in distribution and transmission to reduce losses, inadequate management of the state -owned 
enterprises which generally enjoy a dominant position, and setting electricity tariffs that cover 
production c osts. However, some changes have started to be made to address these challenges as 
part of the implementation of the Electricity Pact 2021 -30. Moreover, the Dominican Corporation of 
State -Owned Electricity Companies is currently in the process of being res tructured, a process that 
began in 2020.  
26. The Dominican Republic is a net importer of financial services, which accounted for 3.9% of 
GDP in 2021. To operate as a financial intermediary, prior authorization must be obtained from the 
Monetary Board, which ma y only refuse authorization on legal grounds. There are no restrictions on WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
 
- 11 - 
 
  foreign -owned companies. During the review period, the financial system performed well, despite 
the negative economic effects of the COVID -19 pandemic, thanks in no small part to th e measures 
implemented from March 2020, and the channelling of resources towards the domestic productive 
sectors and households. The main regulatory measures include the freeing up of legal reserves, 
repurchase transactions and the quick liquidity facility  window. These policies provided a monetary 
stimulus of more than 5% of GDP. In addition, the Central Bank actively participated in the foreign 
exchange market by injecting foreign currency liquidity into financial entities and adopted measures 
to prevent the potential deterioration of the loan portfolio. During the period under review, the 
microprudential indicators of the Dominican financial system remained at appropriate levels. The 
solvency ratio remained well above the internationally recommended level  of 8%.  
27. Commensurate with global trends, the telecommunications sector in the Dominican Republic 
has seen accelerated growth in mobile telephony and Internet services. Today, almost all the 
population has access to 4G technology, and two thirds have access  to mobile broadband. In 2021, 
the spectrum bands were assigned for the roll out of 5G technology. Telephone services are subject 
to a duopoly, which means competition among providers is limited, despite regulatory efforts 
(inter alia, universal service, p ortability, dispute resolution and setting charges) to increase it.  
28. Air and maritime transport is of great importance to the Dominican Republic's trade. On the 
one hand, air transport facilitates tourism services for the more than 5 million tourists who vi sit the 
country annually. On the other hand, maritime transport is the means of transport for more than 
90% of the Dominican Republic 's trade in goods, and facilitates the transit of goods to other countries 
in the region. In order to achieve a high level of trade competitiveness, the Dominican Republic 
pursues an open skies policy with regard to air transport and has signed more than 27 new air 
service agreements during the review period. Turning to maritime transport, the Dominican Republic 
continues to c arry out infrastructure projects in an effort to attract new flows of cruise ship visitors 
and to position itself as a platform for maritime trade.  
29. Tourism is still making a vital contribution to the Dominican economy and, in 2022, the sector 
saw a strong  recovery from the negative impact of the COVID -19 pandemic. The objective of the 
sectoral policy is to diversify the tourism offering in a manner that will improve the sectors' links 
with the economy and local communities. The sector's system of incentive s and the investment in 
maritime infrastructure for tourism purposes have helped to attract foreign investment and, by 
extension, to promote the sector's recent growth.  
 
 
 
 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 12 - 
  1  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.1  Main Features of the Economy  
1.1.  The Dominican Republic's economy experienced strong growth in the first part of the review 
period, prior to the pandemic . Between 2014 and 2019, the average annual GDP growth rate reached 
6.2%, thus exceeding the historical average . The authorities consider that the steady rate of 
expansion was attributable to effective coordination between monetary and fiscal policies, which 
strengthened macroeconomic fundamentals, and diversified the productive str ucture and 
implementation of structural reforms . GDP per capita rose from just over USD 6,800 in 2014 to just 
over USD 8,500 in 2019 (Table 1.1) . In 2020, GDP shrank by 6.7 %, mainly due to the COVID -19 
pandemic . The economy rebounded strongly  in 2021, when it grew by 12.3 %, and the trend 
continued into the first months of 2022, with growth of 6.1 % in the first quarter, reflecting a 
convergence towards potential GDP performance.  
1.2.  The Dominican economy is primarily dominated by services, which ac counted for 56.0 % of GDP 
in 2021 . While this percentage is lower than in 2015 (61.1 %), this is due to increased activity in the 
construction sector and the greater impact of the pandemic on services compared with other sectors 
of the economy . The share of services in GDP remained above 60 % in 2014 -19, driven mainly by 
trading activities ; transport and storage ; hotels, bars and restaurants ; real estate activities ; and 
other services . Over the same period, the share of industries averaged at just over 26 % of GDP, 
particularly construction and manufacturing, both in free zones and at the local level . The GDP share 
of agriculture remained at just over 5 %. The authorities noted that economic growth during the 
period was strengthened  by a steady  increase in privat e lending, which rose year-on-year by more 
than nominal GDP growth . The performance of d omestic and free -zone export s, income from 
tourism, remittances and foreign direct investment  (FDI)  also significantly contributed to boosting  
growth.  
Table 1.1 Main economic indicators, 2014 -first quarter 2022  
 2014  2015  2016  2017a 2018a 2019a 2020a 2021a 2022 
Q1a 
Gross domestic product (GDP)          
 
GDP at current prices 
(DOP billion ) 2,926  3,206  3,487  3,803  4,236  4,562  4,457  5,393  1,468  
GDP at current prices 
(USD million ) 67,254  71,243  75,759  80,025  85,537  88,906  78,829  94,524  25,952  
GDP at constant prices (chained 
volume indices, base year 2007)  134.2  143.5  153.1  160.2  171.4  180.1  168.0  188.6  192.7  
Real GDP growth rate (%)  7.1 6.9 6.7 4.7 7.0 5.1 -6.7 12.3 6.1 
GDP per capita (current USD)  6,805  7,138  7,520  7,869  8,332  8,583  7,545  8,972  .. 
GDP by activity (% of current GDP)  
Agriculture  5.2 5.5 5.5 5.3 5.1 5.2 6.0 5.7 4.8 
Crop farming  3.3 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.4 4.1 3.7 3.1 
Livestock, forestry and fishing  1.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.0 1.7 
Industry  27.2 26.5 25.9 26.4 27.3 27.5 28.7 31.3 33.1 
Mining and quarrying  2.0 1.6 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.8 1.6 
Local manufacturing  11.2 11.4 11.1 10.8 10.8 10.6 10.9 11.5 11.3 
Food industry  4.4 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.6 4.5 4.3 
Beverages and tobacco 
products  1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 
Manufacture of refined 
petroleum products and 
chemicals  1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.2 
Other manufactures  4.6 4.6 4.3 4.1 4.2 4.1 3.9 4.5 4.5 
Free-zone manufacturing  3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.6 3.3 
Construction  10.7 10.2 9.5 10.5 11.4 12.0 12.2 14.3 17.0 
Services  61.2 61.1 61.6 61.1 60.2 59.9 58.8 56.0 54.9 
Energy and water  2.5 2.0 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.4 
Commerce  9.8 10.4 10.7 10.4 10.3 10.1 10.6 10.9 10.2 
Hotels, bars and restaurants  7.5 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.6 7.4 4.1 5.3 5.6 
Transport and storage  8.4 8.3 8.2 8.3 8.2 8.3 8.3 8.5 8.9 
Communications  1.1 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.8 
Financial intermediation, 
insurance and related activities  3.9 4.0 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.7 3.9 4.0 
Real estate and rental 
activities  8.6 8.2 8.1 7.9 7.6 7.5 8.1 7.0 6.8 
Education  4.6 5.0 5.3 5.4 5.3 5.5 5.5 4.8 4.1 
Health  2.8 2.9 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.2 3.9 3.4 3.3 
Other market services  7.6 7.5 7.6 7.4 7.2 7.3 6.8 6.2 6.6 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 13 - 
   2014  2015  2016  2017a 2018a 2019a 2020a 2021a 2022 
Q1a 
Public administration and 
defence, compulsory social 
security and other services  4.4 4.0 3.9 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 3.9 3.2 
Value added  93.7 93.0 92.9 92.8 92.6 92.6 93.5 93.0 92.8 
Taxes on production, net of 
subsidies  6.3 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.4 7.4 6.5 7.0 7.2 
GDP by expenditure category (% of current GDP)  
Final consumption  82.1 81.2 80.8 80.4 79.2 78.9 82.3 77.9 73.4 
Private consumption  71.6 70.9 70.5 69.5 68.3 67.8 69.7 66.4 63.6 
Public consumption  10.5 10.3 10.3 10.9 10.9 11.1 12.6 11.5 9.8 
Gross capital formation  23.1 23.4 23.0 22.5 25.8 26.0 25.4 31.4 36.3 
Gross fixed capital formation  22.8 23.3 22.9 23.7 25.8 26.8 27.3 31.0 34.8 
Variation in inventories  0.3 0.2 0.0 -1.3 0.0 -0.8 -2.0 0.4 1.5 
Exports  25.2 23.8 23.9 23.7 23.6 23.1 18.3 21.8 23.7 
Imports  30.3 28.4 27.7 26.5 28.5 27.9 26.0 31.0 33.5 
GDP by expenditure category (real annual growth rate)  
Final consumption  5.1 6.5 5.5 3.9 5.2 4.8 -2.4 5.6 4.5 
Private consumption  5.3 6.4 6.0 4.4 5.7 4.6 -3.4 6.6 4.4 
Public consumption  4.3 6.9 1.9 0.8 2.8 6.3 4.9 0.1 4.0 
Gross capital formation  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Gross fixed capital formation  9.3 18.9 12.3 -0.3 13.3 8.1 -12.1 22.1 8.4 
Variation in inventories  .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 
Exports  8.7 3.1 7.5 4.9 6.1 1.5 -30.3 36.2 32.2 
Imports  4.8 11.0 8.1 -3.0 8.5 5.8 -14.6 24.7 23.5 
Employment          
 
Employment rate (%, annual 
average)  56.8 57.3 57.9 58.7 60.0 61.0 56.7 58.3 59.4 
Open unemployment rateb (%, 
annual average)c 8.3 7.3 7.1 5.5 5.7 6.2 5.8 7.4 6.4 
Employed population by branch of activity (% of total)  
Agriculture and livestock  10.8 9.7 8.9 9.6 9.3 8.8 9.0 8.0 7.9 
Industryc 10.4 10.1 10.4 10.2 10.0 10.2 10.7 10.1 9.9 
Electricity and water  1.5 1.4 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.5 
Construction  7.2 6.9 6.9 7.7 8.1 7.4 7.4 8.6 8.3 
Services  70.2 71.9 72.1 71.0 71.1 72.4 71.6 71.7 72.4 
Commerce  20.6 20.0 19.9 19.6 20.0 20.4 20.8 20.7 21.2 
Hotels, bars and restaurants  7.0 7.9 7.5 7.6 7.1 7.4 6.5 6.8 7.4 
Transport and communications  7.4 7.6 7.8 7.6 7.4 7.0 7.8 7.6 7.0 
Financial intermediation and 
insurance  2.0 2.2 2.4 2.2 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.3 2.2 
Public administration and 
defence  6.0 5.5 5.3 4.9 5.0 5.4 5.9 5.6 5.7 
Education  5.4 6.0 6.0 6.2 6.2 5.8 5.9 5.9 5.7 
Health and social welfare  3.4 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.0 4.1 4.1 3.9 4.2 
Other services  18.3 19.3 19.6 19.1 19.0 19.7 18.2 19.0 19.0 
Population (thousand)  9,883  9,980  10,075  10,169  10,266  10,358  10,448  10,536  10,590  
.. Not available.  
a Preliminary figures.  
b Ratio of the open unemployed to the workforce.  
c Including mining and quarrying.  
Source:  Central Bank of the Dominican Republic  (BCRD) . 
1.3.  The Dominican economy was hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemic, p articularly the tourism 
services sector . Most economic activities contracted markedly, especially in the first few months of 
the pandemic . Those most affected were the activities of hotels, bars and restaurants ( -47.5% in 
2020 compared with 2019), mining a nd quarrying ( -12.5%), other service activities (-11.1%), 
construction ( -10.7%), transport and storage ( -7.6%), commerce ( -4.8%), education ( -3.7%), free 
zones ( -2.7%) and local manufacturing ( -2.2%). In general, these activities require a physical 
presenc e and/or the opening of establishments . However, other activities , linked in some cases to 
the development of the pandemic, or in other  cases , not requiring physical presence , showed positive 
trends . This was the case for the following sectors : health (12.5 %), financial services (7.1 %), real 
estate activities (3.8 %), agriculture (2.8 %), communications (2.7 %), public administration (0.8 %) 
and energy and water (0.4 %).1 The contribution of hotel, bar and restaurant activity to nominal GDP 
fell from 7.4 % in 2019 to 4.1 % in 2020, before partially recovering in 2021 (5.3 %) and the 
first quarter of 2022 (5.6 %). 
 
1 Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) (2021), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, 
enero -diciembre 2020 , March 2021. Viewed at: https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -
economicas/informe -de-la-economia -dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -03.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 14 - 
  1.4.  An assessment of the  economic  performance in 2021 shows that the following economic 
activities accounted for the most considerable  year-on-year growth in real terms : hotels, bars and 
restaurants (39.5 %), construction (23.4 %), local manufacturing (10.6 %), free zones (20.3 %), 
commerce (12.9 %) and transport and storage (12.9 %).2 In the January -March quarter of 2022, real 
GDP rose by 6.1 % compared with the same period in 2021 . According to information provided by  
the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD), the following economic activities showed a 
positive shift in the first quarter of 2022 : hotels, bars and restaurants (+39.9 %), other service 
activities  (11.4 %), transport and storage (8.8 %), communications (8.2 %), commerce (8.0 %), 
free-zone manufacturing (7.6 %), energy and water (7.5 %), public administration (7.4 %), health 
(7.3%), financial services (6.6 %), construction (5.8 %), edu cation (5.3 %), local manufacturing 
(4.4%), real estate and rental activities (4.2 %) and agriculture (2.1 %).3 
1.2  Recent Economic Developments  
1.2.1   Real sector  
1.5.  Real GDP growth by expenditure category in 2014-19 was mainly supported by the strong 
performance of domestic demand, with an average increase of 5.2 % in final consumption and 10.3 % 
in gross fixed capital formation . Growth in the  latter component was largely due to  the positive 
performance of the construction sector, which in turn was driven by public and private sector 
investments in the development of residential and non -residential infrastructure projects, land 
transport, and energy sector works, among others.  
1.6.  The COVID -19 pandemic prompted a tumble in economic activity, particularly  in sectors such 
as tourism and construction, as well as a contraction in external demand . This caused real GDP to 
shrink  by 6.7 % in 2020 and GDP per capita to fall to USD 7,500, that is, back to its 2016 level . 
During the pandemic, domestic demand was severely affected  by lockdown and contracted by 3.6 %. 
However, the monetary and fiscal measures that were adopted – particularly in this latter area, 
those relating to social welfare spending – significantly helped to mitigate  this contractionary effect 
in final consumption, which dropped by a moderate rate of only 2.4 % in 2020 . Nevertheless, 
investment contracted markedly by 12.1 %, bringing domestic demand down by 3.4 %. Both exports 
and imports of goods and services slumped in 2020, by 30.3 % and 14.6 %, respec tively . The 
authorities indicated that the sharpest monthly drop in economic activity during the pandemic 
occurred in April 2020, but that economic performance started to improve over the following  months, 
mainly as a result of the gradual reopening of non -essential economic activities, the relaxation of 
monetary policy measures to provide liquidity to the economy, the adoption of fiscal incentives and 
benefits to the productive sectors and increased public spending on welfare programmes.4 
1.7.  During the first few months of 2021, economic activity recovered more quickly  than expected . 
According to the authorities, this was helped by the effects of the fiscal and monetary policy 
measures implemented as of March  2020 to alleviate the adverse impact  of the health crisis on the 
economy, and the impetus provided by the gradual reopening of economic activities, the easing and 
subsequent removal of mobility restrictions, and progress in implementing the National Vaccination 
Plan and the Responsible Touri sm Recovery Plan . In this regard , and despite a slight slowdown in 
growth in the last few months of the year, real GDP grew by 12.3 % in 2021, thus exceeding the 
pre-pandemic level of 2019 by 4.7 %. This pushed nominal GDP above USD 94 billion  and GDP per 
capita to almost USD 9,000.5 
1.8.  Turning to the expenditure side of performance in 2021, domestic demand grew by 11.1 %, 
notably due to a 22.1 % increase in gross fixed capital formation and a 5.6 % increase in final 
 
2 BCRD (2022), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -diciembre 2021 , March 2022. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -12.pd f. 
3 BCRD (2022), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -marzo 2022 , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco_2022 -03.pdf?v=1658928957082?v=1658928957087 . 
4 BCRD (2021), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -diciembre 2020 , March 2021. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -03.pdf . 
5 BCRD (2022), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -diciembre 2021 , March 2022. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/inf orme-de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -12.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 15 - 
  consumption, mainly private consumption, which rose by 6.6 % (compared with public consumption, 
which grew by only 0.1 %). Private consumption was boosted by monetary easing measures 
implemented in 2020, and by the historic level of remittances in 2021, which exceeded 
USD 10 billion. T he authorities indi cated that trends in gross fixed capital formation reflect the 
dynamism shown by the construction sector, which has revived with the resumption of major 
projects in the tourism, commercial and residential sectors . They also consider that the positive 
investment climate and more favourable financial conditions contributed to the performance of this 
component of domestic demand . As exports grew by 36.2 %, that is, faster than imports, which 
increased by 24.7 %, net exports thus contributed positively to real GD P.6 
1.9.  As noted above, real GDP grew by 6.1 % during the first quarter of 2022 compared with the 
same period the previous year . Looking at this result through the lens of expenditure, domestic 
demand grew by 8.0 %, driven mainly by an 8.4 % increase in gross fixed capital formation and a 
4.5% jump in final consumption . Exports and imports showed positive year -on-year changes of 
32.2% and 23.5 %, respectively.7 
1.10.   The economy's sustained growth between 2015 and 2019 was reflected in a drop in th e open 
unemployment rate (the official unemployment rate), which fell from an average of 7.3% in 2015 
to 6.2% in 2019 . Economic growth and reduced unemployment led to the overall poverty rate 
dropping from 30.8 % in 2015 to 21.0 % in 2019, while extreme pove rty fell from 6.3 % in 2015 to 
2.7% in 2019 .8 The average open unemployment rate was 5.8% in 2020, below the rate in 2019, 
although this is partly due to the impact of the COVID -19 pandemic, as measures such as quarantine 
and the shutdown of non -essential economic activities had a strong impact on the labour market, 
causing part of the labour force to withdraw from the market . In particular, for example, in the 
second quarter of 2020, the unemployment rate was 3.2 %, as people were unable to actively search 
for work due to lockdown measures . In the third and fourth quarters of 2020, the labour market 
situation began to stabilize and people began job -hunting again, raising open unemployment rates 
to 7.1 % and 7.4 %, respectively .9 In 2021, the labour market con tinued to stabilize with the average 
open unemployment rate remaining at 7.4 %, reflecting the fact that a large proportion of the inactive 
population began actively looking for work again . However, in the first quarter of 2022 the 
unemployment rate fell to  6.4% and the employment rate rose to 59.4 %, compared with 56.7 % in 
2020.  
1.11.   In its most recent Article IV review, in May 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted 
that the Dominican Republic has experienced a strong recovery from the pandemic, supported by 
well-sequenced policies, an agile reopening and global economic growth . The IMF indicated that this 
recovery allowed the authorities to take steps to secure policy sustainability, and that ongoing and 
planned reforms have the potenti al to improve policy frameworks and foster inclusive growth over 
the medium term . Specifically, it highlights the resilience of the Dominican economy to global shocks, 
supported by sound policies, monetary policy support, a nimble COVID -19 vaccination camp aign and 
a reopening that made the most of the global rebound . The IMF noted that, by the end of 2021, GDP 
was about 5 % above pre -pandemic levels, and that the external position was robust, with the current 
account financed by FDI and attaining a significa nt accumulation of reserves . According to the IMF's 
assessment, GDP growth was expected to converge to 5 % - around its potential - and inflation to 
return to the target range (see below) in 2023 as the impact of global shocks recedes . It was 
recommended th at the monetary policy be data dependent, to keep inflation expectations 
well-anchored, to safeguard the credibility of the inflation targeting regime and to seek an inclusive 
fiscal consolidation that can secure the downward path in public debt . To this e nd, it was suggested 
to strengthen both public financial management and the medium -term fiscal framework while 
 
6 BCRD (2022), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -diciembre 2021 , March 2022. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -12.pdf . 
7 BCRD (2022), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -marzo 2022 , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco_2022 -03.pdf?v=1658928957082?v=1658928957087 . 
8 Information provided by the authorities.  
9 BCRD (2021), Informe de la Economía Dominicana, enero -diciembre 2020 , March 2021. Viewed at: 
https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaciones -economicas/informe -de-la-economia -
dominicana/documents/infeco2021 -03.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 16 - 
  increasing transparency and governance, including in public procurement, and to continue 
improvements in the business climate and investing in in frastructure and human capital.10 
1.2.2   Fiscal policy  
1.12.   Fiscal policy in the Dominican Republic is developed and implemented by the Ministry 
of Finance . The Ministry's mandate is to "ensure the sustainability of public finances, in order to 
contribute to macroecon omic stability through the efficient and equitable design and execution of 
revenue, expenditure and financing policies promoting the well -being of Dominican society".11 
1.13.   The medium -term fiscal policy guidelines aim to anchor the public debt path to the 
sustainability framework in order to ensure the allocation of public resources to meet social demands 
and position the Dominican Republic's sovereign rating at investment grade . In accordance with the 
medium -term fiscal framework 2022 -26, these objectives focu s on fiscal discipline, strengthening 
tax revenues and targeting public resources . The fulfilment of these objectives is expected to create 
the conditions to foster macroeconomic stability . The authorities consider that fiscal leeway is needed 
to implement  policies to address the country's structural problems without increasing fiscal risks or 
compromising the future of public finances . The authorities are of the view  that medium -term fiscal 
policy should focus on reducing gross financing needs and public d ebt levels while curbing 
unnecessary expenditure, increasing tax revenue and managing the debt portfolio efficiently.12 
1.14.   The medium -term fiscal framework provides for a path of gradual and continuous 
consolidation of the fiscal deficit, in order to achieve balanced public finances and reduce the debt 
service burden on tax revenue . Another key objective of the fiscal framework is to ensure the 
financing of public expenditure, prioritizing and streamlining it in line with expected revenue . To this 
end, improving expenditure quality and efficiency is deemed necessary, which involves continuing 
to restructure state institutions . The medium -term tax policy guidelines are aimed at strengthening 
the tax system by adjusting it to the OECD's Inclusive Framewor k on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting 
(BEPS) . A policy of increasing tax revenue will be pursued by making administrative improvements 
and using new technologies, such as electronic invoicing, for the purposes of tax collection and 
inspection to fight tax avoidance, evasion and fraud . The debt management guidelines focus on 
minimizing financing costs and mitigating portfolio risks, and include increasing the share of debt 
with multilateral organizations and reducing reliance on bond issues in international markets . Efforts 
will also be made to further develop and deepen the local capital market.13 
1.15.   Law No.  139-11 and Law No. 253-12 on strengthening the State's revenue capacity for fiscal 
sustainability and sustainable development , led to significant changes i n the taxes applied.  
Law No. 253-12 provides that natural persons resident or domiciled in the Dominican Republic shall 
pay tax on the net taxable income of the fiscal year in question, calculated as the sum total resulting 
from applying an inflation -adjus ted rates scale progressively . In 2022, income from DOP 416,220.01 
to DOP 624,329 will be levied at 15 % of the surplus of DOP 416,220.01 ; income from 
DOP 624,329.01 to DOP 867,123 pay s DOP 31,216 plus 20 % of the surplus of DOP 624,329.01 ; 
income exceeding DOP 867,123.01 pay s DOP 79,776 plus 25 % of the surplus of DOP 867,123.01 . 
Income tax (ISR) is levied at a rate of 27 % for legal persons.  
1.16.   During most of the review period, 2020 being the main exception, the Dominican tax 
authorities pursued a prud ent and rather tight  fiscal policy, with a view to fiscal consolidation 
(Box 1.1). 
 
10 IMF (2022), "IMF  Staff Completes 2022 Article IV Mission to the Dominican Republic", 16  May 2022. 
Press Release No.  22/154. Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/05/16/pr22154 -imf-staff-
completes -2022-article -iv-mission -to-the-dominican -republic . 
11 Ministry of  Finance (2022), Memoria Institucional. Año 2021 . Viewed at: 
https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/02/Memorias__MH_y_dependencias_2021_ -
_copia.pdf . 
12 Government of the Dominican Republic. Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plaz o 
2022-2026, April 2022. Viewed at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-
2026-30042022 -86.pdf . 
13 Government of the Dominican Republic. Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plazo 
2022-2026, April 2022. Viewed at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-
2026-30042022 -86.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 17 - 
  Box 1.1 Base primary balance, structural primary balance and fiscal stimulus  
As the Dominican economy is susceptible to external shocks, the authorities rely on estimating balances that 
are free from the effects of the business cycle and components such as extraordinary revenue . The base 
primary balance is the indicator of the fiscal balance, excluding interest payments, af ter adjusting for business 
cycle fluctuations, that is, it is the primary balance that would be obtained if GDP grew at its potential level . 
The structural primary balance is an indicator that allows the fiscal stance to be viewed in isolation from the 
effects on the business cycle, as well as from commodity prices, non -recurring items and temporary 
extraordinary revenue . According to the authorities' estimates, the Dominican Republic is characterized by a 
structural primary balance that, on average, is mor e negative than the base primary balance, that is, the 
structural primary deficit exceeded the base primary deficit during most years of the review period.a 
The fiscal stance is the change in  the structural primary balance . Fiscal stimulus is a change in fiscal stance . 
It is the indicator that quantifies the additional fiscal effort that the Government contributes to the economy 
over a given period . For most of the pre -pandemic years, the Government provided a negative fiscal impulse . 
However,  during periods of high expenditure, such as times of economic crisis, the fiscal stimulus is positive, 
due to government policies to mitigate the adversities arising from such crises.b 
 
When fiscal impulse is broken down into its revenue and expenditure c omponents, it becomes even clearer 
how, during periods of macroeconomic instability, the Government prefers to implement an expansionary 
fiscal policy, consisting of an increase in public spending and a reduction in tax revenue . This can be seen 
quite clea rly in 2020, when expenditure increased, mainly on programmes to counter the effects of the 
pandemic . These programmes had two main aims : income protection for vulnerable households and informal 
workers ( Quédate en casa  ("Stay at home")  programme  and the S elf-Employment Assistance Programme) 
and job and income protection for formal workers (Employee Solidarity Assistance Fund) . In 2021, the social 
welfare  programmes implemented in 2020 were gradually scaled back, due to an overall recovery from the 
COVID -19 pandemic, and the fiscal impulse almost entirely disappeared . The fiscal impulse is expected to 
remain negative in 2022.  
A recent paper published by the Ministry of Finance examines the Dominican Republic's pre -pandemic fiscal 
performance, using indicato rs such as fiscal stance and fiscal stimulus, and reaches conclusions in line with 
the above assessment . The findings show, from 2012 onwards, an increasingly tight and countercyclical fiscal 
stance.c According to the paper, when the fiscal stimulus is dis aggregated into its revenue and expenditure 
components, it appears that, while the revenue stimulus was on average contractionary, through tax 
increases, for example, its effect was offset by an expansionary expenditure stimulus . According to the 
findings,  in 2013 and 2014, fiscal policy was tight due to increased tax collection, reduced investment spending 
and lower non -electronic capital transfers . In 2015, the fiscal stimulus was expansionary (decrease in the 
structural primary deficit) and was marked by  a decrease in income tax collection combined with an increase 
in capital spending on infrastructure and transport . From 2016 to 2019, the fiscal stimulus was negative on 
average, with higher tax revenues, a fall in capital spending and improved public finances management in 
accordance with the needs of the economy . In 2020, an expansionary fiscal policy was adopted in response 
to the pandemic.  
a The structural primary balance was -1.6% in 2014 ; -1.3% in 2015 ; -0.9% in 2016 ; -0.3% in 2017 ; 
0.1% in 2018 ; 0.5% in 2019 ; -9.4% in 2020 ; and -1.5% in 2021 . Source : Directorate -General of 
Fiscal Analysis and Policy.  
b Government of the Dominican Republic . Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plazo 
2022-2026, April 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-2026-30042022 -86.pdf . 
c Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic (2020), Directorate -General of Fisc al Analysis and 
Policy, Impulso Fiscal de la República Dominicana : Una Mirada a la Posición de Política Fiscal . 
Authors : Paola Brens and Elizabeth Santana . Research paper series No. 2020-01, July 2020. Viewed  
at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2020/08/2020 -01-IF_compressed.pdf . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
1.17.   Despite the rather tight  fiscal policy, both the centr al Government and the non -financial public 
sector (NFPS) posted deficits throughout the period under review, with total expenditures exceeding 
revenue in each year of the period . This result is partly explained by a relatively low share of revenue 
in GDP, which was 15.6 % in 2021, while the share of tax revenue was 14.4 %. While tax revenue 
grew as a result  of stronger economic growth and the effects of tax administration  reforms, control 
of expenditure was less effective . The overall NFPS deficit fluctuated between 2.3 % and 2.7 % of 
GDP between 2016 and 2019, before skyrocketing to 7.6 % in 2020 to finance support programmes 
in response to the pandemic, yielding an expenditure -to-GDP ratio of 20.8 %. However, due to strong 
GDP recovery in 2021, and despite the e xpenditure -to-GDP ratio of 17.2 % remaining high, the deficit 
shrank to 2.6 % of GDP (Table 1.2).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 18 - 
  Table 1.2 Statement of central Government and NFPS budgetary operations, 
2014 -first quarter 2022  
(% of GDP at current prices)  
 2014  2015 2016 2017a 2018a 2019a 2020a 2021a 2022
Q1a 
Revenue  14.2 16.6 13.9 14.0 14.2 14.4 14.2 15.6 15.0 
Taxes  13.3 12.8 12.9 13.0 13.0 13.3 12.4 14.4 13.7 
Taxes on income, profits, and 
capital gains  4.2 3.7 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.2 4.2 4.9 4.0 
Taxes on property  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 
Taxes on goods and services  8.0 8.0 7.9 7.8 7.9 8.0 7.2 8.3 8.5 
General taxes on goods and 
services  4.9 5.0 4.9 4.8 5.0 5.1 4.7 5.4 5.6 
Value added tax (ITBIS)  4.5 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.4 4.8 5.1 
Taxes on financial and 
capital transactions  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.4 
Selective goods tax  2.4 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 1.9 2.1 2.1 
Taxes on specific services  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 
Taxes on use of goods and 
on permission to use goods or 
perform activities  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 
Taxes on international trade 
and transactions  0.9 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.9 1.0 
Other taxes  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Social contributions  0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Grantsb 0.2 3.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 
Other revenue  0.7 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.1 1.0 1.4 1.1 1.2 
Expenditure  15.0 14.5 15.2 15.6 15.0 15.2 20.8 17.1 15.8 
Compensation of employees  4.3 4.8 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.8 4.4 4.0 
Wages and salaries  3.9 4.3 3.9 3.9 4.0 4.0 4.3 3.9 3.5 
Employers' social contributions  0.4 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 
Use of goods and services  1.5 1.5 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.9 2.3 2.1 1.4 
Interests  2.4 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6 2.7 3.2 3.1 4.0 
To non -residents  0.9 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.7 2.4 
To residents  1.5 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.5 
including : Central Bank 
capitalization bondsc 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 
Subsidies  1.6 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.4 1.2 
To public corporations  1.6 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.9 
including : to the electricity 
sector  1.4 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.9 0.8 
To private companies  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 
Grants  2.8 2.3 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.7 3.4 3.3 2.5 
To foreign governments  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
To international organizations  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
To other units of the general 
Government  2.8 2.3 3.0 2.7 2.6 2.7 3.3 3.3 2.5 
Social benefits  1.4 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 4.2 1.7 1.4 
Other expenditure  0.9 1.2 1.8 2.2 1.8 1.5 2.0 1.1 1.2 
Transfers not included under 
another heading  0.9 1.2 1.8 2.2 1.8 1.5 2.0 1.1 1.2 
Current transfers not 
included under another heading  0.3 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.7 
including : Central Bank 
capitalization transfersc 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 
Capital transfers not 
included under other headings  0.6 0.8 1.4 1.6 1.2 0.9 1.7 0.9 0.5 
including : for investment 
projects  0.6 0.8 1.1 1.3 0.8 0.5 0.9 0.9 0.3 
Gross operating balanced -0.7 2.2 -1.3 -1.6 -0.8 -0.8 -6.6 -1.5 -0.7 
Gross investment in 
non-financial assets  2.0 2.1 1.7 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.7 1.5 0.8 
Fixed assets  2.0 2.1 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.5 0.8 
Valuables  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Non-produced assets  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Memorandum item : Capital 
expenditure (IMF FSM Manual 
1986)g 2.9 3.3 3.0 3.4 2.7 2.3 2.9 2.8 1.3 
Expenditure  17.0 16.6 16.9 17.4 16.5 16.7 22.5 18.6 16.5 
Primary balance  -0.4 2.3 -0.6 -0.5 0.4 0.6 -4.7 0.2 3.0 
Net lending (+) / net 
borrowing ( -)e -2.8 0.0 -3.1 -3.1 -2.2 -2.2 -7.9 -2.9 -1.0 
Net acquisition of financial 
assets  -0.8 -0.1 0.3 0.3 0.8 1.6 3.2 0.6 4.8 
Internal receivables  -0.8 -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.6 3.2 0.6 4.8 
Currency and deposits  -0.7 -0.1 0.2 0.2 0.7 0.3 3.0 0.3 4.8 
Equity and investment fund 
shares  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.0 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 19 - 
   2014  2015 2016 2017a 2018a 2019a 2020a 2021a 2022
Q1a 
Other accounts receivable  -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 
External receivables  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Equity and investment fund 
shares  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Net incurrence of liabilities  2.0 0.0 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.8 11.1 3.5 5.8 
Domestic creditors  0.3 0.1 1.6 2.0 -0.1 1.7 1.8 0.6 -5.6 
Debt securities  1.1 1.2 2.3 2.0 0.4 2.3 3.7 0.7 -2.6 
including : domestic bonds  1.0 1.1 2.0 2.1 0.4 2.3 3.7 0.6 -2.3 
Issues  1.1 1.3 2.3 2.2 0.7 2.6 3.9 2.8 0.0 
Amortization  -0.2 -0.2 -0.3 -0.2 -0.4 -0.4 -0.2 -2.2 -2.3 
Balancef 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Loans  -1.0 0.4 -0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.5 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 
With the banking sector  -1.4 0.4 -0.4 0.0 -0.1 0.5 -0.4 -0.1 -0.2 
With the non -banking sector  0.4 0.0 0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other liabilities  0.1 -1.6 -0.4 0.1 -0.4 -1.0 -1.5 0.1 -2.8 
External creditors  1.7 -0.1 1.8 1.4 3.1 2.1 9.3 2.9 11.4 
Debt securities  2.1 4.7 1.9 2.0 3.5 2.2 7.2 2.9 10.5 
Issues  2.2 4.9 2.0 2.1 3.6 2.7 9.4 3.0 13.5 
Amortization  -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.2 -0.1 -0.6 -2.3 -0.1 -3.1 
Balancef 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Loans  -0.3 -4.9 0.0 -0.6 -0.4 -0.1 2.1 0.0 1.0 
Outlays  1.2 2.1 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.7 0.4 1.3 
Amortizationb -2.1 -6.9 -1.0 -0.9 -0.9 -0.8 -0.7 -0.5 -0.4 
Balance  0.6 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 -0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Overall statistical discrepancyg 0.0 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.6 
Rest of the NFPSh 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Net lending (+) / net 
borrowing ( -)e -0.7 -0.2 0.4 0.3 -0.1 -0.1 0.3 0.2 1.5 
Net acquisition of financial 
assets  0.4 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.3 1.3 
Internal receivables  0.4 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.3 1.3 
External receivables  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Net incurrence of liabilities  1.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.2 -0.4 0.1 -0.2 
Domestic creditors  1.1 0.2 -0.1 -0.2 0.3 0.2 -0.4 0.1 -0.2 
External creditors  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Non-financial public sectori          
Net lending (+) / net 
borrowing ( -)e -3.5 -0.3 -2.7 -2.8 -2.3 -2.3 -7.6 -2.7 0.5 
a Preliminary figures.  
b In 2015, DOP 93,157.2  million  relating to the discount on the face value of the prepaid debt to 
Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. and DOP 179,148.6  million  for the repayment of 97.7 % of the 
accumulated debt as at December  2014 are included as grant income.  
c Includes bonds to capitalize the Central Bank (Law No. 121-05) and bonds to recapitalize the 
Central  Bank (Law No. 167-07). The Law on Recapitalization is divided into two parts : (1) Bonds 
issued, interest payments on bonds and arrears on those payments are included under the following 
headings : (i) interest, and (ii) debt securities ; and (2) when interest on bonds issued falls short of 
the amount committ ed by the central Government through the schedule stipulated in the Law or 
through the General State Budget, the shortfall is classified as : (i) current transfers not elsewhere 
classified, and (ii) other liabilities.  
d Income minus expenditure, except cons umption of fixed capital . Consumption of fixed capital is not 
registered due to the unavailability of high -frequency data.  
e Net lending/borrowing is equivalent to the former "balance sheet" or "surplus/deficit" of public sector 
institutional units.  
f Includes net arrears, capitalizations, renegotiations, assignments of debts and net adjustments for 
premium on issue of debt securities and accrued interest on the placement.  
g The overall statistical discrepancy is the difference between net lending/net borro wing calculated in 
two ways : (1) net acquisition of financial assets minus net incurrence of liabilities ; and (2) income 
minus expenditure.  
h The rest of the NFPS includes the extra -budgetary central Government, local governments (city 
councils), social se curity funds and non -financial public corporations (non -financial public 
enterprises) . The term "extra -budgetary" indicates that these institutions receive transfers from the 
budgetary central Government and use the funds independently . Due to data availab ility, only 
financing of these institutions, which gives the net lending/borrowing amount, is presented here.  
i The NFPS includes general Government ( central Government as well as local governments (city 
councils )) and non -financial public corporations (no n-financial public enterprises).  
Source:  BCRD . 
1.18.   To address the effects of the pandemic, the Government implemented a package of measures 
to protect jobs and support the productive sectors . The package includes tax assistance for 
businesses of all sizes, and ranges from the deferral of tax payments owed to the adjustment of 
advance payments, including relief at the time of execution . The initial package, announced in WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 20 - 
  March  2020, included assistance programmes, as well as support programmes for citiz ens and 
businesses, totalling DOP 32,062.5  million  (about USD 576 million , or 0.75 % of GDP) from the 
following financial sources : DOP  12 billion  from the technical reserves of the Dominican Institute for 
the Protection and Prevention of Occupational Hazard s (IDOPRIL) ; DOP  12 billion  from a 
Central  Bank loan to the Government ; and USD 150 million  from a loan granted by the World  Bank 
in 2017 for emergency purposes.14 
1.19.   The original economic measures included several social spending programmes, in particular, 
the Quédate en Casa  programme, with resources of DOP 16,980 million , to subsidize 1.5  million  
households identified as poor or vulnerable . The programme extended cove rage of the existing 
Comer es Primero  ("Eating comes first") programme, which paid DOP 5,000 per month 
(about  USD 90) to 811,003 families, to include 688,997 new households over a two -month period . 
The programme also made an additional transfer of up to DOP 2,000 to households with a member 
over 60 years of age or with pre -existing health problems . The Employee Solidarity Assistance Fund 
(FASE) was also created, with a budget of up to USD 15 billion , providing some 754,000  families of 
laid-off formal worker s with a monthly transfer of up to 70 % of their last formal salaries, of at least 
DOP 5,000. In May 2020, a new programme entitled Pa' Ti  ("For You ") was introduced with an 
estimated budget of DOP 2.4 billion  to support the self -employed, providing DOP 5,000 per month 
to each beneficiary, as well as a further subsidy available for health care . The new Government 
extended the duration of all social welfare  programmes until the end of 2020.15 
1.20.   Other pandemic -response measures include  a decision by the Central Bank to reduce the 
monetary policy rate (MPR) by 100 basis points and to inject liquidity  exceeding DOP 80 million  and 
USD 600 million  into financial intermediaries, and to increase funds released from the reserve 
requirement to DOP 30,133.4  million  to facilitate lending to households and productive sectors . 
Further measures included granting extensions to companies and individuals for the payment of the 
ISR and a 10 -day grace period for the declaration and payment of  the tax on t he transfer of 
industrialized goods and services ( ITBIS ), and the possibility of paying in four equal instalments 
without incurring penalties ; halving instalment amounts of all existing payment agreements, thereby 
doubling their validity period ; and enabli ng taxpayers in arrears to regularize their payments without 
incurring penalties.  
1.21.   Under Decree No. 358-20 of 1 9 August  2020, the new Government extended the validity of 
the programmes FASE I, FASE II, Quédate en Casa  and Pa' Ti  until 3 1 December  2020. The FASE  I 
programme was subsequently extended again until April 2021 and the Navidad para los trabajadores  
("Christmas for Workers") fund was set up, providing all laid -off employees benefiting from the 
FASE I programme with a transfer equivalent to one tw elfth of the amount received under the FASE  I 
welfare programme, with total expenditure amounting to DOP 2.3 billion. I n June and 
September  2020, amended budgets were approved . In January  2021, the President announced that 
the Quédate en Casa  programme wou ld be extended until April 2021 and possibly replaced by a new 
programme, Supérate  ("Get ahead") . While Quédate en Casa  and FASE I ended in late April, the 
Government announced a further FASE programme up until July 2021 for workers in the tourism 
sector . Table 1.3 presents the data on government expenditure on social protection programmes in 
response to the COVID -19 pandemic, as of February  2022. 
Table 1.3 Central Government expenditure on social protection pr ogrammes in response 
to COVID -19, February  2022 
(Expenditure in DOP  million , number of beneficiaries and start/end date)  
Initiative  Expenditure  Beneficiaries  Start  End 
Quédate en Casa  86,656  1,570,760  Mar-20 Apr-21 
FASE 51,019  942,359  Mar-20 Jul-21 
Fase I/Fase I extended  50,909  407,746  Apr-20 Apr-21 
Fase II  -a 534,613  May-20 Dec-20 
Tourism phase  110 5,854  May-21 Jul-21 
Pa' Ti 7,403  190,375  May-20 Dec-20 
Incentives for humanitarian work  8,341  177,872  Mar-20 Feb-22 
 
14 Government of the Dominican Republic. Ministry of  Finance (2020). Gobierno Lanza un Paquete de 
Ayuda Económic a para Proteger a la República Dominicana , 27 March. Viewed at: 
https://www.hacienda.gob.do/gobierno -lanza-un-paquet e-historico -de-ayuda -economica -para-proteger -a-la-
republica -dominicana . 
15 IMF, "Policy Responses to COVID -19". Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf -and-
covid1 9/Policy -Responses -to-COVID -19. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 21 - 
  Initiative  Expenditure  Beneficiaries  Start  End 
COVID -19 contracts  9,818  1,565b Mar-20 Feb-22 
Other expenditure  41,766  n/a Mar-20 Ongoing  
Vacúnate  RD ("Get vaccinated 
DR")c, total expenditure  21,176  35+ million  
doses  Feb-21 
First dose   
7,263,927  
Second dose   
6,026,042  
Booster   
2,430,927  
Overall total  226,179  10,145,293    
Notes:  Preliminary figures, subject to correction by the competent  government agencies.  
a Included in Fase I total.  
b Total number of contracts concluded by the State in the context of COVID -19. This figure does not 
include active contracts as of the date specified.  
c The expenditure figures reflect the amount accrued for the purchase of vaccine doses by the Ministry 
of Public Health between January and September  2021, in accordance with the Budget 
Implementation Report for the same  semester published by the Directorate -General of the Budget 
(DIGEPRES).  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
1.22.   In October  2020, the Government approved a further budget increase of DOP 202 billion  
(4.5% of GDP) to mitigate the pandemic -induced crisis. The budget was amended twice in 2021 . 
The first  amendment, approved in August through Law No. 166-21, modified the total revenues, 
expenditures and financing due to the positive domestic environment and increasing pressures on 
expenditure in order t o implement the vaccination programme, vital welfare programmes, and 
mechanisms to respond to rising international commodity prices . Based on a positive revenue 
outlook and given higher spending on the above items, the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP was 
projected to increase, which savings from the debt buy -back in late 2020 would cover comfortably . 
Given that revenues exceeded expectations, and in order to offset higher fuel and fertilizer prices, a 
new budget was approved, amended in December through Law No. 341-21, which provided for a 
lower deficit as a percentage of GDP compared with the August amendment, thereby reverting to 
the levels of the initial budget .16 This was partly possible because, to protect itself from rising 
international prices of oil derivatives, the Dominican Government decided to purchase a call option 
for natural gas in April 2021 to guarantee a maximum price (USD 3.25 per MMBtu ).17 Despite this, 
subsidies were the fastest growing expenditure item in 2021, wit h DOP 13,045.8  million  allocated to 
mitigate the effect of increased prices of oil derivatives and DOP 47,397.6  million  to subsidize 
expenditures on  the liabilities of  electricity distribution companies.  
1.23.   In June 2021, Decree No. 396-21 reducing superficial  expenditure was approved, in order to 
address rising expenditure, which saved DOP 12,409.3  million , according to the authorities . As a 
result, the central Government posted a surplus of 0.2 % of GDP in 2021, and an overall deficit of 
2.9% of GDP . The overa ll deficit of the NFPS was 2.7 % of GDP . External financing covered 83.6 % 
of the deficit, through bonds issued on international markets and bilateral loans, while domestic 
financing covered 16.4%, mostly through bonds issued on the local market.18 
1.24.   In 2020, USD 3.8 billion  of sovereign bonds were issued on the international market to deliver 
on welfare programmes and to expand the budget .19 This ensured that  the necessary resources were 
obtained to meet the commitments of the welfare programmes until year-end and the health sector 
 
16 Government of the Dominican Republic. Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plazo 
2022-2026, April 2022. Viewed at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-
2026-30042022 -86.pdf . 
17 The procurement of this coverage was phased, covering 80 % of fuel imports from May to 
December  2021, 60 % of imports in 2022 and 40 % in 2023. Natural gas is used in 50% of the country's 
electricity production grid.  
18 Government of the Dominican Republic. Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plazo 
2022-2026, April 2022. Viewed at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-
2026-30042022 -86.pdf ; and Ministry of Finance, Directorate -General of Fiscal Analysis and Policy, Informe de 
Coyuntura Fiscal , diciembre de 2021.  Monitoreo trimestral y acumulado de las finanzas públicas de la 
República  Dominicana . Viewed at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -
content/uploads/2022/03/Coyuntura_Fiscal_Diciembre_2021 -1.pdf. 
19 This transaction was divided into three tranches: a new bond for a total of USD  1.8 billion, with a 
12-year term, yielding 4.875 %; the reopening of the dollar bond maturing in 2060, yielding 6.25 %, for 
USD 1.7 billion; and the reopening of the DOP 17.5 billion (USD 300 million) bond, yielding 10 % and maturing 
in 2026.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 22 - 
  plans . Loans and trade credit lines were also obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 
the World Bank, the Inter -American Development Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America and 
the Central American Bank for E conomic Integration . A budget support subsidy of DOP 725 million  
(USD 12.4 million ) was obtained from the European Union (EU) and domestic debt of 
USD 700 million  was raised, with maturities ranging from 10 to 20 years at a 10 -11% interest rate . 
In Decembe r, the Government announced plans to reopen its 2032 global bonds to repurchase 
four series of dollar bonds maturing between 2021 and 2025, for up to USD 3.5 billion. I n 
January  2021, the Government issued an additional USD 2.5 billion , with maturities of 10 and 
40 years, and interest rates of 4.5 % and 5.875 %, respectively.  
1.25.   Public debt buybacks continued in 2022 . The Government cancelled USD 1,162.2  million  in 
obligations for 2022 -24 through the Liability Management Operation in February  2022.20 Two new 
bonds were also issued, maturing in 2029 and 2033 with a coupon of 5.5 % and 6.0 % respectively . 
The cost of the debt decreased by 3 basis points and the maturity of the dollar bond portfolio 
increased by 0.3 years .21 Public debt levels fell in 2021 as a res ult of the debt buyback . As of 
December  2021, NFPS debt amounted to USD 47,674.1  million , equivalent to 50.5 % of GDP 
(external debt accounted for 35.3 % of GDP and domestic debt for 15.2 % of GDP, respectively), 
compared with 56.7 % in December  2020.22 The de crease as a percentage of GDP also reflects the 
accelerated GDP growth in 2021.  
1.26.   During the Dominican Republic's previous Article IV review, the IMF noted that there is scope 
to mobilize more tax revenue by broadening the tax base and streamlining exemption s while 
calibrating its distributional impact . The IMF considers that this would contribute to inclusive fiscal 
consolidation in the medium term, while leaving room for essential expenditures .23 According to the 
IMF, fiscal authorities took advantage of th e economic recovery in 2021 to front -load a consolidation, 
securing policy sustainability . The budget redirected spending at aiding the reopening – especially 
through vaccination – and at mitigating the impact of rising commodity prices . The recovery allow ed 
the gradual phase -out of income and employment pandemic -related support, which along with strict 
expenditure controls, helped reduce the deficit by about 5 % of GDP .24 The IMF noted that the 2022 
budget continues to prioritize expenditure rationalization  while mitigating the impact of higher 
commodity prices and that a neutral fiscal stance could be expected in 2022 . The authorities were 
expected to continue curbing current spending and proceed with reforms in the electricity 
sector  – including gradually adjusting tariffs and replacing consumption -based subsidies with 
targeted transfers . However, 2022 subsidies were expected to remain elevated to mitigate the 
impact of higher energy and food prices.  
1.27.   The Dominican Republic publishes statistics on ex ante  estimates of tax expenditures .25 In 
accordance with these estimates, Chart 1.1 shows that tax expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 
on a downward path between 2016 and 2019, falling from 6.6 % to 5.1 % of GDP . After a slight 
upturn in 2020, partly explained by pandemic -response measures, tax expenditure entered a new 
 
20 USD 178.8 million  (15%) of this amount are 2022 obligations, USD 575.9 million (50 %) are 2023  
obligations, and USD 407.5 million (35 %) are 2024 obligations.  
21 Ministry of Finance, Directorate -General of Fiscal Analysis and Policy, Informe de Coyuntura Fiscal, 
marzo de 2022 . Monitoreo trimestral y acumulado de las finanzas públicas de la República Dominicana . Viewed 
at: https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads /2022/03/Informe -Coyuntura -Fiscal -Marzo -2022.pdf . 
22 This was the result of the three liability management operations carried out by the 
Directorate -General of Public Credit of the Ministry of Finance, between 2020 and 2022. These operations were 
aimed at e nsuring public debt sustainability by making significant reductions in short - and medium -term debt 
service through repurchase or exchange transactions. The three operations cancelled USD 4,047 million of debt 
for 2021 -27, USD 3,549 million of which was ded ucted from debt service. Government of the 
Dominican  Republic. Ministry of Finance, Marco Fiscal de Mediano Plazo 2022 -2026, April 2022. Viewed at: 
https: //www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2022/05/MFMP -2022-2026-30042022 -86.pdf . 
23 IMF (2022), "IMF Staff Completes 2022 Article IV Mission to the Dominican Republic", 16  May 2022. 
Press Release No. 22/154. Viewed at: https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2022/05/16/pr22154 -imf-staff-
completes -2022-article -iv-mission -to-the-dominican -republic . 
24 IMF (2022), IMF Country Report No. 22/217. "Dominican Republic. 2022 Article IV Consultation -Press 
Release; and Staff Report" . July 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/CR/Issues/2022/07/08/Dominican -Republic -2022-Article -IV-Consultation -
Press -Release -and-Staff-Report -520543 . 
25 The calculation of tax expenditure includes: exemptions, i.e. amounts excluded from the tax base; 
deductions, i.e. rebates and reductions in the tax base; credits, i.e. amounts that are deducted from or reduce 
tax; reduced rates, i.e. rates that are lower than the standard rate applicable to certain transactions or 
subjects; and deferral, i.e. postponement of tax payments.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 23 - 
  downward phase, accounting for 5 % of GDP in 202126 and 4.9 % of GDP estimated for 2022 . By tax 
type, the largest tax expenditure is value -added tax, or the ITBIS, which accounted for 52.2 % (2.9% 
of GDP during the period) of average estimated tax expenditure between 2016 and 2022 . This is 
followed by tax expenditure on income tax (14 %; 0.78% of GDP) and fuel tax (9.7 %; 0.54% of 
GDP).27 Of the to tal estimated tax expenditure, 90 % relates to tax exemptions collected by the 
Director -General of Internal Revenue (DGII) and 10 % to taxes levied by the Directorate -General of 
Customs (DGA) . Tax expenditure on tariffs accounted for 0.1 % of GDP in 2020 and 2021. The main 
beneficiaries of tax expenditures are individuals (40 % of the total), industrial areas (13 % in 2021), 
health (10 %), power generation (5 %) and tourism (3 %). 
Chart 1.1 Tax expenditure by tax type and as a percentage of GDP, 2015 -22 
 
Source:  Ministry of Finance.  
1.2.3   Monetary and exchange -rate policy  
1.28.   The main objective of the Dominican Republic's monetary policy is  price stability, as 
established by Monetary and Financial Law No.  183-02 and by the Dominican Constitution of 2010 . 
With a view to complying with this legal mandate, since January  2012 the BCRD has conducted its 
monetary policy based on an inflation -targeting scheme . Policy decisions are aimed at minimizing 
any future deviations of inflat ion from announced targets . The main tool used by the monetary 
authority to achieve this objective is the MPR, which affects the interbank rate and, potentially, other 
market interest rates . Lastly, monetary policy transmission mechanisms work in such a wa y that 
adjustments in the MPR have an impact on private individuals' consumption, saving and investment 
decisions.  
1.29.   The preparation of the monetary programme under the inflation -targeting scheme takes into 
account the outlook for key variables in the moneta ry, fiscal, real and external sectors, which in 
turn, consider the implementation of the monetary policy measures required to meet the inflation 
target over the stipulated time horizon . Developments in the monetary base and other monetary 
aggregates are ta ken as indicative variables .28 The Central Bank's monetary programme has its legal 
 
26 Ministry of Finance of the Dominican Republic. Gasto Tributario en República Dominicana Estimación 
para el Presupuesto General del Estado del año 2021 , September 2020. Viewed at: 
https://www.hacienda.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2021/01/2020 -10-16-Estimacion -del-Gasto -Tributario -
2021.pdf . 
27 The report containing e stimated tax expenditure has its legal basis in Organic Public Sector Budget 
Law No.  423-06 of 17 November 2006, which establishes that the Ministry of Finance shall prepare an 
explanatory report on the exemptions for the period included in the draft Gener al State Budget (PGE) and 
which provides that, as one of these elements, a document shall be drawn up stating the amount of the tax 
exemptions granted The report is prepared by an inter -institutional commission coordinated by the 
Directorate -General of Tax  Policy and Legislation (DGPLT) and also composed of the Directorate -General of 
Internal Revenue (DGII) and the Directorate -General of Customs (DGA). The report is prepared by an 
inter-institutional commission coordinated by the Directorate -General of Tax Policy and Legislation (DGPLT) 
and also composed of the Directorate -General of Internal Revenue (DGII) and the Directorate -General of 
Customs (DGA). Tax expenditure estimation reports have been produced since 2008.  
28 BCRD, Resumen Ejecutivo. Programa Monet ario del Banco Central Bajo metas de inflación, 2022. 
Viewed at: https://cdn.bancentral.gov.do/documents/publicaci ones-economicas/informe -de-politica -
monetaria/documents/informepm2022 -06.pdf . 
6.5% 6.6%6.4%
5.1% 5.1%5.3%
5.0%4.9%
0.0%2.0%4.0%6.0%8.0%
050,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
% of GDP(DOP million)
ITBIS ISR ISC (Hydrocarbons) ISC (Other) Tariff Other As % of GDPWT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 24 - 
  basis in the provisions of Article 26 of Monetary and Financial Law No. 183-02 and its corresponding 
Regulations on the Monetary Programme and Monetary Policy Instruments.  
1.30.   The inflation -targeting scheme is based on four key elements : (a) price stability as the explicit 
and main goal of monetary policy, in addition to the establishment of quantitative targets for 
inflation ; (b) use of a short -term interest rate to signal the m onetary policy stance ; (c) mechanisms 
to guarantee transparency and accountability ; and (d) definition of a monetary policy stance from a 
forward -looking standpoint on inflationary pressures, and a number of other variables . The 
established target is defined in terms of the year -on-year variation of the consumer price index, and 
includes a scale of inflation targets . Since 2015, the general price index has been targeted to vary 
by 4.0 ± 1.0 % per year .29 A long-term inflation target of 4.00 % is deemed t o be an optimum level 
compatible with a GDP growth rate that is sustainable over time and in line with its potential capacity.  
1.31.   Under the explicit inflation targeting system, the BCRD holds monthly meetings at which it 
indicates the monetary policy stance t hrough decisions on the MPR level, based on the domestic and 
international macroeconomic context, and recent developments in, and the outlook for, key 
economic indicators, particularly inflation . After the monthly meeting, the BCRD issues a monetary 
policy  communiqué, which is published on the BCRD's website, containing the decision on the MPR 
and its rationale . The BCRD also publishes a monetary policy report each year in June and December, 
reviewing the outcomes of the monetary policy implemented over the  period and the short - and 
medium -term outlook for macroeconomic variables.  
1.32.   According to the authorities, monetary policy was actively used to respond to external shocks 
during the review period . Between 2014 and 2015 the Dominican economy was affected by a 
significant reduction in the price of oil and other commodities, putting downward pressure on the 
general price level . In 2014, the BCRD's monetary policy stance remained unchanged, leaving the 
MPR at 6.25 % as in the previous year . Inflation reached 1.58 %, below the lower limit of the target 
range . In 2015, inflationary expectations came under pressure from exchange rate volatility . The 
BCRD responded by increasing the reserve requirement rate by two percentage points and 
intervening in the market by sell ing up to USD 200 million , thereby steadying expectations and 
lessening exchange rate volatility . In this context, the BCRD lowered the MPR by 125 basis points 
between March and May to 5.00 % per year, leaving it unchanged until the end of the year . The MPR  
remained the same until September  2016. In October, in view of a recovery in international oil 
prices, together with an upward trend in inflation forecasts, it was decided to increase the annual 
MPR by 50 basis points to 5.50 % (Table 1.4) . At the close of  2016, inflation was below the target 
range . During the first half of 2017 , monetary policy was neutral, followed by monetary easing in 
the second half of the year . During the first half of 2017, the BCRD's monetary policy measures were 
directed towards a more neutral stance that would keep inflation on target and GDP growth at its 
potential, by raising the MPR to 5.75 % in March . Headline inflation, in turn, stood at 4.20 % in 
December  2017, reaching a level close to the central value of the target range of 4.0 % ± 1.0 % 
established in the monetary programme.30 
Table 1.4 Main monetary indicators, 2014 -first quarter 20 22 
 2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 2022  
Q1a 
Monetary aggregates           
Base money, narrow 
definition, 
(end-of-period variation 
in %) 9.5 19.3 6.9 -2.4 5.9 9.1 21.0 13.4 -7.0 
Base money, broad 
definition, 
(end-of-period variation 
in %) 15.3 4.4 14.7 12.3 -2.2 21.3 34.7 32.1 -12.0 
M1 (end -of-period 
variation in  %) 9.3 12.2 11.0 12.2 6.6 20.7 28.9 20.8 -2.8 
M2 (end -of-period 
variation in  %) 10.2 11.6 10.0 10.3 4.5 10.4 16.0 15.3 -2.5 
M3 (end -of-period 
variation in  %) 9.3 12.1 9.8 9.7 6.6 11.7 21.8 13.7 -1.7 
 
29 The target was 5.50 % +/-1.00% in 2012; 5.00 % +/-1.00% in 2013; and 4.50 % +/-1.00% in 2014. 
BCRD, Esquema de Metas de Inflación en República Dominicana . Viewed at: 
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/4036 -estrategia -metas -de-inflacion . 
30 Information provided by the BCRD.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 25 - 
   2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 2022  
Q1a 
Interest rate (annual average %)  
MPR 6.3 5.4 5.1 5.5 5.4 5.1 3.5 3.0 4.8 
Lending rateb 13.8 15.0 15.0 13.8 12.5 12.4 10.8 9.6 10.0 
Deposit ratec 6.5 6.5 6.7 6.0 6.0 6.1 4.7 2.5 3.9 
Interbank rated 6.5 5.9 5.9 6.3 5.8 6.1 5.5 4.3  5.9 
Inflation  (percentage change over 12 months)  
Inflation target  4.5+/ -1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 4+/-1 
National consumer price 
index (INPC)  3.0 0.8 1.6 3.3 3.6 1.8 3.8 8.2 8.9 
Exchange rate           
End-of-period exchange 
rate (DOP/USD)  44.4 45.6 46.7 48.3 50.3 53.0 58.3 57.5 55.2 
Period average 
exchange rate 
(DOP/USD)  43.6 45.1 46.1 47.5 49.5 51.3 56.6 57.2 56.5 
Estimated real effective 
exchange rate 
(2010=100)  105.8  108.6  110.7  113.0  116.4  120.6  129.6  126.9  124.4  
a  Preliminary figures.  
b  Annual weighted average of nominal lending rates at full -service banks ( bancos múltiples ). 
c  Annual weighted average of nominal deposit rates at full -service banks ( bancos múltiples ). 
d Annual weighted average interbank rate in domestic currency.  
Source:  BCRD.  
1.33.   During the first half of 2018, the monetary authorities kept the MPR unchanged at 5.25 %, 
but raised it to 5.5 % in July on the basis that the economy was growing above its potential and 
inflation was rising . As a result, mar ket lending and deposit rates increased, while private credit 
growth slowed . Year-on-year inflation followed a downward trend and ended the year at 1.17 %. In 
response to macroeconomic conditions affected by both external and domestic uncertainties, the 
BCRD lowered the MPR three times between June and August  2019, bringing the annual MPR to 
4.50% at the close of 2019 . In addition, DOP 34,364.6  million  were released from the reserve 
requirement in May to be channelled into the productive sectors . The authori ties indicated that, as 
a result of the monetary easing measures, economic activity regained some momentum, inflation 
returned to the target range and market interest rates fell, while the private credit growth rate 
improved.31 
1.34.   In 2020, the BCRD  implemented a set of monetary easing measures to mitigate the adverse 
effects of the global health crisis on the Dominican economy . The monetary authorities lowered the 
MPR by 150 basis points between March and August, from 4.50 % to 3.00 %, the interest ra te on the 
permanent liquidity expansion facility ( one-day repos) was reduced by 250 basis points to 3.50 % 
per year, and the interest rate on short -term interest -bearing deposits at the BCRD (overnight) was 
lowered from 3.00 % to 2.50 %. As a result, the inte rest rate corridor of the BCRD's permanent 
facilities decreased by 100 basis points ( bps), from MPR ±150 b ps to MPR ±50 b ps. As of 
March  2020, the Monetary Board also authorized the implementation of liquidity -providing 
measures . Up to DOP 190,814.4  million  was made available, including a rapid liquidity facility to be 
channelled to finance the productive sectors and households, and micro, small and medium -sized 
enterprises (MSMEs) .32 The provision of USD 622.4 million  in foreign currency liquidity w as also 
authorized . The BCRD also participated actively in the foreign exchange market through the foreign 
exchange platform and the use of foreign currency hedging instruments, and implemented 
temporary measures to lessen the impact of the pandemic on the  credit portfolio, including a 
temporary freeze on debtors' credit ratings and provisions . The monetary easing measures led to a 
fall in lending and deposit market interest rates of around 300 basis points and an expansion of 
credit to the private sector . Driven by these measures, GDP started to recover in the second half of 
2020, while inflation started to trend upwards, influenced by higher commodity prices, reaching 
5.5% year-on-year at the end of December.  
 
31 Information provided by the BCRD.  
32 These measures included the following: DOP 20,000 million through the 360 -day repo; 
DOP 100,000 million  through the rapid liquidity facility; DOP 20,000 million through the liquidity facility for 
financing the tourism, export, construction and manufacturing sectors; DOP 30,133.4 million through the 
release of reserve requirement resources; and DOP 20,681 million for financing for MSMEs through the release 
of reserve requirement resources and repurchase agreements. Information provided by the Dominican 
authorities.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 26 - 
  1.35.   In February  2021, the BCRD increased the amount  available under the rapid liquidity facility 
by an additional DOP 25 billion , bringing the total amount of liquidity facilities provided as a result 
of the pandemic to DOP 215 billion , or about 5.0 % of GDP . The MPR remained unchanged during 
the first 10 months of 2021, at 3 %. Inflationary pressures increased in 2021, mainly due to external 
factors, such as disruptions in global supply chains and higher oil and other commodity prices in 
international markets . This led the BCRD to decide, in August  2021, to phase out the monetary 
stimulus in two stages : (a) by cancelling loans granted through the various liquidity facilities as 
customers repay their loans ; and (b) by increasing the MPR by 150 basis points between November 
and December, returning it to its pre -pandemic level of 4.50 % per year . Inflation, which continued 
to be affected by external developments, accelerated until closing the year at 8.50 %.33 
1.36.   Year-on-year inflation continued to accelerate in the first few months of 2022, reaching 9.05 % 
in March  2022. The consumer price index  posted a cumulative variation of 2.80 % in the first quarter 
of 2022, which continued to reflect persistent external inflationary pressures causing additional 
increases in the prices of inputs and primary goods for produ ction and high container shipping costs . 
Cumulative core inflation recorded a variation of 1.78 % between January and March  2022, partly 
reflecting effects on production related to external supply shocks .34 Given the rise in inflation above 
the target, the BCRD continued to implement measures to strengthen the monetary normalization 
that began in November  2021 in order to help bring inflation into the target range of 4.0 % ± 1.0 %. 
In addition, measures were implemented to freeze fuel prices and subsidi ze impo rted inputs for 
domestic production and vulnerable households through the provision of staple foods at preferential 
prices . In an effort to control inflation, the BCRD increased the MPR by 50 basis points in January 
and March  2022, respectively, bringing i t to 5.50 % per year . It also reduced the financial system's 
excess liquidity through open -market operations and the repayment of loans to businesses and 
households.  
1.37.   The Dominican Republic applies a managed floating exchange rate system without 
pre-announce d targets, known as the "other managed system" . The BCRD seeks to manage the 
exchange rate in line with its long -term equilibrium value and its inflation target . The BCRD 
intervenes in the market in order to avoid excessive volatility in the exchange rate,  by buying and 
selling foreign exchange on the electronic trading platform, and with entities authorized to operate 
on this platform.  
1.38.   According to information provided by the authorities, between 2014 and 2021, the average 
nominal exchange rate depreciated  by an average 3.8 % per year . The fall in foreign exchange 
income due to the pandemic resulted in exchange -rate depreciation of 9.3 % in 2020 . In 2021, this 
situation turned around to some extent, due to the high level of international remittances and the 
upturn in activity . This led to a year -on-year exchange rate depreciation of only 1.1 % in 2021 . In 
the first half of 2022, cumulative appreciation was 4.8 %.35 According to the authorities' calculations, 
in real terms, the bilateral and multilateral real exchange rates depreciated by 16.7 % and 7.2 % 
between 2014 and 2021, despite a real exchange rate appreciation in 2021 . The authorities consider 
that such depreciation suggests gains in competitiveness in respect of major trading partners.  
1.2.4   Balance of payments  
1.39.   The current account of the Dominican balance of payments reports a structural deficit, which 
averaged 1.3 % of GDP between 2015 and 2020 . The deficit reached its lowest level in 2017, when 
it amounted to only 0.2 % of GDP . Remittances ar e an important component of the current account 
balance as they partly offset the negative merchandise trade balance . In 2020, the current account 
deficit grew to a value equivalent to 1.7 % of GDP due to COVID -19-related losses in tourism 
revenue . As econo mic growth accelerated again in 2021 and imports increased, the current account 
 
33 Information provided by the authorities and BCRD (2022), Informe de Política Monetaria , 
December  2021. Viewed at: https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta  and BCRD (2022), Informe 
de Política Monetaria , June 2022. Viewed at: https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta . 
34 The groups that had the greatest impact on cumulative inflation were food and non -alcoholic 
beverages (3.35 %), transport (3.56 %), housing (4.37 %), miscellaneous goods and services (2.59 %) and 
restaurants and hotels (2.41 %), which collectively accounted for 89.23 % of the variation in the index during 
the period. BCRD (2022), Informe de Polít ica Monetaria , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta . 
35 BCRD (2022), Informe de Política Monetaria , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 27 - 
  deficit for 2021 rose to 2.8 % of GDP . This was also driven by global supply chain problems, rising 
domestic demand and high commodity prices, especially of oil and other fuels.  
1.40.   According to the authorities, during the review period, the Dominican Republic's trade balance 
largely responded to fluctuations in international commodity prices . Between 2015 and 2017, prices 
of imported commodities, such as oil, were lower than those o f exported commodities, such as gold, 
causing exports to grow faster than imports, and the trade deficit to remain relatively stable . In 
2018, after a shock in oil prices, imports jumped by 13.9 %, while exports grew by 5.0 %, thereby 
reversing the trend in the trade balance . In 2019, oil prices normalized and imports increased by 
just 0.3 %, while the export growth rate hovered at 5.0 %. The adverse impact of the pandemic in 
2020 drove down economic activity and international demand, leading to a 15.6 % drop in  imports 
and an 8.0 % fall in exports . In 2021, the external sector continued to perform well, despite the 
pandemic . In 2021, with the economic recovery of some markets, domestic merchandise exports 
rose by 19.9 %, while exports from free zones grew by 21.8 %. Meanwhile, total imports climbed by 
41.1%, mainly on the back of a rebound in domestic demand and higher oil prices on international 
markets (Table 1.5), pushing the oil bill up to twice that of 2020 . The trade deficit, which had stood 
at around 10.3 % of GDP between 2015 and 2019, dropped to 8.6 % in 2020, but rose to 12.4 % of 
GDP in 2021.  
1.41.   The services balance remained in surplus during the review period, despite the negative 
impact of the COVID -19 pandemic on tourism . Expenditure on freight, insurance and other items 
was outstripped by income from tourism and other services . The primary income account, which 
registers, among other items, investment income, was in deficit in the period, reflecting payments 
made to foreign investors for their ca pital contributions . The deficit increased by an average 8.7 % 
per year until 2020, when it shrank by 6.0 %, also owing to the effects of the pandemic, which hit 
the profitability of foreign investment firms . Family remittances from Dominican nationals abroa d 
remain an important source of financing for other categories of the current account, as well as 
providing major support for domestic consumption and, hence, for GDP growth . Between 2015 and 
2019, remittances grew by an average 9.4 %, reaching 8.0 % of GDP in 2019 . During the pandemic, 
remittances saw substantial increases of 16.0 % and 26.6 % in 2020 and 2021, respectively, 
accounting for 11 % of GDP . In 2021, economic expansion in the United States boosted remittance 
inflows by record amounts . This, combined with an improvement in the tourism sector due to the 
support of public policies, helped to offset the adverse impact of the terms of trade caused by global 
supply chain effects and higher oil prices on international markets.  
Table 1.5 Balance of payments, 2014 -21 
(USD million )  
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
1. Current account  -2,170.2  -1,280.3  -814.7  -133.1  -1,321.5  -1,187.9  -1,337.3  -2,688.7  
1.1 Goods and 
services balance  -3,290.3  -3,096.9  -2,619.4  -2,049.9  -4,062.7  -4,016.8  -5,412.5  -8,032.3  
1.1.1 Goods balance  -7,374.2  -7,464.7  -7,559.0  -7,599.7  -9,559.2  -9,075.1  -6,803.1  -11,681.2  
Exports  9,898.9  9,441.8  9,839.6  10,134.6  10,638.1  11,192.7  10,301.9  12,462.0  
Domestic  4,637.2  4,018.2  4,335.7  4,425.0  4,602.9  4,943.2  4,407.4  5,282.4  
Free zones  5,261.7  5,423.6  5,503.9  5,709.6  6,035.2  6,249.5  5,894.5  7,179.6  
Imports  17,273.1  16,906.5  17,398.6  17,734.3  20,197.3  20,267.8  17,105.0  24,143.2  
Domestic  13,849.3  13,408.5  13,864.5  13,987.6  16,359.7  16,316.2  13,484.8  19,532.3  
Free zones  3,423.8  3,498.0  3,534.1  3,746.7  3,837.6  3,951.6  3,620.2  4,610.9  
1.1.2 Services 
balance  4,083.9  4,367.8  4,939.6  5,549.8  5,496.5  5,058.3  1,390.6  3,648.9  
Credit  7,053.7  7,541.8  8,309.2  8,856.8  9,413.6  9,316.5  4,587.5  8,047.0  
Travel  5,629.8  6,115.9  6,719.6  7,184.1  7,547.7  7,471.5  2,674.8  5,686.5  
Manufacturing services 
on physical inputs 
owned by others  68.6 79.0 74.7 58.0 54.5 55.4 31.7 43.1 
Other  1,355.3  1,346.9  1,514.9  1,614.7  1,811.4  1,789.6  1,881.0  2,317.4  
Debit  2,969.8  3,174.0  3,369.6  3,307.0  3,917.1  4,258.2  3,196.9  4,398.1  
Freight  1,079.2  1,155.9  1,190.7  1,103.1  1,132.1  1,209.0  1,140.5  1,734.0  
Other  1,890.6  2,018.1  2,178.9  2,203.9  2,785.0  3,049.2  2,056.4  2,664.1  
1.2 Primary income  -3,247.4  -2,936.4  -3,253.1  -3,793.8  -3,691.7  -4,068.9  -3,825.0  -4,706.2  
Compensation of 
employees  84.5 75.3 79.2 76.4 128.6  76.2 -121.0  107.5  
Credit  239.2  235.6  247.6  266.0  323.5  333.5  112.4  340.3  
Debit  154.7  160.3  168.4  189.6  194.9  257.3  233.4  232.8  
Investment income  -3,331.9  -3,011.7  -3,332.3  -3,870.2  -3,820.3  -4,145.1  -3,704.0  -4,813.7  
Foreign direct 
investment  -2,745.3  -2,336.3  -2,439.5  -2,724.5  -2,761.0  -2,860.7  -2,442.0  -3,015.0  
Credit  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Debit  2,745.3  2,336.3  2,439.5  2,724.5  2,761.0  2,860.7  2,442.0  3,015.0  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 28 - 
   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Portfolio investment  -495.3  -637.2  -781.6  -975.9  -1,053.8  -1,288.7  -1,406.6  -1,831.6  
Credit  12.9 13.9 15.0 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Debit  508.2  651.1  796.6  983.8  1,053.8  1,288.7  1,406.6  1,831.6  
Other investment  -91.3 -38.2 -111.2  -169.8  -126.6  -161.1  16.5 -8.2 
Credit  300.2  296.0  216.1  185.5  174.7  167.0  264.1  198.1  
Debit  391.5  334.2  327.3  355.3  301.3  328.1  247.6  206.3  
Reserve assets  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 121.1  165.4  128.1  41.1 
Credit  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 121.1  165.4  128.1  41.1 
Debit  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
1.3 Secondary 
income  4,367.5  4,753.0  5,057.8  5,710.6  6,432.9  6,897.8  7,900.2  10,049.8  
Credit  5,214.0  5,621.4  5,969.0  6,695.3  7,343.9  7,908.7  8,940.4  11,252.5  
Family remittances  4,571.2  4,960.6  5,260.8  5,911.8  6,494.2  7,087.1  8,219.2  10,402.5  
Other transfers  642.8  660.8  708.2  783.5  849.7  821.6  721.2  850.0  
Debit  846.5  868.4  911.2  984.7  911.0  1,010.9  1,040.2  1,202.7  
Family remittances  420.1  424.7  448.7  461.8  427.8  483.8  603.9  639.0  
Other transfers  426.4  443.7  462.5  522.9  483.2  527.1  436.3  563.7  
2. Capital accounta 0.0 2,087.1  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
3. Net lending/  
net borrowing 
(3=1+2)  -2,170.2  806.8  -814.7  -133.1  -1,321.5  -1,187.9  -1,337.3  -2,688.7  
4. Financial account  -3,761.7  -1,512.9  -2,454.9  -2,120.7  -3,083.0  -3,138.7  -3,497.8  -4,786.1  
Direct investment  -2,208.5  -2,204.9  -2,406.7  -3,570.7  -2,535.3  -3,021.0  -2,559.6  -3,102.1  
Portfolio investment  -1,482.4  -3,457.7  -1,729.3  -1,756.7  -2,696.1  -2,177.6  -5,620.1  -2,596.4  
Medium - and 
long-term public and 
private debt (net)  -53.2 4,101.6  692.5  1,192.8  153.0  650.1  -312.4  181.8  
Short -term public and 
private debt (net)  -503.7  -206.9  -61.7 185.8  235.4  -482.6  590.3  -186.4  
Currency and deposits  361.3  -114.3  611.2  1,289.4  1,293.5  1,560.4  4,137.9  243.3  
Otherb 124.8  369.3  439.1  538.7  466.5  332.0  266.1  673.7  
5. Balance  650.1  770.2  891.9  727.7  833.1  1,125.3  1,295.0  2,333.2  
6. Errors and 
omissions  -941.4  -1,549.5  -748.3  -1,259.9  -928.4  -825.5  -865.5  235.8  
7. Financing  650.1  770.2  891.9  727.7  833.1  1,125.3  1,295.0  2,333.2  
Reserve assets  195.4  406.9  779.7  730.7  847.0  1,149.5  1,962.9  2,333.6  
Use of IMF credit and 
loansc -456.9  -365.2  -114.3  0.0 0.0 0.0 651.1  0.0 
Transfers (debt 
forgiveness)  2.2 1.9 2.0 1.5 2.2 1.4 1.0 0.4 
Other investment 
liabilitiesd 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.5 11.7 22.8 15.8 0.0 
Memorandum item          
Current 
account/GDP (%)  3.2 1.8 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.3 1.7 2.8 
a  Excludes components classified as financing in Group V.  According to the sixth version of the 
Balance of Payments Manual, only current payments are included in the capital account component, 
while the forgiveness of arrears on debts with official creditors  (bilateral, multilateral) are recorded 
as exceptional financing.  
b  Includes commercial credits and other capital.  
c  As from 2009, includes the use of IMF credit (disbursements and amortizations) by the Government.  
d  Includes drawings on new loans and l oan prepayments.  
Note:  In the public debt figures, the sum of the quarters does not necessarily match the cumulative figures 
due to methodological differences . Results in accordance with the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance 
of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6).  
Source:  BCRD, International Department, Balance of Payments Sub -Directorate.  
1.42.   During the first quarter of 2022, the preliminary balance of payments shows a current account 
deficit of USD 1,029.2  million. T his is mainly due to a jump in imports by an additional 
USD 1,957.7  million  (39.2 %) compared with the same period in 2021, and lower inflows from family 
remittances ( -6.0%) and gold exports ( -25.0%). Total exports expanded by 14.5 % in the 
first quarter of 2022 (an additional USD 422.7 million  compared with the same period in 2021, 
reaching USD 3,328.0  million ). There was also extraordinary growth in income from tourism of 
USD 1,309.8  million  (162.2 %) during the quarter, which offset these effects on the def icit.36 
1.43.   Gross international reserves increased from USD 4,861.8  million  in 2014 to 
USD 13,034.0  million  at the close of 2021, accounting for 6.6 months of imports and 14.0 % as a 
 
36 BCRD (2022), Informe de Política Monetaria , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 29 - 
  percentage  of GDP .37 As of 3 1 March  2022, gross international reserves amounted to 
USD 14,596.3  million , equivalent to 13.6 % of GDP and six months of imports of goods and services, 
excluding free zones.38 
1.3  Developments in Trade and Investment Flows  
1.3.1   Trade in goods39 
1.3.1.1   Composition of trade in goods  
1.44.   In terms of the composition of domestic goods exports, the share of products from the food 
industries continued to slip during the review period, down from 16.1 % of the total in 2015 to 12.6 % 
in 2021 . These products include sugars and sugar confectio nery (3 %), beverages, spirits  and vinegar  
(2.5%), followed by cocoa (2.3 %) and edible preparations (1.6 %). The share of precious metals 
increased to 38.1 % of domestic exports in 2021, up from 32.0 % in 2015 . Gold exports are 
particularly noteworthy, account ing for 38.0 % of domestic exports and 10.8 % of total exports in 
2021. The production of base metals and articles of base metal rebounded substantially  from 4.4% 
of domestic exports in 20 15 to 14.9 % in 2021 (Chart 1.2 and Table A1.1) . The share of manufactures 
in total exports remained above 50 % (Chart 1.2).  
1.45.   In free zones, manufactures accounted for the vast majority of total exports in 2021, as was 
the case in 2015 (Chart 1.3) . Key exports include food products, and tobacco (cigars)  in particular , 
as well as electrical machin ery and equipment , articles of apparel , footwear, medical instruments, 
made -up textile articles, jewellery and chemical products (Table A1.2).  
1.46.   Manufactured goods constitute the main import category . They include imports of electrical 
machine ry and equipment (14.9 % of total imports in 2021), along with chemical products (11.8 %) 
and transport equipment (8.9 %). Imports of mineral products, mostly hydrocarbons, accounted for 
20.9% of the total (Tables A1.3, A1.4 and A1.5).  
 
37 The authorities noted that in August 2021, in order to strengthen the BCRD's international reserves, 
the IMF allocated 457.56 million special drawing rights (SDRs), equivalent to USD 649.05 million,  to the 
Dominican  Republic. In addition to increasing reserves and building confidence, the purpose of the 
SDR allocation was to contribute to exchange market stability and reduce the pass -through of exchange rate 
fluctuations to inflation. SDRs were credi ted to IMF signatory countries on the basis of their quotas; the 
Dominican  Republic holds 0.1 % of the total quota, amounting to SDR 457.56 million.  
38 BCRD (2022), Informe de Política Monetaria , June 2022. Viewed at: 
https://www.bancentral.gov.do/Publicaciones/Consulta . 
39 This subsection is based on calculations made by the WTO Secretariat, using data on goods imports 
(f.o.b.) and exports (f.o.b.) provided by the Dominican authorities.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 30 - 
  Chart 1.2 Merchandise trade by main products, 2015 and 2021  
 
Source:  Calculations by the WTO Secretariat based on COMEX data.  
2015 2021
(a)    Exports of consumer goods and re -exports
Total: USD 3,995  million
(b)    Imports (f.o.b.) of consumer goods and reimports
Total: USD 13,431 million Total: USD 19,661 millionTotal: USD 4,688 millionOther
8.3%Other
6.4%
Mineral 
products
19.9%
Chemical 
products
10.2%Plastics
5.8%Electrical 
machinery 
and 
equipment
16.3%Other
12.7%
Mineral 
products
20.9%
Chemical 
products
11.8%Plastics
6%Base metals
8.6%Electrical 
machinery and 
equipment
14.1%Other
11.3%
Base 
metals
7.9%Textiles
2.5%Vegetable 
products
12.9%Vegetable 
products
9.2%
Transport 
equipment
8.9%Transport 
equipment
8.9%Mineral 
products
14.6%Prepared 
foodstuffs
16.1%Prepared 
foodstuffs
12.5%
Mineral 
products
7.1%
Vegetable 
products
5.2%Vegetable 
products
5.5%Textiles
2.3%Plastics
6.2%Precious 
metals
32%Electrical 
machinery and 
equipment
2.4%
Plastics
6.5%Base 
metals
14.9%Electrical 
machinery 
and 
equipment
1.6%
Chemical 
products
3.6%
Chemical 
products
3.2%Base metals
4.4%
Precious 
metals
38.1%
Animal 
products
3.3%
Prepared 
foodstuffs
7.3%Animal 
products
4.1%
Prepared 
foodstuffs
6.7%WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 31 - 
  Chart 1.3 Free zone trade by main products, 2015 and 2021  
 
Source:  Calculations by the WTO Secretariat based on COMEX data.  
1.3.1.2   Direction of merchandise trade  
1.47.   The Dominican Republic's main export market is the United States . Its share in total exports 
increased compared with the previous review : from 15.6 % of total domestic exports in 2015 to 
20.5% in 2021, and from 74.6 % of total exports from free zones in 2015 to 78.2 % in 2021 
(Tables  A1.6 and A1.7 and Charts 1.4 and 1.5) . In the America s, the second largest export market 
is Haiti, which absorbed 12.4 % of domestic exports and 5.3 % of free zone exports in 2021 . 
Switzerland received 20.3 % of the Dominican  Republic's domestic exports in 2021, India 15.7 % and 
the EU 11.3 %. Exports to Asia increased from 16.2 % of the total in 2015 to 22.0 % in 2021.  
2015 2021
(a)    Exports from free zones
Total: USD 5,394 million
(b)    Imports (f.o.b.) into free zones
Total: USD 3,670 million Total: USD 4,826 millionTotal: USD 7,143 millionOther
3%Other
5.2%
Pulp of wood, 
paper and 
paperboard
5.6%Chemical 
products
5%
Plastics
17.4%Electrical 
machinery 
and 
equipment
15.2%Other
7.5%
Chemical 
products
4.4%
Plastics
19.7%
Precious 
metals
16.8%Electrical 
machinery and 
equipment
16.5%Other
4.6%
Base 
metals
6.8%
Textiles
25.1%Precision 
instruments 
and apparatus
18.3%
Footwear
2.9%Footwear
8.3%Prepared 
foodstuffs
17.3%Prepared 
foodstuffs
20.6%
Pulp of wood, 
paper and 
paperboard
4.4%Hides and skins
1.2%
Textiles
14.2%Plastics
2.5%
Precious 
metals
7.3%Electrical 
machinery 
and 
equipment
10.5%Plastics
3.5%
Base 
metals
2.8%Electrical 
machinery 
and 
equipment
17.6%Chemical 
products
8.3%Chemical 
products
8%
Base metals
1.6%
Precious 
metals
10.8%
Hides and skins
3.3%Prepared 
foodstuffs
8.5%Prepared 
foodstuffs
10.4%Textiles
23.2%Textiles
11.8%Precision 
instruments 
and apparatus
16.5%
Precious 
metals
9.6%Base metals
4%WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 32 - 
  1.48.   The United States is also the leading source of Dominican imports, contributing to 38.8 % of 
the country's total imports in 2021 (Tables A1.8, A1.9 and A.10) . China was the source of 17.6 % of 
total imports, while the EU accounted for 11.7 %. 
Chart 1.4 Merchandise trade by trading partner, 2015 and 2021  
 
Source:  Calculations by the WTO Secretariat based on COMEX data.  
2015 2021
(a)    Exports of consumer goods and re -exports
Total: USD 3,995 million
(b)    Imports (f.o.b.) of consumer goods and reimports
Total: USD 13,431 million Total: USD 19,661 millionTotal: USD 4,688 millionHaiti
20.9%Other
10.2%United States
15.6%
Other 
America
7.7%
Brazil
3.7%America
44.1%United States
20.5%
Other 
America
8.7%Canada
0.2Other
0.4%
Asia
22%
America
61.8%Asia
16.2%
United States
34.4%
Other 
America
15.5%Mexico
5.3%China
15.7%Other 
Asia
4.6%Other
2.8%
United States
38.8%
Other 
America
9.9%China
17.6%Other 
Asia
4%Other
1.6%
America
61.4%America
59.3%Europe
13.4%Europe
16%Asia
22.4%Asia
23.1%Europe
33.4%
Canada
16.4%
Colombia
2.7%EU-27
6.4%Other Europe
4%
Brazil
3.8%Other 
Asia
0.3%
Other Europe
1.5%China
2.1%Other 
Asia
1.1%
Haiti
12.4%
EU-27
11.6%
Japan
1.5%Japan
2.1%Europe
11.8%China
5.3%
EU-27
10.4%EU-27
10%Other 
Europe
3%Other 
Europe
6%Jamaica
1.2%Switzerland
1.4%India
13.8%
Jamaica
2.3% Switzerland
20.3%India
15.7%
Colombia
2.4%Mexico
4.1%WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 33 - 
  Chart 1.5 Free zone merchandise trade by trading partner, 2015 and 2021  
 
Source:  Calculations by the WTO Secretariat based on COMEX data.  
1.3.2   Trade in services  
1.49.   Trade in services is of the utmost importance for the Dominican Republic, both in terms of 
value added and employment, and for its role as a generator of foreign exchange . The services 
balance sustained its long -standing surplus between 2015 and 2021 and peaked at 
USD 5,549.8  million  in 2017 . Tourism is the main servic e export, with revenues averaging 8.7 % of 
GDP between 2015 and 2019 . Following average annual growth of 7.3 % between 2015 and 2018, 
income from tourism  (travel)  declined by 1.0 % in 2019 . In 2020, due to the closure of airports in 
the country and the travel  restrictions put in place internationally to fight the effects of the COVID -19 
pandemic, income from tourism fell by 64.2 %. This income increased by 112.6 % year-on-year in 
2021, which remained lower than in 20 19, but demonstrated a recovery in the sector after the onset 
of the pandemic (Table 1.6) . Regarding service expenditures, transport is the main category, 
2015 2021
(a)    Exports from free zones
Total: USD 5,394 million
(b)    Imports (f.o.b.) into free zones
Total: USD 13,431 million Total: USD 19.661 millionTotal: USD 7,143 millionHaiti
9.6%Other
1%
United States
74.6%Other 
America
4.9%
America
88.7%
United States
78.2%Other 
America
5.3%Other
0.6% Asia
3.7%
America
89.2%Asia
2.7%
United States
66.8%Other 
America
9.5%
Mexico
2.3%China
6.9%Other 
Asia
3.5%Oher
2.4%
United 
States
63.8%Other 
America
4.6%China
11.7%Other 
Asia
4.8%Other
0.8%
America
79.5%America
71%Europe
7.6%
Europa
11.7%Asia
10.5%Asia
16.5%Europe
7%
Ecuador
1.3%EU-27
6.7%Other 
Europe
0.6%Other Europe
0.5%
Haiti
5.3%EU-27
6.5%
Europe
7.2%
EU-27
6.7%
EU-27
10.3%Other Europe
0.9%
Other Europe
1.5%
Ecuador
0.9%
Mexico
1.4%WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 34 - 
  accounting for 45.8 % of the total between 2015 and 2021, increasing by an average 2.4 % between 
2015 and 2019 . In common with other activities, it s lumped dramatically due to the pandemic, and 
in 2021 saw rises because of the impact of the crisis on the global supply chain.  
Table 1.6 Services balance, 2015 -21 
(USD million)  
ITEMS  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
I. CREDIT  7,541.8  8,309.2  8,856.8  9,413.6  9,316.5  4,587.5  8,047.0  
A. Goods for processing in the 
reporting economy  79.0 74.7 58.0 54.5 55.4 31.7 43.1 
B. Transport  547.7  581.0  609.6  645.5  671.7  341.2  575.1  
C. Travel 6,115.9  6,719.6  7,184.1  7,547.7  7,471.5  2,674.8  5,686.5  
D. Telecommunications, 
computer and information 
services  168.3  147.2  130.1  118.5  98.3 84.6 67.6 
E. Insurance and pension 
services  45.3 47.7 68.6 73.5 81.2 76.9 86.0 
F. Financial services  29.6 39.0 46.1 44.4 45.7 54.3 225.0  
G. Charges for the use of 
intellectual property  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
H. Government goods and 
services  274.4  320.7  315.1  310.0  314.3  315.7  317.4  
I. Other business services  273.0  336.1  404.3  554.4  559.9  940.7  936.3  
J. Personal, cultural and 
recreational services  8.6 43.2 40.9 65.1 18.5 67.6 110.0  
II. DEBIT  3,174.0  3,369.6  3,307.0  3,917.1  4,258.2  3,196.9  4,398.1  
A. Goods for processing in the 
reporting economy  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
B. Transport  1,550.4  1,626.0  1,571.1  1,646.3  1,703.9  1,408.3  2,199.6  
C. Travel 462.8  503.0  530.3  548.5  623.6  210.8  692.8  
D. Telecommunications, 
computer and information 
services  63.1 88.3 98.3 123.2  149.2  100.5  108.9  
E. Insurance and pension 
services  189.3  194.2  219.1  234.7  252.7  236.9  280.9  
F. Financial services  325.5  257.5  231.2  216.0  205.4  329.6  321.9  
G. Charges for the use of 
intellectual property  88.9 98.4 134.0  34.6 41.5 81.9 119.5  
H. Government goods and 
services  147.3  140.7  154.8  152.0  172.2  139.3  123.6  
I. Other business services  329.4  432.6  332.5  922.6  1,071.8  653.8  513.0  
J. Personal, cultural and 
recreational services  17.3 28.9 35.7 39.2 37.9 35.8 37.9 
III. BALANCE (I -II) 4,367.8  4,939.6  5,549.8  5,496.5  5,058.3  1,390.6  3,648.9  
Note:  Statistics in accordance with the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments and International 
Investment Position Manual.  
Source:  International Department, Balance of Payments Sub -Directorate, Service Transaction Statistic s 
Division.  
1.3.3   Foreign direct investment  (FDI)  
1.50.   The Dominican Republic saw an upsurge in FDI during the review period . FDI flows to the 
Dominican Republic totalled USD 21,610 million between 2014 and 2021 (equivalent to an average 
of around USD 2.7 billion  per year) . FDI averaged  3.4% of GDP between 2014 and 2020 . The main 
sectors that received such investment were : tourism (28.8 %), commerce  (20.5 %) and real estate 
(17.4 %). The mining, free zone and energy sectors received 8.0 %, 8.9% and 6.9 %, respectively, 
of total FDI (Table 1.7 ). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 35 - 
  Table 1.7 FDI flows by sector, 2014 -21 
(USD million)   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total  
Total  2,209  2,205  2,407  3,571  2,535  3,021  2,560  3,102  21,610  
Tourism  301 672 790 704 854 994 954 962 6,231  
Trade/industry  607 368 413 1,365  540 356 441 331 4,421  
Telecommunications  257 336 -264 67 -240 312 -124 84 428 
Energy  352 -96 -8 64 203 277 431 280 1,503  
Finance  207 190 125 91 179 94 83 121 1,090  
Free zones  191 237 224 264 234 260 232 286 1,928  
Mining  -39 6 486 410 185 225 -7 473 1,739  
Real estate  306 412 587 546 518 441 453 497 3,760  
Transport  27 81 54 60 63 62 97 69 513 
Note:  The negative figures shown for some sectors represent operational losses, disinvestment and/or 
dividend payments . Statistics in accordance with the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments 
and International Investment Position Manual.  
Source:  International Department, Balance of Payments Sub -Directorate, Foreign Investment Statistics and 
Registration Division.  
1.51.   The main sources of FDI in 2014 -21 were the United States (accounting for 25.7 % of total 
flows), Canada (10.2 %), Spain (7.3 %) and Mexico  (7.3%) (Table 1.8).  
Table 1.8 FDI flows by countr y of origin, 2014 -21 
(USD million)   
2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total  
Total flows  2,209  2,205  2,407  3,571  2,535  3,021  2,560  3,102  21,610  
United States  321 405 356 732 709 937 730 1,362  5,552  
Mexico  244 -19 118 -45 -80 609 337 392 1,556  
Canada  158 91 480 473 329 259 80 342 2,212  
British Virgin Islands  35 2 24 52 74 62 34 279 562 
Spain  7 32 281 206 288 355 194 210 1,573  
Panama  -20 11 5 3 12 12 84 98 205 
Denmark  0 4 32 63 -460 7 -114 75 -393 
France  40 3 4 6 5 239 80 44 421 
Italy 10 -1 48 32 24 45 19 38 215 
Germany  3 8 7 7 20 30 29 27 131 
Switzerland  1 5 12 9 6 17 12 23 85 
United Kingdom  3 11 1 3 5 -26 19 17 33 
Colombia  1 4 4 2 1 5 18 16 51 
Netherlands  70 -134 35 31 37 54 46 9 148 
Australia  -14 24 -4 -8 0 8 0 0 6 
Balance  1,351  1,761  1,004  2,004  1,566  409 993 170 9,258  
Note:  Statistics in accordance with the sixth edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments and International 
Investment Position Manual.  
Source:  International Department, Balance of Payments Sub -Directorate, For eign Investment Statistics and 
Registration Division.  
 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 36 - 
  2  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.1  General Framework  
2.1.  The Dominican State is governed by three independent powers: legislative, executive and 
judicial. Legislative power is vested in the National Congress, which consists of the Chamber of 
Deputies and the Senate of the Rep ublic. Deputies (190) and senators (32) are elected for 
four years, as is the President of the Republic, who is the head of the Executive power.1 Since 2015, 
the President has been able to stand for re -election for a second, consecutive, term of office.2 The 
Judicial power consists of the Supreme Court of Justice and subordinate courts, such as the courts 
of appeal, the courts of first instance, the magistrates' courts and the courts with specialized 
jurisdictions. There is also a Constitutional Court, wh ich is independent in carrying out its functions.3 
2.2.  During the period under review, there were no major changes in the composition of the 
Government of the Dominican Republic or the Executive. However, modifications made include 
changing the name of the Mi nistry of Industry and Trade to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and 
MSMEs (MICM) in 2017, and the creation of the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings in 2021.4 
There are currently (August  2022) 23 ministries.5 
2.3.  The Dominican Republic is composed of 31 provinces and a National  District. The provinces are 
headed by a governor appointed by the Executive.6 These are in turn divided into 158 municipalities 
(governed by a municipal council) and 235 municipal districts. The National District al so has a district 
council like the municipalities.7 
2.4.  A new constitution was proclaimed in 2015, which included only one change from the 2010 
Constitution, that of allowing the President to be re -elected. The President or the National Congress 
have the powe r to launch a constitutional reform process (Box 2.1). In the legal hierarchy, the 
Constitution is the supreme law. International human rights treaties have the same rank as the 
Constitution.8 Below the Constitution are other international treaties, laws,  regulations and decrees 
issued by the Executive, and acts, resolutions and decisions.9 To be incorporated into domestic 
legislation, international treaties must be ratified by the National Congress, after the Constitutional 
Court has checked that they co mply with the Constitution. International treaties are signed by the 
President or, failing that, by the Foreign Minister.  
 
1 Presidential and legislative elections are held at the same time; the latter were held in 2020.  
2 Article 124 of the Constitution.  
3 Constitutional Court. Viewed at: https://www.tribunalconstitucional.gob.do/sobre -el-tc/sobre -
nosotros/quiénes -somos . 
4 Law No. 37 -17 and Law No. 160 -21. 
5 Administrative Office of the President (MAPRE), Ministry of Public Administration (MAP), Ministry of 
Agriculture (MA), Ministr y of Culture (MINC), Ministry of Defence (MIDE), Ministry of Sports and Recreation 
(MIDEREC),Ministry of Economic Affairs, Planning and Development (MEPyD), Ministry of Education (MINERD), 
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT), Mini stry of Energy and Mining (MEM), Ministry 
of Finance (MH), Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM), Ministry of the Interior and the Police (MIP), 
Ministry of Youth (MJ), Ministry of Women's Affairs (MMUJER), Ministry of Presidential Affairs (MINPRE),  
Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources 
(MARENA), Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), Ministry 
of Public Health and Social Assistance  (MISP AS), Ministry of Labour (MIT) and Ministry of Tourism (MITUR).  
6 Article 198 of the Constitution.  
7 Information provided by the authorities.  
8 Article 74(3) of the Constitution.  
9 The legislation is available at: http://www.consultoria.gov.do/consulta . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 37 - 
  Box 2.1 Constitutional reform process  
The National Congress and the President have the po wer to initiate constitutional reform. The National 
Congress issues a law declaring "the need to reform the Constitution of the Republic", which stipulates the 
purpose of the reform and the articles to be amended. All provisions of the Constitution may be subject to 
reform, except the system of government of the Dominican Republic, which will always be civilian, republican, 
democratic and representative. The reform bill is discussed in a national review meeting composed of deputies 
and senators; it must be approved by a qualified majority (two thirds). Amendments of certain provisions 
must be approved by referendum. This is the case for rights, fundamental guarantees and duties; land -use 
and town planning; the system for nationality, citizenship and alien af fairs; the currency regime; and the 
reform processes laid down in the Constitution.  
Source:  Articles 267 –272 of the Constitution.  
2.5.  There are two types of laws in the Dominican Republic: ordinary laws; and organic laws that 
regulate certain matters, includi ng the economic and financial regime (for example, the currency or 
banking regime).10 The legislative procedure has not changed since 2015 (Box 2.2). Only the 
National Congress has the power to legislate; at no time, not even when a "state of emergency" is  
declared, is legislative power delegated to the Executive.  
Box 2.2 Legislative procedure  
Draft laws  Regardless of the type of law, those who have the right to put forward draft laws are 
deputies, senators, the President, the Supreme Court of Justice (on judicial matters), the 
Central Electoral Board (on electoral issues) and citizens (with the support of 2% of persons 
registered on the electoral roll).  
Formulation 
of laws  Draft laws may be presented either in the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate. The chamber 
in which the draft law is presented is the originating chamber and the other is the review 
chamber.  
The draft law passed by both chambers is forwarded to the Executive.  
The review chamb er amends and returns the draft law to the originating chamber. If the 
originating chamber approves the amendments, the draft law is sent to the Executive. If 
the originating chamber rejects the amendments, the draft law returns to the review 
chamber. In s uch cases, if the latter insists on its amendments, the draft law is sent back 
to the Executive.  
A draft law is passed or amended by an absolute majority of those present in each chamber. 
For organic draft laws, a qualified majority (two thirds) of those p resent in both chambers 
is required, except if the draft law relates to the currency or banking regime, in which case 
a qualified majority of all deputies and senators is required.  
Draft laws rejected by the originating chamber or the review chamber are sh elved; they 
cannot be debated again during the same legislature.  
Observations 
and 
promulgation  If the Executive has no observations, the law is promulgated. Laws are published in the 
Official Journal.  
If the Executive considers the draft law unconstitutio nal or objects to it on other grounds, 
it returns it, together with its observations, to the chamber that submitted it.  
If the chamber insists on the original text (with the approval of a qualified majority of those 
present), it refers it to the other cham ber; if the other chamber, in turn, approves the 
original text (by the same majority), it "shall be deemed to be law, promulgated and 
published".  
Source:  Articles 96 –113 and 232 of the Constitution.  
2.6.  The Dominican Republic's legislative framework is charac terized by the fact that many existing 
laws are very old and may be outdated in some areas. Moreover, in a number of cases, the laws do 
not yet have implementing regulations, or the implementing regulations were enacted years after 
the law came into force.  For example, in the area of trade, the Customs Law (No.  168-21) was issued 
in 2021 to replace Law No.  3489-53. However, according to the authorities, its implementing 
regulations are still being drafted and Law No.  3489-53 is therefore largely still being  implemented. 
The Mining Law (Law No.  146-71), which is still in force, dates back to 1971, but its implementing 
 
10 According to Article 112 of the Constitution, organic laws are issued to regulate: fundamental rights; 
government structure and organization; the civil service;  the electoral system; the economic and financial 
regime; the budget, planning and public investment; territorial organization; constitutional procedures; 
security and defence; matters explicitly provided for in the Constitution and others of a similar nat ure. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 38 - 
  regulations (Decree No.  207-98) were not issued until 1998, that is, 27 years after the Law's 
enactment. In other cases, it has not been possib le to implement the law for a number of years 
because the implementing institution had not been established. This is so for the Competition Law, 
which was enacted in 2008 but only came into force in 2017, once the National Competition 
Commission ( Pro-Compe tencia ) had been established.11 A comprehensive review and update of the 
legislation might be necessary to provide economic operators with a more transparent and 
predictable environment, a process which, according to the authorities, has already started.  
2.7.  The Dominican Republic's legislation is published online, which makes it easy to consult. 
However, there is no updated version of the legislation, with all the changes that have taken place 
over the years.12 
2.2  Trade Policy Formulation and Objectives  
2.8.  The Dominican Republic's foreign trade policy continues to be set out in the National 
Development Strategy (END) 2030, adopted in 2012, which outlines the long -term socio -economic 
development guidance and objectives.13 During the period under review, in order to implement the 
END 2030, the Dominican Republic completed implementation of the National Public Sector 
Multiannual Plan (PNPSP) for the periods 2013 –16 and 2017 –20, and began implementation of the 
PNPSP  2021–24, the National Export Development Plan (PNFE ) 2020 –30 and the National Export 
Strategy for Modern Services (ENESM) 2021 –25. 
2.9.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), in coordination with other government institutions, 
formulates and implements the trade and foreign investment attraction policy, which  includes the 
negotiation of trade agreements. Negotiations are conducted through the National Trade 
Negotiations Commission (CNNC), headed by MIREX, in which other ministries are involved, 
including the Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM). The MI CM formulates and implements 
policies related to the promotion of foreign trade, in particular export promotion, the development 
of free zones and other special regimes, and the competitiveness of the industrial sector and MSMEs. 
It is also responsible for  administering trade agreements; the Vice -Ministry of Foreign Trade is used 
for this purpose.  
2.10.   In addition to MIREX and the MICM, other ministries are also involved in the formulation and 
implementation of trade policy, notably the Ministry of Economic Affa irs, Planning and Development 
and the Ministry of Finance, and, where necessary, the ministries responsible for sector portfolios, 
such as the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ministry of Tourism, and other institutions involved in 
foreign trade, for example , the Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (ProDominicana) 
or the National Council for Free Export Zones (CNZFE).14 
2.11.   Business and citizens' associations are also consulted when formulating trade policy. Since 
2020, coordination with the private s ector and civil society has been strengthened through 
consultative councils (known as " gabinetes "), where the design and development of policies and 
strategies linked to the economy, agriculture, tourism and investment promotion are discussed.15 
For exampl e, the Consultative Council for Export Development, attached to the MICM, was 
established in 2022.16 The Government's main partners include the Dominican Exporters' Association 
(ADOEXPO) and the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD).  
2.12.   ProDominicana is the stat e agency that provides free advice and support to 
Dominican  exporters and foreign investors. In addition, both the MICM (Vice -Ministry of Foreign 
Trade) and MIREX (Directorate of Trade and Investment Promotion) provide trade intelligence 
services and advic e to investors.  
 
11 Article 67 of Law No. 42 -08. 
12 Government Legal Advisory Service. Viewed at: http://www.consultoria.gov.do/consulta . 
13 Law No. 1 -12. 
14 National Export Development Plan (PNFE) 2020 –30, viewed at : 
https://prodominicana.gob.do/Documentos/PD%20PNFERD%20W.pdf ; and Decree No. 74 -97, as amended by 
Decree  No. 52-99. 
15 Decrees No. 498 -20 and No. 65 -21. 
16 Decree No. 172 -22. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 39 - 
  2.13.   In 2021, the Dominican Republic enacted Law No.  167-21 to support the regulatory 
improvement process. According to this law, all measures, including trade measures, must undergo 
a regulatory impact analysis (RIA). The analysis is conducted by the institution implementing the 
measure and submitted to the Ministry of Public Administration (MAP) for approval. The RIA is carried 
out only if the measure involves a cost to economic operators. The aim of the analysis is to ensure 
that the costs of implementing the measure are lower than the benefits and that requirements are 
minimized and procedures streamlined. Existing measures should be evaluated every five years 
(ex post RIA) to determine whether they need to be retained, amended or abolished.  
2.14.   The Dominican Republic's trade policy objectives are to: increase exports and create a 
favourable environment for foreign investment as a tool to support export potential. To promote 
exports, the Dominican Republic gives priority to those products and servi ces for which the country 
has traditionally been competitive. Since 2021, it has been developing a new exportable supply 
based on "modern services", those of the creative economy, the audiovisual industry, 
telecommunications and information technology. In addition, the aim is to achieve greater 
sophistication of the existing exportable supply, through innovation, improved quality and increased 
added value. Efforts are focused on taking advantage of existing market access conditions, as well 
as on seeking an d developing new markets. Facilitating access to finance, streamlining export 
procedures and developing logistics systems are also elements that are actively sought to improve 
export competitiveness. A number of measures have been implemented in this regar d (Table 2.1). 
The Dominican Republic is also continuing to implement the free zone regime, and the incentives 
granted under the PROINDUSTRIA regime for manufacturing. The Dominican Republic has adopted 
a digital transformation agenda (Digital Agenda 2030) , which takes into account the digital economy, 
cybersecurity and technological innovation. According to an assessment of the END  2030, conducted 
by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Planning and Development in 2020, both the volume and 
competitiveness of Dominican goods exports had increased between 2012 and 2018. By sector, 
agricultural exports were more competitive than manufacturing exports.17 
Table 2.1 Measures to promote exports, 2015 –21 
Areas  Measures implemented  
Trade 
facilitation  The "Exporta +" programme was introduced in 2021 with a view to speeding up container 
departures.  
A practical guide for exporters was published, which stipulates the procedures and requirements 
for exporting.  
A new customs law (Law No.  168-21) was enacted.  
Export 
financing  In 2015, the National Bank for the Promotion of Housing and Production (BNV) became the 
National  Development Bank (BANDEX). In 2021, this then became the Export and Development 
Bank (BANDEX). The bank operates as a first - and second -tier bank.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat and information provided by the authorities.  
2.15.   In its foreign trade strategy, the Dominican Republic promotes women's export culture as a 
tool to increase exports and t urn women into drivers of growth and poverty reduction.18 To achieve 
this goal, in 2020 the Export and Development Bank (BANDEX) created the Women Exporters Fund 
(DOP 500 million) to finance the export of products made by women -led enterprises 
(Section  3.2.5).19 ProDominicana has also been organizing an annual event called " Mujeres 
Exportadoras " (Women Exporters) for the past two years to raise awareness of the role of women 
in exports and the Dominican economy (Box 2.3).20 
 
17 Ministry of Economic Affairs, Planning and Development (2020), Informe de Mediano Plazo sobre el 
Avance en el Logro de los Objetivos y Metas de la Estrategia Nacional de Desarrollo 2030 , public consultation 
document. Viewed at: 
https://www.ces.gob.do/images/2020/Informe_de_Mediano_Plazo_Avance_Objetivos_y_Metas_END_2030.pdf . 
18 National Export Development Plan (PNFE) 2020 –30. 
19 BANDEX (2021), Memoria  Institucional Año 2021. Viewed at: 
https://memorias.minpre.gob.do/api/documents/2651/download . 
20 Information provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 40 - 
  Box 2.3 The role of women in Dominican exports  
In 2021, the Dominican Republic had 3,318 women exporters; 76.1% were natural persons. In 2021, 
women -led exporting enterprises employed around 26,000 people.  
In 2021, 55% of female -managed exporting enterprises had an export turnover of less than USD  10,000 and 
0.8% had an export turnover of more than USD  10 million. Some 76.1% of enterprises recorded export values 
below USD  50,000.  
Between 2015 and 2021, exports by women accounted for a substantial share of total Dominican exports, 
including gold: on average 17.7%. Excluding gold, their average share amounted to 2.5%.  
Share of women exporters in Dominican exports, 2015 –21 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Including gold  17.0%  20.4%  18.8%  16.6%  16.4%  19.3%  15.7%  
Excluding gold  2.8%  3.0%  2.6%  2.6%  2.3%  2.2%  2.1%  
Gold is the Dominican Republic's main export product, as well as the main product exported by 
Dominican  women exporters. In 2020, gold accounted for 88.6% of the total value of goods exported by 
women, followed by cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roasted (2.5%). Other products exported by women 
were soybean oil (1.8% of the total value exported in 2020), sweet biscuits, bananas (fresh or dried), groats 
and meal  of maize, fruit (guavas, mangoes and mangosteens), wheat or meslin flour and preparations for use 
on the hair.  
Products exported by women are destined for the traditional markets of the Dominican Republic. In 2021, 
51.9% of women's exports, including gold , went to Switzerland, followed by India (34.8%) and Haiti (4.6%). 
Excluding gold, the main destinations were Haiti (34%), the United States (21%) and Puerto Rico (5.7%).  
Most of the products exported by women are produced outside the free zones. In the ca se of exports excluding 
gold, women make greater use of regimes such as free zones and temporary admission.  
Customs regimes used by women exporters in 2021  
 National customs 
regime  Industrial free 
zone  Temporary  
admission  Re-exportation 
consumption  
Including gold  96% 3% 1% 0% 
Excluding gold  70% 25% 5% 0% 
 
Source:  ProDominicana (2020), Mujeres Exportadoras en República Dominicana , viewed at: 
https://prodominicana.gob.do/Documentos/Mujeres%20Exportadoras%20en%20Rep%C3  per 
centBAblica%20Dominicana.pdf ; ProDominicana (2021), II Edic ión Mujeres en Exportación: Hacía la 
Resiliencia , viewed at: 
https://prodominicana.gob.do/Documentos/Mujeres%20en%20Exportacion.pdf ; and information 
provided by the auth orities.  
2.3  Trade Agreements and  Arrangements  
2.3.1   WTO  
2.16.   The Dominican Republic has been a Member of the WTO since 9  March  1995; it grants 
most-favoured -nation (MFN) treatment to all its trading partners. This is its fifth Trade Policy Review. 
Since the previous rev iew in 2015, the Dominican Republic has notified several trade and 
trade -related measures (Table A2.1).  
2.17.   International trade is of utmost importance to the Dominican Republic, as can be seen from 
the high growth rates it has experienced, which have contribu ted to job creation.21 It is therefore 
important for the country to have a flexible multilateral trading system that contributes to inclusive, 
sustainable and fair development. To this end, the Dominican Republic supports the elimination of 
distortions in agricultural trade and greater inclusion of MSMEs in international trade, and highlights 
that 51 % of Dominican MSMEs are headed by women.22 The Dominican Republic therefore 
participates in the informal working group to support MSME participation in global trade, as well as 
in the informal discussions on investment facilitation for development.  
 
21 WTO documents WT/MIN(15)/ST/41 and WT/MIN(17)/ST/39, of 18 December 2015 and 
18 December  2017 respectively.  
22 WTO document WT/MIN(17)/ST/39 of 18  December  2017.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 41 - 
  2.18.   The Dominican Republic considers that, within the WTO, the needs of small and vulnerable 
economies, developing countries and least developed countries must be taken i nto account. The 
country therefore expresses the hope that, in the Agreements, special and differential treatment and 
the special agricultural safeguard mechanism will be maintained, and that a "permanent solution for 
public stockholding programmes" will b e approved to guarantee food security.23 The 
Dominican  Republic participates in several negotiating groups: the ACP Group, the G90, the Group 
of Small and Vulnerable Economies, the G33, the "W52" sponsors24 and the group of sponsors of a 
joint proposal.25 
2.19.   During the Twelfth Ministerial Conference in June  2022, and faced with the challenges posed 
by the health and geopolitical crises, the Dominican Republic encouraged the WTO to reach a 
consensus on the stability of international trade. For the Dominican Rep ublic, it is important that 
Members "advocate specific action (...) so that we undertake commitments geared towards global 
food security and an inclusive agricultural economy and development, resilient to current global 
tensions". The country also supports  a reduction in the impact of trade on the environment and 
natural resources, especially marine resources and those linked to food production.26 
2.20.   In 2016, the Dominican Republic ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement.27 It entered into 
force in 2017, and the Dominican Republic established its National Trade Facilitation Committee 
(NTFC) in the same year to coordinate the implementation of the Agreement.28 The NTFC is 
composed of nine public -sector agencies and bodies29 and a similar number of private -sector 
organizations30; it is chaired by the Directorate -General of Customs (DGA). In 2018, the 
Dominican  Republic notified its commitments under the Agreement; by August  2022, 90.8 % of 
these had been implemented and, accord ing to the schedule, the remainder will be implemented by 
June 2023.31 
2.21.   The Dominican Republic accepted the Protocol amending the Agreement on Trade -Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). It is also party to the Information Technology 
Agreement (ITA); however, the authorities stated that the Dominican Republic had not ratified the 
Agreement. It is not party to the Agreement on Government Procurement or the Agreement on 
Trade in Civil Aircraft; nor does it have observer status  in the committees that administer those 
agreements.  
2.22.   From 2015 to 2022 (August), the Dominican Republic was involved in one dispute settlement 
case as a respondent32; it has not had recourse to the dispute settlement mechanism as a 
complainant; and it was involved in two cases as a third party.  
2.3.2   Regional and preferential agreements  
2.23.   The Dominican Republic has trade agreements with Central America, the United States, 
Panama, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the Caribbean Community and the member 
States of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) (Chart 2.1). All the agreements in which the 
Dominican  Republic participates, except the agreement with Panama, include trade in goods and 
 
23 WTO document WT/MIN(17)/ST/39 of 18  December  2017.  
24 Proposal for "modalities" in negotiations on geographical indications (the multilateral register for 
wines and spirits, and extending the higher level of protection beyond wines and spirits) and "disclosure" 
(patent applicants to disclose the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge used  in the inventions).  
25 Proposal for the establishment of a fully voluntary database for the registration of geographical 
indications.  
26 WTO document WT/MIN(22)/ST/40 of 12 June 2022.  
27 Resolution No. 696 -16. 
28 Decree No. 431 -17. 
29 Directorate -General of Cu stoms (DGA), MICM, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Public Health and 
Social Assistance , MIREX, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Planning and Development, 
Executive Board of the National Competitiveness Council, and National Council f or Free Export Zones (CNZFE).  
30 Dominican Industry Association, American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic, 
Dominican Exporters Association, Dominican Free Zone Association, National Organization of Business 
Enterprises, Dominican Republic Ship owners Association, National Private Enterprise Council, Dominican 
Customs Brokers Association, Dominican Airlines Association  and Dominican Agribusiness Board.  
31 Trade Facilitation Agreement Database. Viewed at: https://tfadatabase.org/members/dominican -
republic . 
32 The complaint, filed by Costa  Rica in 2020, concerns anti -dumping measures on corrugated steel bars 
(DS605). The Panel was established on 8 April 2022.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 42 - 
  services. The partial -scope agreement with the Republic of Panama only covers trad e in goods and 
only grants preferences to a limited number of products. The other agreements also include other 
trade disciplines; for example, investments, electronic commerce, intellectual property, or labour - or 
environment -related aspects.  
Chart 2.1 Trade agreements in force in 2022  
 
a  The Bahamas and Haiti are members of CARICOM, but do not participate in the agreement with the 
Dominican Republic. They therefore do not appear in the CARICOM group.  
b  Cuba is part of CARIFORUM but does not participate in the agreements with the European Union and 
the United Kingdom and therefore does not appear on the chart.  
Source:  MICM. Viewed at: 
https://www.micm.gob.do/direcciones/comercio -exterior/acuerdos -comerciales -vigentes . 
2.24.   In 2020, the Dominican Republic ratified a new agreement, the Economic Partnership 
Agreement (EPA) between the CARIFORUM States and the United Ki ngdom of Great Britain and 
Northern Ireland, which entered into force on 1  January  2021.33 The EPA with the United Kingdom 
maintains the market access conditions and other trade disciplines agreed under the EPA with the 
European Union. As a result, no new commitments were agreed. Only the legal and technical changes 
required to implement the agreement were made in the EPA; for example, the rules of origin were 
adjusted to allow cumulation of origin with materials originating in the European Union. The 
autho rities also indicated that, while the Dominican Republic granted a tariff rate quota for powdered 
milk under the EPA with the European Union, this quota was not negotiated with the United Kingdom.  
2.25.   According to the Vice -Ministry of Foreign Trade, much of th e Dominican Republic's trade is 
conducted under preferential agreements; the CAFTA -DR is the most important trade agreement.34 
Regarding tariffs, the Dominican Republic is continuing with the tariff reduction schedule negotiated 
in the CAFTA -DR, according to which all tariff lines will be duty -free for all the parties by 2025.35 
Under the treaty, the Dominican Republic has negotiated tariff rate quotas for agricultural products 
originating in Costa Rica, the United States and Nicaragua ( Section 3.1.4). Acco rding to the 
authorities, some of these quotas with the United States were eliminated in 2017 and 2020.  
2.26.   The Dominican Republic's trading relationship with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, 
Guatemala and Nicaragua continues to be governed by two trade agre ements (Chart  2.1.) In the 
event of differences in tariff preferences, the agreement offering the least -restrictive treatment is 
used.36 
 
33 Information provided by t he authorities.  
34 MICM (several years), Informe de Seguimiento al Desempeño Comercial de la República  Dominicana . 
Viewed at: https://www.micm.gob.do/nosotros/publicaciones  
35 WTO document WT/REG211/3 of 18 July 2016.  
36 AMCHAM (2020), Guía del Inversionista  2019. Viewed at: 
https://amcham.org.do/ images/pdf/Guia%20Inversionista_2019_master.pdf . 
DOMINICAN 
REPUBLIC
EUUnited 
KingdomPanama
Antigua and Barbuda 
BarbadosBelize
DominicaJamaicaSaint Kitts and Nevis
Santa Lucía
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines
SurinameTrinidad and TobagoUnited 
StatesHonduras
Costa RicaNicaragua
El Salvador Guatemala
Central America
Granada
GuyanaMontserratCARICOMa
CARIFORUMbCAFTA -DRBahamas HaitiWT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 43 - 
  2.27.   The Dominican Republic and Panama are in the process of negotiating the expansion of the 
partial -scope trade agreement.  According to the Vice -Ministry of Foreign Trade, the agreement, 
which has been in force since 1985, is no longer in line with the Dominican "export matrix".37 
2.3.3   Other agreements and arrangements  
2.28.   According to information provided by the authorities, Australi a, Belarus, Japan, Kazakhstan, 
New Zealand, the Russian Federation, Switzerland and Türkiye offer preferential treatment to the 
Dominican Republic under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).  
2.4  Investment Regime  
2.4.1   Legal framework  
2.29.   The legal framework for foreign investment in the Dominican Republic was not amended 
during the period under review and is regulated by the Constitution and by the Foreign Investment 
Law (Law No.  16-95) and amendments and implementing regulations thereto.38 This leg islation also 
governs the signing of technology transfer contracts from abroad. The Law recognizes different types 
of investment (foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign reinvestment, and new foreign investment)39, 
regulates their destination and includes the principle of equal treatment between domestic and 
foreign investments, ensuring non -discriminatory treatment, with the same rights and obligations.40 
The Constitution of the Dominican Republic also guarantees national treatment to foreign inve stors.41 
The right to property is also recognized and guaranteed by the Constitution (Article 51), which 
establishes that any expropriation is subject to financial compensation.42 Recently, Law No.  47-20 
was adopted, which introduced a new regulatory frame work for the development of public -private 
partnerships (PPPs).43 
2.30.   Other sectoral laws, like trade agreements, have provisions on foreign investment. With the 
exception of the agreement with Panama, all the trade agreements signed by the Dominican Republic 
include detailed investment provisions. As of June  2022, the Dominican Republic had concluded 
several Agreements on the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments (ARPPIs), and 
ratification of one more with Argentina is pending.44 Although no new A RPPIs were signed during 
the period under review, the authorities have stated that the negotiation of such agreements 
continues to be part of the Dominican Republic's trade strategy.45 In this regard, the 
Dominican  Republic is currently negotiating agreeme nts with Qatar and Türkiye. The 
Dominican  Republic also has agreements with Canada and Spain to avoid double taxation, and a tax 
information exchange agreement with the United States to prevent tax evasion and fraud.46 
2.31.   At the institutional level, the Domin ican Republic Export and Investment Center 
(ProDominicana), an institution attached to the MICM, continues to be the state agency responsible 
for implementing the Foreign Investment Law and for promoting foreign investment.47 
ProDominicana assists MIREX in  the negotiations on regional trade agreements that include 
 
37 DICOEX (2020), Informe de Seguimiento al Desempeño Comercial de la República Dominicana  2019. 
Viewed at: https://www.micm.gob.do/nosotros/publ icaciones . 
38 Law No.  16-95 was last amended in 2003 through Law No.  98‑03. The Law's implementing 
regulations (Decree No.  380-96) were last amended in 2004 through Decree No. 214 -04. 
39 Foreign reinvestment refers to the reinvestment of profits in the enter prise that generated them, 
whereas new foreign investment is the reinvestment of profits in other enterprises. The term "foreign 
investment" is used in this text to describe all three types of investment, unless otherwise indicated.  
40 The Dominican Republi c does not apply exchange controls or limit capital repatriation.  
41 National treatment was introduced through Article 221 of the 2010 Constitution, and remained 
unchanged in the 2015 Constitution.  
42 The authorities stated that there were no direct expropri ations during the period under review.  
43 Previously, this type of partnership or agreement was governed by Articles  46 to 64 of Law  
No. 340-06. 
44 The Dominican Republic has signed ARPPIs with: Argentina (2001); Chile (2000); Finland (2001); 
France (1999); Italy (2006); the Republic of Korea (2006); Morocco (2002); the Netherlands (2006); 
Panama  (2003); Spain (1995); and Switzerland (2004).  
45 These negotiations are coordinated by the National Trade Negotiations Commission 
(Decree  No. 74-97). 
46 National Congress Resolution No.  191-19. 
47 Although ProDominicana is a state body, its board of directors is drawn from public and private sector 
representatives (Decree No.  275-17). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 44 - 
  investment provisions. Other services offered, generally free of charge, include technical support to 
potential investors (strategic information, guidance and support for project installation and 
development, identification of local operators and infrastructure opportunities) and other 
post-establishment services, including project expansion.48 ProDominicana also manages the official 
register for foreign direct investment and maintains staff in som e embassies or consulates abroad.  
2.32.   The Dominican Republic is seeking to attract foreign investment to strategic sectors that are 
specified in different national plans, strategies and policy documents.49 In 2020, the Consultative 
Council for Investment Promo tion was established50, chaired by the Vice -President51, which designs 
policies aimed at improving the country's competitiveness. These projects and their implementation 
plans are discussed directly with the President. Pillar 4 (goal 4.3) of the National E xport Development 
Plan (PNFE) 2020 –30 is also aimed at increasing foreign investment.52 In this connection, the 
authorities have indicated that an assessment of the possible regulatory changes required to achieve 
this goal is under way.  
2.33.   In general, all eco nomic activities are open to foreign investment except those specified in 
the Foreign Investment Law and in certain sectoral laws. Article 5 of the Law prohibits foreign 
investment in activities related to the handling of toxic, hazardous or radioactive wa ste produced 
abroad, as well as activities affecting public health, environmental balance or national security. In 
other words, there is no list of specific activities in which FDI is not allowed.  
2.34.   There are FDI restrictions in the mining, energy, broadcast ing and air transport sectors 
(Table  2.2), as well as in a number of professional services, such as legal, medical, auditing, 
architectural, nursing and engineering services. The provision of professional services in the 
Dominican Republic is regulated pri marily by Law No.  111-42, on the professional exequatur, which 
establishes the national system governing the process for obtaining the exequatur by persons 
wishing to practise a profession who have obtained higher education degrees in academic institutions  
in the country or abroad.  
Table 2.2 Restrictions on foreign investment, 2022  
Sector  Provisions  Legal basis  
Communication and 
dissemination  It is a requirement to be a Dominican national or a naturalized 
foreign national to hold a controlling share (51% or more) in 
the concession -holding enterprise of public broadcasting 
services.  General Law on 
Telecommunications 
No. 153-98. 
Mining  Mining concessions may not be granted to any foreign 
governme nt, either directly or through the intermediation of a 
natural person or enterprise.  Mining Law No.  146-71 
and amendments 
thereto.  
Oil extraction and 
exploitation  Foreign governments may not obtain exploration, exploitation 
and commercial rights in respec t of petroleum and other 
hydrocarbons, nor may they be admitted as partners, joint 
partners, or shareholders by any person or company that 
holds such rights.  Law No.  4532-56 and 
amendments thereto.  
Electricity generation 
and transmission  The State reserves for itself hydroelectric generation activities 
in excess of 5 MW and power transmission activities.  General Law on 
Electricity No.  125-01. 
 
48 ProDominicana ed. (2021), Guía de Inversión 2021 and online information . Viewed at: 
https://prodominicana.gob.do/InvestInDR . 
49 These documents include the National Development Strategy (END) 2030, the National Export 
Development Plan (PNFE) and some sectoral laws. They also refer to strategic sectors as priority or key 
sectors. Currently, these sectors include agribusinesses, energy, service outsourcing, the film industry, logistics 
and connectivity, manufacturing, mining, textiles and leather products, and tourism.  
50 The Consultative Council for Investment Promotion was established through Decree No.  498-20. The 
Consultative Council for Investment for Strategic Projects, established in 2009, was decommissioned through 
Decree No.  849-21. 
51 Decree No. 85 -22. 
52 The PNF E 2020 –30 is part of the set of initiatives linked to the third strategic pillar of the National 
Development Strategy (END) 2030, which relates to the development of a sustainable, integrated and 
competitive economy.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 45 - 
  Sector  Provisions  Legal basis  
Air transport  Domestic or cabotage operations are reserved for air carriers 
set up under Dominican law, in which at least 51% of the 
capital or fixed assets belong to Dominican nationals, two 
thirds of the management staff are nationals, and which 
maintain effective control over their aircraft fleet.  
Any enterprise acting as the operator, agent or trustee of 
charter flights must be set up in accordance with Dominican 
law; at least 51% must belong to Dominican nationals, and 
Dominican nationals must be employed in senior 
management. Foreign capital has been allowed to own up to 
100% of enterprises operating chart er flights, provided  that 
the investment belongs to an internationally recognized 
foreign airline or  a subsidiary authorized by the President.  Civil Aviation Law 
No. 491-06 and 
amendments thereto.  
 
Decree No.  751-02 
governing and regulating 
the operators, agents 
and trustees of charter 
flights.  
News agency services  The director of any printed newspaper or periodical produced 
in the Dominican Republic must be a Dominican national.  Law No.  6132-72. 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
2.35.   In some of its trade agreements, the Dominican Republic reserved the right to adopt measures 
relating to the ownership or control of land within 20  km of the border.53 The authorities have 
indicated that no such measures have been taken.  
2.36.   Foreign investment does not require any prior approval in the Dominican Republic. For 
statistical purposes54, ProDominicana keeps a register of foreign investment; it is free of charge and 
has been operating through a digital platform since 2021 for investments outside the free zones.55 
Foreign investors can register at any time. Investments in free zones are registered with the National 
Council for Free Export Zones (CNZFE), which subse quently notifies ProDominicana.56 
2.37.   In 2012, the Single Window for Investment (VUI) project was launched, which was to include 
a digital platform, to facilitate foreign investment.57 To date, the digital platform is not up and 
running.  
2.38.   In 2020, the law on pu blic-private partnerships (PPPs) was enacted, which in turn has an 
impact on foreign investment.58 To regulate the different stages (for example, approval, 
implementation and conclusion) of PPPs, this law introduces the principles, inter alia , of equality 
(national treatment) and free competition, transparency, due process and risk sharing. The 
Directorate -General for Private -Public Partnerships, created in 2020, is the institution responsible 
for regulating and coordinating projects in the Dominican Republ ic under PPPs in any sector of the 
economy.59 
2.39.   The Dominican Republic signed, but has not yet ratified, the Convention on the Settlement of 
Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States (Washington Convention of 1965 
or the ICSID Conventi on) establishing the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment 
Disputes (ICSID).60 The Dominican Republic implements the New York Convention (on the 
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards) and the Inter -American Convention on 
International Commercial Arbitration (ratified in 2008). The Dominican Republic is also a member of 
 
53 These measures may include: restricti ons on the transfer and control of an enterprise, disposal of any 
interest held in an existing state enterprise, or measures relating to the nationality of an enterprise's 
executives and board members.  
54 All foreign investment registrations are forwarded t o the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic for 
statistical purposes.  
55 Foreign investors can establish themselves in the Dominican Republic by adopting any one of the legal 
forms described in Law No. 479 -08 and must be entered in the Trade Name Register,  the Business Register 
and the National Taxpayers Register. In total, the procedures can take up to 16 (working) days and cost the 
equivalent of DOP 8,255.  
56 FDI registration in the free zone has not been computerized and is free of charge.  
57 Decree No. 62 6-12. 
58 Law No. 47 -20 and Decree No. 434 -20. 
59 A number of PPP projects have already been approved so far under this new law. These include: the 
construction of the Ámbar motorway between Santiago and Puerto Plata, the Pedernales Province tourism 
developme nt project, Puerto Arroyo Barril, an electronic secured transaction system, and the expansion of the 
national power transmission and distribution system.  
60 In this connection, the authorities consider that complaints may not be lodged against the 
Dominican  Republic under the ICSID Convention, but only under its Additional Facility Rules.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 46 - 
  the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and of the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation (OPIC). During the period under review, one case was se ttled against the 
Dominican  Republic by ICSID involving the mining sector, and other proceedings are currently under 
way involving the construction and sugar industries. Two more cases were settled in the Permanent 
Court of Arbitration (PCA), and other pro ceedings are currently under way in the PCA.  
2.4.2   Investment incentives  
2.40.   The Dominican Republic continues to offer incentives, mainly tax incentives, to domestic and 
foreign investors with a view to promoting certain sectors or regions (Table 2.3). Through these  
programmes, for example, tariff concessions are granted on imports of machinery and other capital 
goods, as well as inputs and raw materials, and, in many cases, additional benefits are granted as 
a result of productive activity, such as the payment of th e ITBIS and/or the ISR.  
2.41.   During the period under review some of these incentives were amended, while other 
programmes, such as incentives to the film, mining, textiles and tourism industries, as well as the 
investment regime in free trade zones, have remain ed unchanged since the previous review 
(Table  2.3).61 
Table 2.3 Investment and/or production incentives, 2022  
Sector  Incentives  Legal basis  
Amended or new programmes  
Renewable 
energies  – Exemption from import taxes on equipment, machinery and 
accessories for the production of energy from renewable 
sources.  
– Tax reduction (5% instead of 10%) on external financing on 
the value of interest paid.  
– Self-producers can obtain a loan for the payment of the ISR 
based on their investment.  
– Exemption from the ISR for 10 years, with a maximum time 
limit of 2020.  Law No.  57-07, 
as amended by 
Law No.  115-15 
Integrated 
management and 
co-processing of 
solid waste  – Exemption from tax on assets for five years and from tariffs 
and the ITBIS levied on machinery and equipment needed for 
their operations.  
– Exemption from the ISR, excluding dividends, for five years.  Law No.  225-20 
Manufacturing and 
industry  – 50% exemption from the ITBIS for the importation of 
equipment and machinery used in the production process.  
– Reduction of up to 50% of the net taxable income relating to 
investments in the purchase of machinery, plant and 
technology.  
– 50% exemption from the ITBIS levied on imports of raw 
materials and inputs.  
– Refund to exporters of the ITBIS, the selective consumption 
tax (ISC) and tax on cheques.  
– Authorization for partial processing.  Law 
No. 392-07, as 
amended by 
Law No.  242-20 
 
61 The free zone regime was notified by the Dominican Republic to the Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures (WTO document G/SCM/N/343/DOM of 12 July 20 19). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 47 - 
  Sector  Incentives  Legal basis  
Specia l Integrated 
Border 
Development Zone  – Exemption from the payment of tariffs and the ITBIS on 
machinery and equipment imported or purchased in the local 
market for the setting up and operational start -up of the 
enterprise.  
– Exemption from payment of property transfer tax and other 
taxes related to property transactions on the land and 
infrastructure where the project is being developed.  
– Exemption from taxes, fees and registration duties related to 
the increase in capital and transfer of shares in commercial 
enterprises within the Special Zone.  
– Exemption from the payment of the ISR and the ISC  applicable 
to the use of telecommunications and insurance services for 
project facilities, the ITBIS for the purchase and importation of 
inputs and raw materials used in the production of goods 
exempt from the ITBIS, and the tariff for the importation of 
production inputs and raw materials not produced in the 
country.  
– 50% reduction in the ITBIS for the purchase and importation of 
inputs and raw materials used in the production of goods not 
exempt from the ITBIS.  Law No.  12-21 
Public -private 
partnerships 
(PPPs)  – Exemption from the payment of the ITBIS for five years for the 
purchase or rental of equipment, materials and inputs directly 
related to the construction, repair or expansion of the goods 
and infrastructure covered by the PPP contract.  
– Accelerated de preciation and amortization system.  Law No.  47-20 
Incentive programmes that have not been changed  
Film industry  – Exemption from the ISR: (i) for the reinvestment of income 
earned by producers and distributors of Dominican feature 
films and exhibitors in the film sector; and (ii) for the 
construction of film and recording studios.  
– Deduction of 100% of the actual value invested against the ISR 
(limited to 25% of the tax payable).  
– Exemption from the ITBIS for goods, services and/or leases 
directly related to the pre -production, production and 
post-production of film and audiovisual works.  
– Exemption from 50% –100% of the ISR for income received by 
cinemas.  Law No.  108-10 
and 
amendments 
thereto  
Textiles  – Exemption from payment of the ITBIS and other taxes on the 
importation and/or purchase of machinery and equipment.  
– Exemption from payment of the ITBIS and other taxes on the 
importation and/or purchase of inputs, raw materials and 
services required.  
– Exempt ion from payment of the ISR on the production process.  Law No.  56-07 
Tourism  – Exemption from local and national registration and construction 
taxes.  
– Exemption from import duties and other applicable taxes on 
plant, equipment and furniture needed for the initial equipping 
and operational start -up of the tourist facility concerned.  
– Deduction of the investment cost from other taxable income at 
a rate of 20% per annum for five years.  
– Exemption from payment of taxes on gross sales and the 
ITBIS.  
– Exemption from  the ISR.  Law No.  158-01 
and 
amendments 
thereto  
Free zones  – Tax exemptions of up to 100% of tax payments on the 
construction, registration and transfer of property; of taxes on 
the setting up of companies or increase in capital; and of 
customs duties on raw materials, equipment and building 
materials to be used for construction, equipping and operating 
in free zones.  
– Exemptions from the payment of the ISR and customs duties 
on the importation and exportation of the raw materials, 
equipment and machinery u sed to produce goods.  Law No.  8-90 
and the 
amendments 
thereto  
Note:  Production incentives are shown in grey background.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 48 - 
  2.42.   In addition, a foreign investment regime, introduced in 2008, was abolished in June  2017, 
which allowed the establishment of international financial zones.62 The authorities indicated that 
there were no operators established under this regime.  
2.43.   Since 2007, incentives have been offered to install plants using solar, wind, and hydro power 
and, in 2015, these incent ives were extended to facilities producing energy from biomass and solid 
waste, as well as geothermal plants.63 In addition, since 2020, incentives have been granted to 
energy and materials recovery plants, including processing.64 These incentives include:  (i) 100 % 
exemption from asset tax for five years; and (ii) 100 % exemption from tariffs and the ITBIS on 
machinery and equipment.65 
2.44.   Similarly, in 2020, some incentives for the manufacturing industry, which had expired in 2017, 
were reinstated for 15 fiscal  years.66 In addition to other production incentives, the ITBIS reduction 
continues to be granted for the purchase of machinery, equipment and technologies used in the 
production process; however, this exemption is only 50 % and not 100 % as before.  
2.45.   Accordin g to the 2015 Constitution (Article 221), special treatment may be given to 
investments located in less -developed areas or investments in activities of national interest, 
particularly in the border provinces. The incentives regime for the Special Border De velopment Zone 
in place since 200167 expired in 2021 and was replaced by a new regime called the Special 
Comprehensive Border Development Zone .68 The current regime, like the previous one, offers 
incentives to enterprises setting up in the provinces of Pedernales, Independencia, Elías Piña, 
Dajabón, Montecristi, Santiago Rodríguez and Bahoruco. The incentives granted specifically for 
investment wer e changed, however, to extend the period of validity to 30 years instead of 20 years. 
Some of the production incentives granted under the regime for the Special Comprehensive Border 
Development Zone  were changed; for example, the 50 % exemption from payment  for transit and 
use of ports and airports was abolished, and the ITBIS exemption for the purchase of inputs and 
raw materials used in the production of goods was reduced from 100 % to 50%. The period of validity 
was also extended.69 
2.46.   Since 2020, PPPs have a lso been granted incentives (Table 2.3).  
 
 
62 Law No.  155-17, which repealed Law No. 480 -08. 
63 The incentives provided for in the Law have not been amended and have simply been extended to 
other renewable energy producers (Law No. 57 -07 and Decree No. 202 -08, and Law No. 115 -15). 
64 Law No. 225 -20. 
65 In addition, a 100 % exemption from the ISR, excluding dividends, is granted for five years from the 
date of enactment of the Law.  
66 Law No. 242 -20 amended the scope of Law No. 392 -07 on Industrial Competitiveness and Innovation, 
as amended by Law No.  542-14. 
67 Law No.  28-01, as amended by Law No.  236-05. 
68 Law No. 12 -21 and Decree No. 766 -21. 
69 Council for the Coordination of the Special Border Development Zone. Viewed at: 
https://ccdf.gob.do/phocadownload/SobreNosotros/MarcoLegal/Beneficios/Beneficios%20Ley%2012 -21.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 49 - 
  3  TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1  Measures Directly Affecting Imports  
3.1.1   Customs procedures and requirements  
3.1.  Since the most recent review, conducted in 2015, substantial changes have been made to the 
Dominican Republic's customs regime, as a result of the enactment of new customs legislation aimed 
at modernizing and simplifying customs regimes and procedures : Law No. 168-21 on Customs of 
the Dominican Republic, which superseded former General Customs Law No. 3489-53 and 
constitutes the primary basis for customs procedures a nd the clearance of goods . However, the 
authorities indicated that the new Law is not yet being fully implemented, since its implementing 
regulations are in the process of approval . The Law seeks to harmonize Dominican domestic 
legislation with the interna tional multilateral and bilateral commitments undertaken by the country 
over the past three decades, such as the WTO Agreements, the International Convention on the 
Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (revised Kyoto Convention) and the f ree 
trade agreements to which the Dominican Republic is a party (Box 3.1) . It also harmonizes customs 
legislation with provisions of the Constitution and with other legislation such as the Code of Criminal 
Procedure, the Tax Code and Law No. 107-13 on Admi nistrative Procedures . In addition, the 
consolidation of legislation – since the new Law and its implementing regulations will nullify the 
various regulatory provisions that previously governed customs activities – facilitates a better 
understanding of, an d compliance with, customs formalities and procedures.  
Box 3.1 Main changes introduced by Law No. 168-21 
Customs legislation is harmonized with constitutional provisions, the Code of Criminal Procedure and Law 
No. 107-13. 
Customs procedures and regimes are listed in a clear and orderly manner.  
The Law provides for joint inspections by state para -customs bod ies under the coordination of Customs 
(Article 4 of Law No. 168-21). 
There are provisions on the use of non -intrusive or non -invasive inspections.  
There are provisions on the use of information technology, in particular electronic or digital signatures.  
The deadline for submitting an import declaration is reduced from 10 to 5 calendar days from the arrival of 
the goods.  
The time frame for goods to be considered abandoned is shortened (from six months to between 15 and 
90 days) in order to re duce congestion at ports and airports.  
There are provisions on payment through banking institutions.  
The statute of limitations is increased to three years, in line with the Tax Code.  
There are provisions on advance declarations and rulings.  
New criminal offences are established, including customs fraud, unlawful removal of property from customs 
supervision and falsification of documents.  
The amount and type of guarantee will depend on the operator's level of risk.  
The Law defines the qualitative elements of customs taxes and the tax -law relationship in customs matters . 
The new Customs Law includes the concepts of "tax liability", "active subject" and "passive subject", which 
establish the relationship between taxpayers and the tax admi nistration, i.e. the Directorate -General of 
Internal Revenue and the Directorate -General of Customs.  
The Law authorizes the administrative seizure of regulated or restricted goods, such as alcoholic beverages, 
tobacco products and fuels, the provenance of  which is proven to be illicit.  
It is possible to correct, rectify and reject a declaration without incurring penalties.  
The Law incorporates trade facilitation measures such as the authorized economic operator and the single 
window for foreign trade, wh ich were previously provided for in separate regulations.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities and the Directorate -General of Customs . Viewed at: 
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/ley -168-21. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 50 - 
  3.2.  Other relevant customs laws are Law No. 8-90 on the Promotion of Free Zones and 
Law No. 11-92 on the Tax Code (Table 3.1).  
Table 3.1 Main laws relating to customs procedures, 2022  
Law Legal framework  Date of 
enactment  Last amendment  
Law No. 168-21 on Customs of the 
Dominican  Republic  Law No. 168-21 9 August  2021 None 
Tariff Reform Law, amending Law No. 14-93 on 
the Customs Tariff Law No. 146-00 27 December  2000 30 July 2013 
Law on the Tax Code  Law No. 11-92 16 May 1992 9 November  2012 
Law on Reviving and Promoting Exports  Law No. 84-99  6 August  1999 None 
Law on the Promotion of Free Zones  Law No. 8-90  15 January  1990 9 November  2012 
3 February  2017 
Regulations on Customs Valuation in 
conformity with the G ATT 1994 Customs 
Valuation Agreement  Decree No. 36-11 20 January  2011  None 
Law on Industrial Competitiveness and 
Innovation  Law No. 392-07 4 December  2007 5 December  2014 
Implementation of a Single Window for Foreign 
Trade  Decree No. 470-14 12 December  2014 None 
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
3.3.  The Directorate -General of Customs (DGA) remains the authority responsible for facilitating 
and monitoring foreign trade and for collecting tariffs and other trade -related duties, among other 
tasks. The Dominican Republic has several types of customs regime . In addition to definitive import 
and export regimes, which entail the full payment of customs  duties, goods may be subject to other 
customs regimes, namely : temporary or duty suspension regimes ; duty drawback regimes ; and duty 
exemption regimes (Table A3.1) . These regimes already existed in 2014 ; the new customs legislation 
preserves their essence . 
3.4.  Under the new Customs Law, transit is considered a customs operation . The Law establishes 
that goods in transit are not subject to any duties, taxes or charges, and must be inspected only in 
exceptional cases for reasons of national security . Goods in transit may remain in the country for up 
to one year . Warehousing procedures are not governed by the new Law ; they continue to be 
regulated by Law No. 456-73, which established them.  
3.5.  Since 2014, when the single window for foreign trade (VUCE) was launched,  import (and 
export) procedures have been carried out electronically .1 The VUCE includes the services offered by 
the government agencies that issue import (and export or transit) authorizations .2 Through the 
VUCE, trade operators can consult the importat ion (and exportation or transit) procedures and 
requirements and request in advance the authorizations, permits, certifications or conformity 
assessments required by the various competent entities for the importation (and exportation or 
transit) of goods.  
3.6.  Both natural and legal persons may engage in foreign trade operations . In the 
Dominican  Republic, importers (and exporters) are subject to specific mandatory registration with 
the DGA ; other foreign trade operators require a licence to operate (Article 34 of Customs Law 
No. 168-21). 
3.7.  In the Dominican Republic, it is not compulsory to use the services of a customs agent . To 
carry out imports or exports, or opt for a particular customs regime, the operator must use the 
Integrated Customs Management System (SIG A) (www.aduanas.gob.do ) to submit a single customs 
declaration, a commercial invoice, a transport document (bill of lading, air waybill or consignment 
note) and, for imports under preferential arrangements, a cert ificate of origin . In addition, depending 
on the nature of the product, import (or export) permits or authorizations and plant and animal 
 
1 Decree No. 470 -14 and Article 403 of Law No. 168 -21. 
2 Currently, the VUCE system comprises , among others, the followi ng institutions:  the DGA; the Ministry 
of Agriculture; the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare; the Ministry of the Environment and Natural 
Resources; the National Drug Control Directorate  (DNCD) ; the Ministry of the Armed Forces; the Ministry of 
Public Works and Communications  (MOPC) ; the Export and Investment Center  of the Dominican Republic 
(CEI-RD); the Dominican Institute  for Quality (INDOCAL) ; the Dominican Sugar Institute  (INAZUCAR) ; the 
Dominican Port Authority  (APORDOM) ; and the Dominican Tobacco Institute  (INTABACO) . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 51 - 
  health certificates must be submitted . These are processed through the VUCE and presented in 
electronic format . All types of payments (for permits/authorizations or customs services) are made 
through Internet banking .3 The VUCE is free to use ; however, it costs DOP  200 to file a single 
customs declaration.  
3.8.  In addition to streamlining customs procedures, the new Customs  Law legalized electronic 
declarations and the use of electronic means . As a result, commercial invoices and documents are 
now submitted electronically and can be presented in English.  
3.9.  All goods entering or leaving the customs territory must be declared, e ven if they are not 
subject to the payment of duties, by means of a customs declaration, with the exception of goods 
transported under international transit or transhipment conditions . The single customs declaration 
must provide the details required by Cus toms to apply the selected regime . The customs declaration 
must be made electronically, and only when this is physically impossible may the DGA exceptionally 
consider other ways of filing the declaration . An advance declaration may be used to expedite the 
process.  
3.10.   Prior to the clearance of goods, the DGA carries out customs checks, which may require a 
documentary inspection or a documentary and physical inspection . The type of verification, valuation 
or inspection required is determined on the basis of a ri sk analysis . The physical and documentary 
checks may be full or partial, but must be performed within eight hours of the goods being placed 
at the disposal of the authorized customs official, unless a longer period of time is required for 
extraordinary rea sons or because of the nature and characteristics of the goods . If, during the 
verification process, discrepancies are found with respect to the declaration, Customs shall notify 
the declarant or his/her representative within a period not exceeding eight h ours. Customs will 
correct the single customs declaration when the following discrepancies are detected : (1) when the 
goods are found to be of a different nature, unit of measurement, quality or weight, to have different 
characteristics or to be in a diffe rent condition, or when the physical verification reveals an incorrect 
tariff classification, origin or value ; and (2) when errors or omissions are detected in the name of 
the importer (exporter), shipper or consignee, the size or number of the container, or the seals, 
among other aspects.  
3.11.   For the goods to be released, the importer must have paid all duties and taxes in full, except 
in cases where a guarantee is provided . This may occur when it is necessary to delay the 
determination of the customs duty pay able, for example when the final determination of the value 
is delayed, or when the importer contests, through an administrative appeal, the result of the tax 
determination . If, after the payment has been made, Customs finds, as a result of a review carrie d 
out within the time limit prescribed by the Law, that less tax and duty was paid than was due, it will 
demand payment of the difference and may impose penalties . Similarly, at the request of the 
importer, any excess duties that have been collected owing to an valuation or calculation error, or a 
duly verified error of any other nature, shall be reimbursed . Within a period of five days after the 
goods have been unloaded, the manifest or transport document may be amended to specify the 
inbound goods not del ivered to Customs and those that were delivered without being included in the 
document.  
3.12.   Provisions on certification as an authorized economic operator (AEO), which is free of charge, 
were adopted in the Dominican Republic in 2012 and are reiterated in the new Customs Law .4 AEOs 
benefit from simplified customs processes and checks .5 Any Dominican or foreign natural or legal 
person, lawfully established in the Dominican Republic, who is involved in the trade logistics chain 
and satisfies the prerequisites a nd minimum safety requirements may join the programme .6 The 
authorities indicated that, as of 2022, more than 500 companies had been certified as AEOs.  
3.13.   The National Committee on Trade Facilitation (CNFC), chaired by the DGA, was created in 
2017 to facilit ate interaction with other trade control agencies and the private sector, and to 
implement the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement . In addition, the Committee serves as a permanent 
 
3 VUCE.  Viewed at: https://vucerd.gob.do/acerca -de-vuce/c%C3%B3mo -utilizar -la-vuce. 
4 Decree No. 144 -12 and Article 404 of Law No. 168 -21. 
5 Articles 15 -18 of Decree No. 144 -12. 
6 Article 3 of Decree No. 144 -12. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 52 - 
  forum for dialogue in which to address issues related to trade facilitation an d logistics (Article 399 
of Law No. 168-21). 
3.1.2   Customs valuation  
3.14.   The Dominican Republic continues to apply a customs valuation system based on the 
WTO's  Customs Valuation Agreement .7 According to the Dominican authorities, the transaction value 
is used to d etermine customs value in around 84% of import transactions.  
3.15.   The Dominican Republic does not have legal instruments to set minimum/reference or official 
prices . In this regard, it may use reference values only for risk measurement purposes.  
3.16.   With the aim of removing bureaucratic impediments to trade facilitation, the paper version of 
the value declaration form was scrapped in 2015 . The most important elements of the form were 
incorporated into the electronic version of the single customs declaration – thus saving the importer 
from having to repeat information that is already contained in the declaration – and which include 
the importer's obligation to provide the information and documents required to determine the 
customs value.8 
3.17.   The Dominican Republic iss ues advance rulings for all imports, irrespective of their origin or 
provenance, on the application of customs valuation criteria, among other issues . Regarding checks 
or inspections, risk analysis systems continue to be used as a fundamental criterion in the selection 
of the goods to be inspected . In this regard, the Dominican Republic has adopted a risk -based control 
methodology for the three stages : before, during and after clearance . Post-clearance control is 
considered important both as a facilitation tool and to ensure compliance with regulations related to 
the valuation of goods . With regard to the latter, the authorities indicated that the World Customs 
Organization guidelines for post -clearance audit are followed . Goods may be withdrawn subject to 
provision of a guarantee if, in the course of determining the customs value, it becomes necessary 
to delay the final determination of that value (Article 30 of Decree No. 36-11). 
3.18.   In 2019, the Dominican Republic notified the WTO of the provisions related to complaints and 
appeals against decisions of the customs authorities that take account of the right of appeal without 
penalty .9 The Constitution of the Republic establishes the type of appeal that may be filed10 and 
provides for precautionary measures inte nded to suspend the effects of an administrative act . 
Appellants are informed of their appeal rights when they are notified of an administrative or judicial 
act. 
3.1.3   Rules of origin  
3.19.   The Dominican Republic  applies only preferential rules of origin . However, acc ording to the 
Law, the origin of the goods may be determined for non -preferential purposes and for the imposition 
of countervailing duties, safeguards and quotas.11 
3.20.   The preferential rules of origin were not substantially modified during the period 2015 -21. 
During the review period, the Dominican Republic signed only one new trade agreement : the 
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the member countries of the Caribbean Forum 
(CARIFORUM) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . This Agreement 
maintained the rules of origin that had already been negotiated within the framework of the EPA 
with the EU.  
3.21.   The criteria conferring origin may be general or specific . The use of non -originating materials 
that do not undergo the change in t ariff classification is permitted provided that they do not exceed 
a given percentage of the total cost or weight of the product . Cumulation of origin, including 
 
7 Decree No. 36 -11 and Article 80 of Law No. 168 -21. 
8 Rule No. 001 -2015 of 20 March 2015 replaced Rule No. 001 -2001 of 29 June 2001 on application of 
the customs value declaration (DVA ) form.  
9 WTO document G/VAL/N/2/DOM/1, 20 December 2019.  
10 These include administrative appeals (appeals for reconsideration and hierarchical appeals) and 
judicial appeals (contentious -tax appeals and contentious -administrative appeals).  
11 Article 230 of Law No. 168 -21. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 53 - 
  extended cumulation, is permitted, meaning inputs may be used from non -party States with which  
the Parties have a trade agreement.  
3.1.4   Tariffs  
3.1.4.1   Structure and levels  
3.22.   In 2014, the Dominican Republic's tariff schedule contained 7,048 lines at the eight -digit level 
of the Harmonized System (HS 2012) . As of 2021, it contains 7,242 lines at the eight -digit level of 
the Harmonized System (HS 2017), owing to the opening and incorporation of new lines in the 
Dominican tariff schedule when it was transposed to the sixth amendment to the Harmonized 
System.  
3.23.   During the period under review, no major changes we re made to the Dominican Republic's 
tariff schedule . The Dominican Republic applies only ad valorem  tariffs . Some tariffs increase d 
slightly, although the simple average MFN tariff remained unchanged from 2014 at 7.8%, as a result 
of the rise in the number  of tariff lines contained in the tariff (Table 3.2) . The slight increase in tariffs 
is reflected in a greater percentage of tariff lines with rates above 15% and an increase in average 
MFN tariffs for agricultural (WTO classification) and non -agricultural  products.  
Table 3.2 Structure of MFN tariffs, 2014 and 202 1 
 
2014  
(HS 2012)  2021  
(HS 2017)  
Total number of lines  7,048  7,242  
 Ad valorem  rates (> 0%)  3,268  3,377  
 Tariff-free 3,780  3,865  
 Non-ad valorem  rates 0 0 
Tariff rate quotas (% of tariff lines)  0.4 0.4 
Duty-free tariff lines (% of tariff lines)  53.6 53.4 
Average of lines exceeding zero (%)  16.7 16.8 
Simple average (%)  7.8 7.8 
 Agricultural products (WTO definition) (%)  14.2 14.5 
 Non-agricultural products (including petroleum, WTO definition) (%)  6.5 6.6 
Domestic tariff peaks (% of tariff lines)a 1.1 1.0 
International tariff peaks (% of tariff lines)b 29.5 29.9 
Overall standard deviation of applied rates  10.2 10.4 
Bound tariff lines (% of tariff lines)  100.0  100.0  
a Domestic tariff peaks are defined as rates that exceed three times the overall simple average applied 
rate. 
b International tariff peaks are defined as rates that exceed 15%.  
Source:  Calculations by the WTO Secretariat on the basis of data provided by the authorities.  
3.24.   As in 2014, non -agricultural products are subject to a lower average tariff than agricultural 
products, though the tariff did increase slightly during the review period, from 6.5% to 6.6% . The 
average MFN tariff for agricultural products (WTO definition) also edged up compared to 2014, from 
14.2% to 14.5% . In the Dominican Republic, the highest tariffs, which range from 40% to 99%, are 
applied only to agricultural products, including rice, su gar, meats, dairy products and vegetables . 
On average, as in 2014, the highest tariffs are applied to dairy products (25.9%) and sugar and 
confectionery (24.2%) (Table A3.2) . However, most of the above -mentioned products are subject 
to tariff rate quotas a nd are therefore eligible for lower tariffs . Average tariffs applied to 
non-agricultural products have not changed significantly, as they have increased for only a few 
products since 201 4, specifically fish and fish products (from 17.1% in 2014 to 17.4% in  2021) . The 
products with the highest average tariff are fish and fish products and clothing (19.8% in both 201 4 
and 2021).  
3.25.   The Dominican tariff schedule still has 12 different rates12, which range from 0% to 99% . 
Apart from the 0% rate, which is applied to 53.4% of lines, the most common tariff rates in 2022 
were 20% (2,090 lines, or 28.9% of the total), 14% (470 lines, or 6.5%), and 8% (450 lines, or 
6.21%) (Chart 3.1) . Tariffs above 25%, which were applied to only 72 tariff lines, were used main ly 
for agricultural products.  
 
12 The 12 tariff levels are:  0%, 3%, 8%, 14%, 20%, 25%, 40%, 56%, 85%, 89%, 97% and 99 %. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 54 - 
  Chart 3.1 Frequency distribution of tariffs, 2014 and 2021  
(% of all tariff linesa) 
 
a There were a total of 7,048 lines for the 2014 tariff and 7,242 for the 2021 tariff.  
Source : Calculations by the WTO Secretariat based on data provided by the authorities.  
3.26.   The Dominican Republic has bound all its tariff lines in the WTO at rates ranging from 0% to 
99% (Table A3.2) . Most of the products (62.7%) are bound at a rate of 40% . The highest tariff 
rates, i.e. those above 85%, are applied to only 0.3% of tariff lines and parts thereof under the 
HS 2002 nomenclature . The highest rate of 99% is applied to meat and edible meat offal 
(HS 0207.11.00, 0207.12.00, 0207.14.10, 0207.14.11, 0207 .14.91, 0207.14.92, 0207.14.93 and 
0207.14.99), garlic (HS 0703.20.00) and rice (HS 1006.10.00, 1006.20.00, 1006.30.00 and 
1006.40.00) . This is followed by the 97% rate, which is applied to only one tariff line, namely onions 
and shallots (HS 0703.10.00), the 89% rate, which is applied to beans (HS 0713.31.00, 0713.32.00 
and 0713.33.00), and the 85% rate, which is applied to sugar (HS  1701.11.00, 1701.12.00, 
1701.91.00 and 1701.99.00) . The tariff applied to these products is at the same level as the bound 
tariff, except in the case of two meat -related tariff lines (HS  0207.14.93 and HS 0207.14.99) for 
which the MFN tariff is lower than the bound tariff.  
3.27.   In 2021, the applied MFN tariff appeared to exceed the bound tariff for some 15  tariff lines 
and 16 subhea dings at the eight -digit level (Table A3.3).13 
3.28.   The Dominican Republic reserves the right to modify its schedule of concessions during 
2018-23.14 
3.1.4.2   Preferential tariffs  
3.29.   As of 2022, the Dominican Republic had six trade agreements ; as a result, originating impo rts 
are granted preferential treatment . The duty -free status granted under the agreements, except that 
with Panama, covers between 75.8% and 95% of the total tariff schedule (Table 3.3).  
3.30.   The average preferential tariff in the free trade agreements (FTAs) n egotiated by the 
Dominican Republic is in all cases lower than the average MFN tariff .15 The average preferential 
tariffs range from 0% to 2.8%, except for the one applied to products originating in Panama, since 
 
13 This finding was obtained by comparing the applied MFN Tariff (2021), which is in the HS 2017 
nomenclature, with the approved bound tariff, which i s in the HS 2002 nomenclature, taking into account only 
the lines that are strictly comparable in the two nomenclatures.  
14 WTO documents G/MA/339 and G/MA/388 of 12 September 2017 and 26 November 2020, 
respectively.  
15 The lowest rate between the MFN tariff and the preferential tariff was used to calculate this average 
for each product.  
53.6%
4.1%6.1%6.7%28.4%
0.2% 0.0%0.8%53.4%
4.1%6.2% 6.5%28.9%
0.2% 0.0%0.8%
0102030405060
0% >0%-5% >5%-10% >10%-15% >15%-20% >20%-25% >25%-35% >35%2014 tariff (HS 2012)
2021 tariff (HS 2017)WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 55 - 
  the agreement is partial in scope and covers only 208 tariff lines . Therefore, in this case, the average 
preferential tariff is 7.4%,  very similar to the average MFN tariff of 7.8% . Preferences granted to 
agricultural products are lower than those granted to non -agricultural products ; however, under the 
various CAFTA -DR agreements, the preferential rates are very similar for the two typ es of product, 
with duty -free lines reaching almost 100%.  
Table 3.3 Summary analysis of preferential tariffs, 2021   
Number of 
preferential lines  
Preferential part 
of the tariff (%)  Total  WTO categories  
Agricultural products  Non-agricultural 
products (including 
petroleum)  Average (%)  
Duty -free 
lines (%)  
Average 
(%) Duty -free 
lines (%)  Average  
(%) Duty -free 
lines (%)  
MFN - - 7.8 53.4 14.5 31.7 6.6 57.3 
CAFTA -DRa 3,377  46.6 0.0 99.8 0.2 98.8 0.0 100.0  
CAFTA -DR - Costa Ricaa 3,377  46.6 0.1 99.8 0.3 98.7 0.0 100.0  
CAFTA -DR - Nicaraguaa 3,377  46.6 0.1 99.7 0.4 98.3 0.0 100.0  
CAFTA -DR - United Statesa 3,377  46.6 0.0 99.8 0.3 98.8 0.0 100.0  
CARICOM  3,014  41.6 1.2 95.0 3.9 87.3 0.7 96.4 
Central America  2,986  41.2 1.3 94.3 3.0 91.2 1.0 94.9 
EPAa 2,640  36.5 2.8 75.8 9.5 48.0 1.6 80.9 
United Kingdom  2,640  36.5 2.8 75.8 9.5 48.0 1.6 80.9 
Panama  208 2.9 7.4 55.9 14.0 34.1 6.2 59.8 
a Tariff averages are based on the preferential tariffs for 202 1. 
Note:  Where the MFN rate is lower than the preferential tariff, the MFN rate has been used to calculate the 
averages.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat, on the basis of data provided by the authorities.  
3.1.4.3   Tariff quotas  
3.31.   The Dominican Repu blic applies tariff quotas under both the WTO and its preferential 
agreements . In the WTO, there are eight products subject to tariff quotas : poultry meat, powdered 
milk, onions, garlic, dried beans, maize, rice and sugar . These products correspond to 30 e ight-digit 
HS 2017 tariff lines . In some cases, the Dominican Republic has expanded market access, as imports 
were needed to meet demand or maintain reserves, hence the use of some of the quotas is in excess 
of 100% . In the case of maize, for example, the tariff has been kept at 0% for several years and 
the quota has remained open (Table A3.4).16 
3.32.   In 2021, Decrees Nos. 505-99 and 569 -12, which set out the methods for allocating MFN tariff 
quotas, were repealed . The authorities indicated that regulations gove rning the allocation of these 
quotas have been submitted to the executive branch and are awaiting issuance (Section  4.1).17 At 
present, these quotas are allocated at the request of the importer.  
3.33.   Regarding preferential quotas in 202 1, under CAFTA -DR, the Do minican Republic maintains 
quotas for six products originating in the United States (11 lines at the HS 2017 eight -digit level), 
two products originating in Costa Rica (eight lines at the HS 2017 eight -digit level) and 
three  products originating in Nicarag ua (six tariff lines at the eight -digit level) .18 All preferential 
quotas are for agricultural products . Under the agreement between CARIFORUM and the EU, a tariff 
quota applies to powdered milk (three HS six -digit tariff lines : 0402.10, 0402.21 and 0402.2 9). This 
preferential quota was not negotiated under the new agreement with the United  Kingdom 
(Table  A3.5) . The procedures for allocating preferential quotas did not change during the period 
under review.19 
 
16 Information provided by the authorities.  
17 Decree No. 605 -21. 
18 Article 3.13 and General Notes on the Tariff Schedule  of the Dominican Republic under  the Free Trade 
Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States.  
19 Decree No. 701 -10, which establishes regulations governing the administration of the CAFTA -DR tariff 
quotas, is still in force.  Under the EPA, the tariff rate quota for powde red milk is managed  by the WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 56 - 
  3.1.4.4   Tariff concessions  
3.34.   Law No. 14-93, which determines the customs tariff, also includes a list of specific products 
that are exempt from import duty .20 This exemption also applies to products imported by 
government agencies in the case of an emergency21 and by representations of foreign governments ; 
in addition to donations ; imports of personal and household effects22; books for personal use23; 
samples and catalogues ; imports of components, spare parts and materials for repair or maintenance 
of merchant and tourism vessels and aircraft in the process of loading and unloading, as long as 
they provide international transport services ; imports of goods for the health sector24; and imports 
of computers, their parts and replacements, for personal use.  
3.35.   Goods en tering the Dominican Republic under temporary admission schemes, whether for 
inward processing or without processing, and under duty exemption schemes (free zones and 
duty-free shops) are not subject to duties under either the suspended duty or the exempti on regime, 
as applicable (Table A3.1) . Law No. 168-21 contains an illustrative list of 21 types of good that may 
benefit from the temporary admission scheme for re -exportation in the same state, which includes 
goods for cultural or scientific purposes, veh icles for transporting goods and passengers abroad, and 
capital goods for which a lease agreement has been signed.25 
3.36.   Courier imports, when they are not for commercial use, do not require an import licence or 
permit, and have a value equal to or less than USD 200, are exempt from the payment of duty and 
domestic consumption taxes.26 
3.37.   Imports under the free zone regime and other export support programmes, such as the Centre 
for Industrial Development and Competitiveness (PROINDUSTRIA), are also duty -free. Tariff 
exemptions are also granted under certain sectoral support programmes (Section 3.1).  
3.1.5   Other charges affecting imports  
3.38.   In addition to tariffs, imports are subject to the customs service fee ; the tax on the transfer 
of industrialized goods and services (IT BIS); and the selective consumption tax (ISC) . The ITBIS 
and the ISC apply to both imports and domestic goods.  
3.39.   There has been no change to the customs service fee since the last review .27 This is a specific 
fee that depends on the weight and volume of the shipment and is paid in national currency at the 
official exchange rate in effect at the time the customs declaration is submitted (Table 3.4).  
Table 3.4 Customs service fees, 2022  
Type of charge  Amount (USD)  
20-foot containers  75 
40- or 45-foot containers  100 
Consolidated cargo (except express 
dispatch cargo)  0.25 per kilo or fraction thereof, with a ceiling of 60 for each bill of 
lading  
Loose or bulk goods  0.50 per metric tonne, with a ceiling of 500 per bill of lading  
Motor vehicles, equipment and machinery  100 per unit  
Express shipments  0.25 per kilo or fraction thereof, with a ceiling of 10 for each waybill 
issued by the international express transport company  
Source:  Presidential Decree No. 627-06. 
 
European  Union by means of  an export licence  mechanism (Section 3, Article 27 of 
Regulation  (EC) No. 1187/2009).  
20 Article 13 of Law No. 14 -93, amended by Article 6 of Law No. 146 -00. 
21 The import tax exemptions that were in effe ct during the pandemic for imports of certain medical 
supplies, equipment  and devices  were applicable to all importers, including government agencies.  
22 Provided that they belong to foreigners who will reside permanently in the country or to nationals 
returning to the country after having resided abroad for two consecutive years.  
23 Provided that they belong to Dominican students who have studied abroad.  
24 Small samples of pharmaceuticals; inputs, packaging, machinery and equipment for the manufacture 
of med icines for human or animal use; pacemakers for treating cardiac diseases; and special hearing aids.  
25 Article 2 of General Rule No. 001 ‑2014 of the Directorate -General of Customs, Article 1 of 
Resolution  No. 68 -06 of the Ministry of Finance, and Article 26 5 of Law No. 168 -21. 
26 Decree No. 402 -05; General Rule No. 01 -2018 of the Directorate -General of Customs, Ministry of 
Finance; and DGA.  Viewed at: https://www.aduanas.gob.do/faq . 
27 Law No. 226 -06; Law No. 424-06; and Presidential Decree No. 627 -06. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 57 - 
  3.40.   A service fee is also levied on goods destined for customs warehouses . This fee is currently 
an ad val orem fee of 1% for tax warehouses and 1.5% for re -export warehouses, calculated as a 
percentage of the value of the good . However, under new Customs Law No. 168-21, this fee must 
be set according to the approximate cost of the services rendered and will be  adjusted annually in 
accordance with the consumer price indices published by the Central Bank.28 
3.41.   Imports of all fishery products, whether processed or not, are subject to a special single 
ad valorem  tax of 0.5%, which will be used to finance the Dominican  Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Council (CODOPESCA) .29 Exemptions apply to products used in aquaculture, for example : seeds and 
inputs such as feed, hormones, fishing line and hooks, in addition to navigation and refrigeration 
equipment and engines imported by aquaculture producers or fishers registered with CODOPESCA 
or with a research centre . The executive branch may, for exceptional reasons, exempt importers 
from the payment of the tax, provided that CODOPESCA does not object.30 
3.42.   The ITBIS, a value -added type general consumption tax, is applied to the transfer and 
importation of new or used industrialized goods and to the provision of services . The standard rate 
is 18% . A reduced rate of 16% applies to certain products such as : sugars ; cocoa and chocolate ; 
coffee (some types) ; edible animal and vegetable fats ; and yogurt and butter . Some agricultural 
consumer goods and inputs for the agricultural and/or food industry are exempt . These products 
include live animals, fresh, chilled and frozen meat, fish for mass c onsumption or reproduction, and 
dairy products (except yogurt and butter).31 
3.43.   The ISC is levied on the transfer and importation of certain domestically produced goods, and 
on telecommunications and insurance services (Table 3.5) . The ISC rate depends on the  type of 
product or service . Rates are ad valorem , except in the case of alcoholic beverages and tobacco . In 
these cases, the ISC has an ad valorem  component and a specific component, which is adjusted 
quarterly according to the inflation index . The ad valorem  part of the ISC for alcoholic beverages 
and tobacco is calculated by adding the specific component to the recommended retail price (RRP).32 
Table 3.5 ISC rates, 2022  
Product  Rate  
Alcohol, alcoholic beverages and beer  10% 
Specific amount (DOP) per litre of alcohol (pure)a  
Beer made from malt (other than malt extract)  695.50  
Wine of fresh grapes, including fortified wines ; grape must other than that of heading 20.09  695.50  
Vermouth and other wine of fresh grapes flavoured with aromatic substances  695.50  
Other fermented beverages and non -alcoholic beverages, not elsewhere specified or included  695.50  
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of 80% vol. or higher ; ethyl 
alcohol and other spirits, denatured, of any strength  695.50  
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol. ; other 
spirits, mixed alcoholic preparations of a kind used to manufacture beverages  695.50  
High-alcohol spirits obtained by distilling grape wine for producing brandy  695.50  
Spirits obtained by distilling grape wine (e.g. cognac and other brandies)  695.50  
Spirits obtained by distilling grape marc (e.g. grappa)  695.50  
High-alcohol whisky (e.g. malt spirits) for blending  695.50  
Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky  695.50  
Scotch whisky in a bottle of a net content not exceeding 700 ml and of a value not exceeding 
one pound sterling ( GBP 1) 695.50  
Other whiskies  695.50  
Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar -cane products in containers 
holding more than 5 litres, with an alcoholic strength by volume not exceeding 45%, whether or 
not aged  695.50  
 
28 Customs Law No. 168 -21. 
29 Fish in its natural state; shellfish in their natural state; canned, smoked, stuffed, restructured fish 
products; fish products, salted or in brine (Article 26 of Law No. 307 -04). 
30 Article 26 of Law No. 307 -04. 
31 Exempt goods and products: live animals; fresh, chilled and frozen meat; fish for popular 
consumption or reproduction; dairy products (except yogurt and butter); honey; other animal products; plants 
for sowing; unprocessed leg umes, vegetables, tubers for mass consumption; unprocessed fruit for mass 
consumption; unroasted, non -decaffeinated coffee, coffee husks and skins; cereals, flour, worked grains; grain 
mill products; oilseeds and other seeds (for fats, sowing or animal fee d); sausages; and cocoa beans, whole or 
broken, raw or roasted, and cocoa shells, husks, skins and other cocoa waste.  DGII.  Viewed at: 
https://dgii.gov.do/cicloContribuyente/obligacionesTributarias/principalesImpuestos/Paginas/Itbis.aspx . 
32 Article 375 of Law No. 11 -92 (Tax Code), as amended by Law No. 253 -12. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 58 - 
  Product  Rate  
Rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar -cane products in containers 
holding 5 litres or less, with an alcoholic strength by volume of more than 45% but not 
exceeding 80%, aged  695.50  
Other rum  695.50  
Gin and genever  695.50  
Vodka  695.50  
Anise liqueur  695.50  
Cream liqueur  695.50  
Other liqueurs  695.50  
Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol.:  695.50  
Obtained by distilling agave  695.50  
Obtained by distilling anise  695.50  
Obtained by distilling grapes ( e.g. pisco)  695.50  
Other  695.50  
Tobacco  20% 
Specific amount (DOP) per packet of 20 cigarettesa  
Dark tobacco  58.83  
Light tobacco  58.83  
Other  58.83  
Specific amount (DOP) per packet of 10 cigarettesa  
Dark tobacco  29.42  
Light tobacco  29.42  
Other  29.42  
Water pipes  130%  
Services   
Telecommunications  10% 
Insurance  16% 
Issuance of checks and wire transfers  1.5 
per thousand  
a The specific amounts are for the period from 1 July to 30 September  2022. 
Source:  DGII. Viewed at: 
https://dgii.gov.do /cicloContribuyente/obligacionesTributarias/principalesImpuestos/Paginas/impues
toSelectivoConsumo.aspx . 
3.44.   Hydrocarbon fuels imported or refined locally are also subject to a "selective consumption 
tax" (Table 3.6) .33 Like alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, fuels are subject to a tax consisting of a 
specific component and an ad valorem  component : the specific component is a fixed amount levied 
on the price per gallon of fuel, which is adjusted quarterly in accordance with the inflation rate 
(Law No. 112-00); and the ad valorem  component, of 16%, is levied on the import parity price 
(aviation turbine fuel (Avtur) is subject to a reduced rate of 6.5%) . In addition, each gallon of petrol 
and diesel is subject to a tax of DOP 2.0 (Law No. 253-12). 
Table 3.6 Tax on hydrocarbons, 2022 (July)  
HS Code  Description  Ad valorem (%) Specific amount 
(DOP)  
2710.12.11  Avtur (Jet A -1 for aviation turbines)  6.5 6.30 
2710.12.19  Premium petrol  16.0 71.85  
2710.12.19  Regular petrol  16.0 63.83  
2710.12.41  Kerosene  16.0 17.99  
2710.12.50  Premium diesel  16.0 34.53  
2710.12.50  Regular diesel  16.0 28.06  
2710.12.60  Fuel oil  16.0 17.99  
2711.11.00  Natural gas, liquefied  16.0 n.a. 
2711.12.00  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane  16.0 n.a. 
2711.13.00  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), butane  16.0 n.a. 
2711.19.00  Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), other  16.0 n.a. 
2711.21.00  Natural gas, in the gaseous state  16.0 n.a. 
n.a. Not applicable.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
 
33 The ISC was introduced pursuant to Law No. 11 -92 on the Tax Code for alcoholic beverages, tobacco 
products, telecommunications and insurance; however, it was not applied to hydrocarbons until 2000, pursuant 
to Law No. 112 -00 (specific ISC), and until 2005, under Law No. 557 ‑05 (ad valorem  ISC) (DGII).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 59 - 
  3.45.   There is a reimbursement system for the tax on fuels for electricity generation to be used by 
companies that sell energy to the national grid (SENI) or for stand -alone systems .34 The 
reimbursement is granted only for the fuel used to generate energy (i.e. for the energy actually 
generated), not for all the fuel purchased by the power plant.  
3.1.6   Import prohibitions, restrictions and licensing  
3.46.   The Dominican Republic maintains import prohibitions and restrictions for reasons of public 
health and safety, animal and plant health, and environmental protection, and in order to comply 
with the requirements of the international agreements to which it is a party.  
3.47.   Most of the prohibitions currently maintained by the Dominican Republic are for plant an d 
animal health reasons, and their objective is to prevent the entry of pests and diseases  into the 
national territory, in view of the high commercial interest of the products they are intended to protect 
(Table 3.7) . Therefore, in some instances, the impo rt prohibition applies only to countries affected 
by the pests or diseases.  
3.48.   The import prohibition on certain used products (clothing, vehicles and household electrical 
appliances) is still in effect, as is the prohibition on firearms and ammunition, and r ight-hand-drive 
vehicles for public safety reasons.  
Table 3.7 Import prohibition, 2015 -22 
Product  HS Code  Legal instrument  Objective  
Pesticides  3808 Decree No. 217-91 
Resolution No. 50-2009 
Resolution No. 61-2011 
Resolution 
No. RES-MA-2019-28  Improve the system for the control 
and use of pesticides on fruit and 
vegetables.  
Cocoa plants, fruits, seeds and 
any parts thereof ; Musaceae 
(banana plants) and any parts 
thereof.  0602.20  
1801 
1802 Resolution No. 83-2013 
of 9 December  2013 Prevent the entry of pests that affect 
cocoa plantations.  
Whole plants, corms, leaves, 
pseudostems, pollen and 
botanical seeds of Musaceae 
plants or parts thereof, fresh or 
dried (including handicrafts), in 
addition to other plants that 
present risks, and substrates for 
sowing.  0602 
0604 
0803 Resolution  
No. RES-MA-2019-43  Prevent the entry of banana wilt 
disease ( Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp. 
cubense  tropical race 4 (Foc TR4)) .  
Ginger rhizomes, turmeric 
rhizomes, potato tubers, 
handicrafts and Musaceae plants.  0601 Circular 
No. MARD-2021-15262  Prevent the entry of Foc TR4.  
Live pigs, pork products and 
by-products.  0103 
0203 Resolution  
No. RES-MA-2019-17  Prevent the entry of African Swine 
Fever.  
Live or dead shrimp of the species 
Litopenaeus vannamei  and 
Penaeus monodon , at any stage 
of development, frozen or raw.  0306.16 
0306.35  Resolution  
No. RES-MARD -2021-41  Prevent the entry of the disease in 
shrimp known as Early Mortality 
Syndrome (EMS) or Acute 
Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Syndrome 
(AHPNS).  
Used beekeeping equipment, 
bees, beekeeping products and 
edible products containing honey, 
pollen, royal jelly and propolis.  0106.41 
0409.00  
8436 Article 8 of Resolution 
No. 04-2006  Prevent the entry of the bee diseases 
known as American foulbrood, 
European foulbrood, Acarapisosis, 
the small hive beetle ( Aethina 
tumida ), and other significant 
beekeeping pests and diseases.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.49.    In its most recent notification, in 2016, the Dominican Republic indicated that the import 
licensing procedure had not changed .35 The Dominican Republic continues to use a system of 
automatic and non -automatic lice nces, sometimes referred to as import permits . Licences are issued 
for statistical purposes, to control and monitor quality, and/or to administer import levels ; they are 
 
34 Article 19 of Law No. 253 -12 amends  the direct exemption from the tax on fuel for electricity 
generation and replaces it with a reimbursement mechanism established by Decree No. 275 -16. 
35 WTO document G/LIC/N/3/DOM/8, 2 February 2016.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 60 - 
  not intended to limit quantities . An import licence is currently still required for al l agricultural 
products (with a few exceptions36, namely arms and ammunition ; medicines ; telecommunications 
equipment ; and ozone -depleting gases and substances) (Table 3.8) . An import licence is also 
required for all products under WTO quotas . As part of this review, the authorities indicated that 
they are in the process of updating the regulations on the issuance of import licences (i.e. agricultural 
import permits) . A non-automatic licence is also required to import oil.37 
3.50.   In the case of sugar (HS 1701),  prior to its importation, the Dominican Sugar Institute 
(INAZUCAR) must issue a "declaration of necessity" based on the existence of a deficit in domestic 
production.38 
Table 3.8 Products subject to import li censing, 2022  
Product  General remarks  Legal instrument  
Agricultural products  Automatic licences  
Non-automatic licences  
Ministry of Agriculture  
Purpose : sanitary control/tariff quota 
management  
Validity : 90 days.  
Non-transferable  Law No. 8-65 
Decree No. 605-21 
Decree No. 319-22 
Arms and ammunition  Automatic licencesa 
Non-automatic licencesb 
Ministry of Defence  
Purpose : national security  
Validity : one year  
Non-transferable  Law No. 138 
Law No. 36 
Law No. 262 
Law No. 873 
Medicines, sanitary and personal 
hygiene products, pharmaceutical 
products of natural origin sold for 
therapeutic purposes and household 
cleaning products  Import authorization  
Ministry of Public Health and Social 
Assistance (MISPAS)  
Purpose : sanitary control  
Validity : 45 days  
Non-transferable  Law No. 50-88 
Decree No. 246-06 
Law No. 42-01 
Telecommunications equipment  Certificate of No Objection from the 
Dominican Telecommunications Institute 
(INDOTEL)  
Purpose : quality control  
Validity : no period of validity  
Non-transferable  Law No. 153-98 
Ozone -depleting gases and substances  Non-automatic licences  
Ministry of the Environment and Natural 
Resources  
Purpose : compliance with the Montreal 
Protocol  
Validity : 30 days  
Non-transferable  Decree No. 565-11 
Fuels  Non-automatic licences  
Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs  
Purpose : .. 
Validity : annual  
Non-transferable  Law No. 37-17 
.. Not available.  
a Granted to armouries and companies authorized to import explosives and chemical substances.  
b Granted to persons requesting authorization to import explosives.  
Source:  WTO document G/LIC/N/3/DOM/8, 2 February  2016; and information provided by the authorities.  
 
36 Exceptions include: flowers (HS 0603); live plant s (HS 0601, HS 0602); wood (HS 44); in vitro plants 
(HS 0601, HS 0602); pesticides (HS 3808); fertilizers (HS 31); seeds (HS 12) (except garlic, potato and bean 
seeds for sowing, which do require an import licence); fertile eggs (HS 0407.11); semen (HS 051 1.10, 
HS 0511.99); and vaccines (HS 3002.30.10, 3002.30.90) (information provided by the authorities).  
37 Law No. 37 -17. 
38 Law No. 619 -1965.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 61 - 
  3.1.7   Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures39 
3.51.   In the Dominican Republic, the use and applicat ion of anti -dumping, countervailing and 
safeguard measures are governed by Law No. 1-0240 and its implementing regulations of 201541, 
which repealed the implementing regulations of 200842, and by the relevant WTO Agreements . 
According to the authorities, the most significant changes in trade defence policy during the period 
under review were the introduction of provisions for sunset and changed circumstances reviews and 
of a procedure for determining whether circumvention practices are taking place. Moreover, special 
services were created for the defence of domestic producers, such as the Trade Defence Information 
and Support System (SIADEC) and the Early Warning and Monitoring System (SAT).43 
3.52.   The Regulatory Commission on Unfair Trade Practices  and Safeguard Measures, also known 
as the Trade Defence Commission (CDC), continues to be the competent national authority 
responsible for conducting investigations into unfair trade practices and for deciding on the 
application of anti -dumping, counterva iling or safeguard measures.44 
3.53.   It is the responsibility of the CDC to accept or reject, through a reasoned decision, the petition 
to initiate an investigation into unfair trade practices, and in the case of an unforeseen increase in 
imports, the petition f or a safeguards investigation . The CDC may also initiate an investigation 
ex officio . After the investigation, carried out by its Investigations Department, the CDC determines 
whether it is necessary to apply anti -dumping duties, countervailing duties or s afeguard measures, 
as appropriate in each case . The parties may file an appeal for reconsideration within 30 working 
days from the date of publication of the decision to be appealed, so that the investigating authority 
may review its decision and rectify i ts errors (if any).45 
3.54.   The DGA is the government entity empowered to apply and collect the resources 
corresponding to the corrective trade remedies resulting from investigations undertaken by the CDC . 
Circumvention of anti -dumping, countervailing or safegua rd measures, whether preliminary or final, 
shall be determined through a special procedure initiated ex officio  by the CDC or at the request of 
or on behalf of the domestic industry . Products imported by evading one of these measures shall be 
subject to th e retroactive payment of the total value of the measure.  
3.55.   Decisions made by the CDC regarding anti -dumping duties and countervailing and safeguard 
measures may be appealed before the High Administrative Court within 30 days of their notification 
(Article 230 of the implementing regulations for Law No. 1-02). 
3.1.7.1   Anti-dumping and countervailing measures  
3.56.   The investigation procedures for determining whether anti -dumping or countervailing duties 
are required have not changed substantially since the last review (Chart 3.2) . These investigations 
may be initiated pursuant to a written petition addressed to the CDC by or on behalf of a domestic 
industry, or ex officio  by the CDC . During the investigation, all the interested parties may defend 
their interests, present evidence and state their views . The initiation of an investigation procedure 
shall not hinder customs  clearance . The CDC seeks to conclude investigations within six months of 
their initiation, or within a maximum of 18 months . The investigation must demonstrate that 
dumping or subsidies are causing injury . The demonstration of a causal relationship shall be based 
on an examination of all relevant evidence . Once the investigation has been completed, the CDC 
shall publish the final determination, whether affirmative or negative . An investigation may be 
terminated when there is insufficient evidence of dumpin g or the existence of subsidies, injury or 
causal link to justify proceeding with the case.  
 
39 This section is based on WTO documents G/ADP/N/1/DOM/3/Suppl.2, G/SCM/N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2 and 
G/SG/N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2, of 27 November 2015.  
40 Law No. 1 -02 on Unfair Trade Practices and Safeguard Measures.  
41 WTO documents G/ADP/N/1/DOM/3/Suppl.2, G/SCM/N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2 and 
G/SG/N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2, of 27 November 2015; and Trade Defence Commission (CD C) Resolution 
No. 004-2015.  
42 Resolution No. 003 -08. 
43 Articles 21 -24 of the new implementing regulations for Law No. 1 -02 (CDC Resolution No.  004-2015).  
44 Law No. 1 -02. 
45 Article 229 of the implementing regulations for Law No. 1 -02. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 62 - 
  Chart 3.2 Anti-dumping and anti -subsidy investigations and adoption of measures, 2022  
 
a The CDC may undertake ex officio  investigations when domestic production is highly fragmented and 
thus not organized, or when the national interest is at stake.  
b The CDC may apply provisional measures once 60 days have elapsed since the initiation of the 
investigation.  
c The exporter or the authorities of the exporting country/territory voluntarily agree to revise prices or 
eliminate/limit subsidies.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on Law No. 1-02. 
3.57.   Definitive anti -dumping duties are set at a level equal to or lower than the margin of dumping 
if that lower duty is enough to eliminate the injury . Furthermore, a countervailing duty cannot be 
higher than the subsidy rate, but it can be lower than the subsidy if it would be sufficient to eliminate 
the injury caus ed to the domestic industry . Anti-dumping and countervailing duties may remain in 
force as long as and to the extent necessary to counteract the injury caused, and any definitive duty 
must be terminated on a date not later than five years from its impositi on or from the date of the 
most recent review.  
3.58.   The CDC may accept price undertakings (Chart 3.2) . If an undertaking is accepted, the CDC 
shall nevertheless complete the investigation if the exporting country so desires or the CDC so 
decides . In this case, should the CDC make a negative determination with respect to dumping, 
subsidy or injury, the undertaking shall automatically lapse, except in cases where such a 
determination is due in large part to the existence of such an undertaking . In those cases, the  CDC 
may require that an undertaking be maintained for a reasonable period of time .46 If a positive 
determination is made with respect to dumping or subsidy and injury, the undertaking shall be 
upheld.  
3.59.   Eight months before the termination of anti -dumping or  countervailing duties, the CDC may  
undertake, ex officio  or upon request, a sunset review to assess the need to uphold the definitive 
duties . In conducting this type of review, the CDC has to examine whether the injury and dumping 
would be likely to conti nue or recur if the duty were removed or varied, or both . If the CDC 
determines that the duty is no longer warranted, it shall be terminated immediately.  
3.60.   After a period of at least 12 months has elapsed from the completion of the investigation, the 
CDC may  also consider whether the definitive anti -dumping or countervailing duties in force should 
be upheld or varied, provided that there is sufficient evidence of a significant change in 
circumstances . If, as a result of this review, it is determined that the duty applied is not warranted, 
the definitive duties shall be revoked . Similarly, if the review finds different margins of dumping or 
 
46 This reasonable peri od of time is not defined in domestic legislation. It is at the discretion of the CDC, 
which, if it accepts a price undertaking, will notify the exporter as to how long the price undertaking will remain 
in force.  
WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 63 - 
  subsidy amounts from those determined in the initial investigation, the definitive duties may be 
varied and the new du ties would become definitive.  
3.61.   During the period 2015 -21, the Dominican Republic initiated two anti -dumping investigations 
relating to steel rods from China and Costa Rica (Table 3.9) . The investigations were concluded in 
2017 and 2019, respectively, and in  both cases, definitive anti -dumping duties of 43 and 
15 percentage points, respectively,  were imposed in addition to the MFN rate .47 The 
Dominican  Republic initiated three sunset reviews of the anti -dumping duties in force for steel rods 
from Türkiye and China . Two of these reviews were conducted for imports of rods from Türkiye, with 
both resulting in the renewal of the anti -dumping duties for an additional period of five years . The 
sunset review of the anti -dumping measure on imports of rods from China a lso resulted in the 
renewal of the anti -dumping duties for an additional period of five years .48 In 2019, an anti -dumping 
measure on steel rods and bars for concrete reinforcement originating in Spain expired.  
Table 3.9 Anti-dumping investigations initiated and measures adopted, 2015 -21 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  Total  
Investigations 
initiated  0 1 
(China)  0 1 
(Costa 
Rica)  0 0 0 2 
Sunset reviews 
initiated  1 
(Türkiye)   0 0 0 0 1 
(Türkiye)  1 
(China)  3 
Definitive 
measures adopted  0 1 
(Türkiye)  1 
(China)  0 0 1 
(Costa 
Rica) 1 
(Türkiye)   4 
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.62.   As at 3 0 June 2022, the Dominican Republic had three anti -dumping measures in force, with 
an average duration of six years and four months . During the period under review, the 
Dominican  Republic did not initiate any subsidy investigation, nor did it have any definitive 
countervailing measure in force.49 
3.1.7.2   Safeguard measures  
3.63.   There have been no substantial ch anges in the procedures for safeguard measures either 
(Chart 3.3) . The domestic industry must request the initiation of an investigation in writing . The CDC 
may also initiate an investigation ex officio . The CDC may initiate an investigation where there is  
sufficient evidence that, as a result of unforeseen developments, the investigated product is being 
imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause 
serious injury to the domestic industry that produces like  or directly competitive products . The CDC 
bases its decision on an evaluation of objective and quantifiable factors having a bearing on the 
situation of the domestic industry, and has to demonstrate the existence of a causal link between 
increased imports  and serious injury or threat thereof.50 
Chart 3.3 Safeguard investigation procedures  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on Law No. 1-02. 
 
47 Information provided by the authorities.  
48 Resolution No. CDC -RD-AD-001-2022.  
49 WTO document G/ADP/N/370/DOM, 24 August 2022.  
50 Article 205 of the new implementing regulations for Law No. 1 -02 on Unfair Trade Practices and 
Safeguard Measures of 10 November 2015 lists some of these factors.  
WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 64 - 
  3.64.   Once 60 days have elapsed since the initiation of an investigation procedure, the CDC may, 
if it makes a finding of injury or threat thereof, apply provisional measures for a period not exceeding 
200 days . The application of a provisional safeguard measure, like that of a definitive measure, is 
published in a national newspaper, and in both cases, the CDC notifies the exporting countries and 
interested parties . These measures are also notified to the WTO Committee on Safeguards through 
the appropriate channels, as is the termination of an investigation or the non -application of a 
measure.  
3.65.   Definitive safeguard measures are initially applied for a period of four years, which may be 
extended to a maximum of eight years . However, measures applied for more than one year must 
be progressively lib eralized . If the duration of the measure exceeds three years, the CDC shall review 
the situation and, if appropriate, withdraw the measure or increase the pace of liberalization . If the 
domestic industry considers that there is a continuing need to apply a  measure beyond the initial 
period of application, it shall submit a written request for extension . The CDC may extend a definitive 
measure only if it determines through investigation that the measure continues to be necessary to 
prevent or remedy serious injury, and that there is evidence that the domestic industry is adjusting.  
3.66.   During the period under review, the Dominican Republic did not initiate any safeguard 
investigation, nor does it have any ongoing.  
3.2  Measures Directly Affecting Exports  
3.2.1   Export proced ures and requirements  
3.67.   The new Customs Law, Law No. 168-21, regulates the export process and establishes  the 
time limits,  rights,  obligations  and responsibilities  of exporters . The regulated  process  covers  the 
submission  of the declaration,  verification  and the exit permit  for the mode  of transport . These 
aspects  were absent  from the previous  Law. The new process  gives the export  sector  greater  legal 
certainty,  predictability  and transparency.  
3.68.   Any goods leaving the national customs territory, regardless of t he type of procedure, must 
be declared by the means made available by Customs and within the legal time limits . Natural 
persons, like legal persons, may conduct foreign trade transactions . Exporters must be registered 
with the National Taxpayers Registry ( RNC) to conduct their business activities, as well as with the 
DGA. To carry out exports, the operator must use the Integrated Customs Management System 
(SIGA) ( www.aduanas.gob.do ) to submit the following : (a) the single customs declaration ; (b) the 
commercial invoice ; (c) the bill of lading ; (d) the export permits or the sanitary, phytosanitary or 
animal health certificate, as applicable ; and (e) the certificate of origin, where applicable.  
3.69.   The exporter  (or the representative  thereof)  must declare  the goods  to be exported  at least 
48 hours  before  the departure  date of the mode  of maritime  or land transport . If the goods  are 
exported  by air, they must be declared  at least four hours  before  the departure  of the mode  of 
transport  (Article  200 of Law No. 168-21). The risk analysis/management  system  shall determine  
the mechanisms  to ensure  the integrity  of the cargo (Articles  180 and 227 of Law No. 168-21). The 
risk system  result  shall determine  the processing  channel – green  (express  clearance),  orange  
(documentary  inspection)  or red (documentary  and physical  inspection  or check)  – and the type of 
inspection  to be carried  out.51 Physical  inspections,  where  required,  may be carried  out at the 
exporter's  premises  or at a customs  warehouse,  for which  the exporter  must arrange  the date and 
time of the check  with the Customs  Administration  and para-customs  entities,  in accordance  with 
the joint-inspection  protocol . Physical  inspections  must be conducted  jointly  and simultaneously  
between  Customs  and all border  agencies . Upon completion  of the physical  inspection,  the exporter  
requests  the entry of the cargo  into the port, airport  or land border  crossing  using  the DGA's  SIGA. 
The goods  must be exported  within  20 calendar  days of the single customs declaration  being  
approved . Failure to do so will result in the declaration  being rejected and the export process must 
recommence (Articles 183 and 209) ; the single customs declaration may also be rejected in other 
instances.52 
 
51 ProDominicana (2021), Guía de Exportación 2021 . Viewed at: www.prodominicana.gob.do . 
52 Such instances  include: (i) whe n Customs find goods that are subject to an export ban, or regulated 
or controlled goods without the necessary export permits or with false or counterfeit permits; (ii) whe n the 
goods are contaminated, in poor condition or expired, in which case they shall be held so that they can be WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 65 - 
  3.70.   Some products also require a specific procedure to be exported, such as an export permit, 
approval or certificate (Table 3.10) . For agricultural produc ts, depending on the nature of the 
product, establishments and production areas (farms, enterprises, packing plants) must be 
registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, with the Department of Food Safety (DIA) and with the 
Pre-inspection Programme for Fre sh Produce Exports of Agricultural Origin (PREINSPECCIONA) . In 
addition, before such products are exported, they must have been granted prior approval or have 
met special requirements applicable to each export product, in accordance with the rules in force .53 
Alcohol and tobacco products require an Export Authorization for Alcoholic Beverages and Cigarettes 
issued by the Directorate -General of Internal Revenue (DGII) (Regulation No. 79-03). However, to 
obtain the authorization, a Sanitary Registration Certificate must first be obtained from the 
Directorate -General of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS) .54 A permit is also required 
to export sugar.55 
Table 3.10 Specific export procedu res, 2022  
Product  Type of 
procedure/purpose/requirement  Legislation  Institution  
Vegetable and animal 
products  Phytosanitary certificate  Law No.  4990-58 
Law No.  4030-55 
Decree 
No. 1142-66 Ministry of Agriculture  
Mineral products  Certification of no objection to the 
export of metallic and non -metallic 
minerals  Law No.  146-71 Ministry of Energy and 
Mines  
Food and beverages, 
pharmaceuticals, health 
products, cosmetics, 
home and personal care 
products  Sanitary register  Law No. 42-01, 
Decree No. 82-15 Ministry of Public Health 
and Social Assistance, 
DIGEMAPS  
Sugar  Export permits for domestically 
produced sugar and sugar products  
 
Purpose : manage the sugar export 
quota  
 
Requirement : domestic producer 
with a quota allocated under the 
zafra (sugar harvest) decree issued 
annually.  Law No. 618-65, 
Decree No. 745-21 Dominican Sugar 
Institute (INAZUCAR)  
Coffee  Coffee export register and product 
certificate.  Law No.  246-17 Dominican Coffee 
Institute (INDOCAFE)  
Source:  ProDominicana (2021), Guía de Exportación 2021 , viewed at: www.prodominicana.gob.do ; and  
CNZFE (2022), Servicios 2022, viewed at: https://www.cnzfe.gob.do/index.php/es/servicios . 
3.71.   The trade in and export of metal waste, scrap metal and other copper or aluminium waste 
and their alloys are regulated in the Dominican Republic to protect the environment, in accordance 
with the Basel Convention .56 Exporters of these products must therefore be registered in the National 
Register for trade in and export of metal waste, scrap metal and other copper or aluminium waste 
and their alloy s (Law No. 110-13).57 Exporters must register with the Export and Investment Center 
of the Dominican Republic (CEI -RD, also known as ProDominicana), or, in the case of enterprises 
operating in the free export zones, with the National Council for Free Expor t Zones (CNZFE) .58 Both 
entities issue renewable registrations valid for one year.59 
3.72.   In addition to registration, authorization of these exports is subject to possession of an export 
licence (Article 12 of Law No. 110-13), which must be presented, together  with the single customs 
 
handed over to the relevant health authority; and (iii) whe n a competent authority so orders , for legally 
justified reasons ( Article 223 of Law No. 168 -21). 
53 ProDominicana (2021), Guía de Exportación 2021 . Viewed at: www.prodominicana.gob.do . 
54 ProDominicana (2021),  Guía de Exportación 2021 . Viewed at: www.prodominicana.gob.do . 
55 INAZUCAR. Viewed at: https:// www.inazucar.gov.do/index.php/servicios/item/246 -exportacion -de-
pazucar -y-sus-derivados . 
56 Decree No. 334 -07 and Law No. 110 -13. 
57 The National Register for trade in and export of metal waste, scrap metal and other copper or 
aluminium waste and their alloys is no longer regulated by Decree No. 334 -07, but by Law No. 110 -13 and by 
Decree No. 164 -14 establishing the regulations for Law No. 110 -13. 
58 Article 4 of Law No.  110-13 and Article 4 of its implementing regulations (Decree No 164 -14). 
59 Article 20  of Decree No.  164-14. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 66 - 
  declaration, before loading . The DGA must verify, at the point of lading, that the exporter is duly 
registered, with a valid licence, and must stop any exports that do not meet these requirements 
(Article 26).  
3.73.   Exports are classifie d as exports for consumption, free zone exports and exports for other 
purposes, including : temporary admission for inward processing ; consumo de reexportación  
(re-exports consumption) ; warehousing for re -export ; temporary admission under lease ; re-export ; 
and temporary exit for outward processing (Table A3.1).  
3.74.   Starting in 2021, in addition to the general authorized economic operator programme, the 
Dominican Republic implemented the simplified economic operator programme, geared towards 
MSMEs, to pro mote an export culture by facilitating the export process for products deemed to be 
trusted and low risk.60 
3.2.2   Export duties, charges and other levies  
3.75.   There have been no changes in export duties, charges or levies during the review period . 
Apart from fish and  shellfish exports, exports of goods and services are not subject to any export 
duty (Table 3.11) . All exports, however, are subject to an inspection service fee, whether at the 
packing point or at the port of exit.61 
Table 3.11 Export taxes on fish and shellfish, 2022  
Product  Rate (%)  
Fish in its natural state  0.5 
Molluscs and crustaceans in their natural state  5.0 
Processed fish and shellfish  0.0 
Aquaculture products  0.0 
Source:  Article 25 of Law No.  307-04. 
3.76.   Exported goods are zero -rated for the ITBIS, and exporters are entitled to deduct from any 
other tax obligation the ITBIS paid when purchasing goods and services for their export activity .62 
All exports are exempt from the ISC.63 
3.2.3   Export prohibitions, authorizations and licensing  
3.77.   The Dominican Republic imposes export prohibitions and requires permits or authorizations 
for a limited number of products.  
3.78.   In 2015, prohibited exports included amber and larimar . Exports of amber and l arimar, both 
pure and processed, are currently permitted (Table 3.12) . Exports of tortoiseshells and sea 
cucumbers are still prohibited, and exports of sugar and fishery products are subject to restrictions 
(Table 3.13) . The Dominican Republic also imposes  temporary restrictions on exports of certain 
products, including Anguilla rostrata  (HS 0301.92), which, as of October  2021, could be exported 
only through specific ports and only by holders of a CODOPESCA licence to exploit and trade this 
product . This ty pe of measure is used to track, control and monitor the exploitation of species.64 
Table 3.12 List of prohibited exports, 2015 -22 
Product  Legal instrument  Expiry date of the 
measure  
Human blood and its derivatives  Law No.  56-74 n.a. 
Amber in its natural state  Law No. 165-67, 
which prohibits the 
export of amber in its 
raw or natural form.  Decree No.  431-18 
Amber, larimar and similar unprocessed minerals  Decree No.  13-87  Law No.  370-19 
Tortoiseshells  Law No.  95-1967 n.a. 
 
60 Law No.  168-21. 
61 Information provided by the authorities.  
62 Article 342 of the Customs Code (Law No.  11-92). 
63 Article 3 66 of the Customs Code (Law No.  11-92). 
64 Information provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 67 - 
  Product  Legal instrument  Expiry date of the 
measure  
Sea cucumbers ( Holoturoidea ) Resolution No.  04-20 n.a. 
n.a. Not applicable.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
Table 3.13 Export restrictions and controls, 2015 -22 
Product   Type of measure  
Sugar and molasses  Law 
No. 618-65  An INAZUCAR export permit is required for exports.  
Export controls are in place to keep a special register to track 
shipments, for information and control purposes.  
Fishing industry (except 
aquaculture)  Law 
No. 307-04 A CODOPESCA certificate of no objection is required for exports.  
Source:  Information provided by the authorities.  
3.2.4   Export support  
3.79.   The Dominican Republic has notified the WTO that no export subsidies were granted for 
agricultural products over the period 2015 -21.65 
3.80.   The Dominican Republic continues to use the drawback procedure . Under this procedure, 
exporters can obtain the repayment (total or partial) in respe ct of the import duties and taxes 
charged on goods that will be exported or on the inputs used in their production . The refund is in 
the form of a tax credit to be used against future import duties . Fees for customs service or for any 
other service in gene ral are not refundable (Article 282 of Law No. 168-21). 
3.81.   The drawback procedure may be applied to the following goods : (1) goods that have 
undergone manufacturing or processing ; (2) inputs that are part of the final good ; (3) packing 
materials or packing co ntainers for sale ; and (4) parts subject to an assembly process (Article 281 
of Law No. 168-21). Drawback cannot be used if the goods are imported under any special customs 
procedure which is tax -free or for which the payment of taxes is suspended or subje ct to 
compensation . The time limit for requesting the application of the drawback procedure shall be one 
year from the export date (Article 283).  
3.82.   The incentives under the Law on Reviving and Promoting Exports (Law No. 84-99) or the 
drawback procedure were incorporated into the new Customs Law (Law No. 168-21).66 
3.2.5   Export finance, insurance and promotion  
3.83.   In the past, there was no public financial entity in the Dominican Republic devoted exclusively 
to export financing . In 2015, the National Bank for the Promot ion of Housing and Production (BNV) 
became the National Export Bank (BANDEX) – a public -private joint -stock financial intermediary for 
development, backed by an unlimited State guarantee .67 In 2021, as part of the 
Dominican  Republic's post -pandemic economic recovery policy, BANDEX was renamed the Export 
and Development Bank .68 BANDEX's main functions include channelling financial resources to 
export -oriented sectors in national or foreign currency, through specialized financing and lines of 
credit for exports, and other products, such as export factoring, export credit insurance and other 
SME-oriented specialized credit products .69 BANDEX also has special lines of credit for foreign 
companies purchasing Dominican products for export.  
3.84.   ProDomin icana remains the government agency responsible for promoting exports and FDI .70 
ProDominicana operates in several areas in coordination with other government institutions involved 
 
65 WTO documents G/AG/N/DOM/25 of 18 August 2020; G/AG/N/DOM/26 of 18  August 2020; 
G/AG/N/DOM/27 of 18 August 2020; G/AG/N/DOM/28 of 18 August 2020; G/AG/N/DOM/29 of 
18 August  2020; G/AG/N/DOM/44, of 8  March 2021; and G/AG/N/DOM/47 of 21 January 2022.  
66 The temporary admis sion for inward processing procedure  is still governed by Law No. 84-99, but 
with certain amendments that are set out  in Law No. 168 -21. 
67 Law No.  126-15. 
68 Law No.  122-21. 
69 BANDEX. Viewed at: https://bandex.com.do  and https://bandex.com.do/nuestra -historia . 
70 MICM. Viewed at:  https://www.micm.gob.do/nosotros/dependencias . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 68 - 
  in foreign trade to ensure more expeditious and efficient trade flows . The agency participates actively 
in trade negotiations and in the administration and implementation of trade agreements . It also 
helps to improve the legal framework and to facilitate procedures . In addition, ProDominicana 
promotes the country's exportable sup ply abroad through trade fairs and develops support and 
training programmes for potential exporting firms (e.g. the PymeX and Creando Exportadores  
programmes).71Measures affecting production and trade  
3.3.1   Incentives  
3.85.   The Dominican  Republic continues to grant t ax incentives to certain sectors or for certain 
activities . The incentives comprise exemption (generally in full) from various taxes such as ITBIS, 
income tax (ISR), the ISC, the wealth tax and the tax on use of goods and licences . The sectors and 
activiti es targeted by the incentives are tourism, electricity generation, the textiles industry, mining 
and agriculture (Table  3.14).  
Table 3.14 Selected sectoral tax incentives, 2015 -22 
Sector  Law 
No.  Tax (rate of 
exemption)  Products/ services  
Tourism  158-01 
195-13 Tariff (100%)  Machinery, equipment, materials and moveable property  
ITBIS (100%)  Importation and purchase on the national market of 
machinery, equipment, materials and moveable property  
96-88 Tariff (100%)  Slot machines, parts, components, spares and accessories  
Energy  57-07 Tariff (100%)  Equipment , machinery and accessories needed to produce 
electricity from renewable sources  
ITBIS (100%)  Importation and purchase on the national market of 
equipment , machinery and accessories needed to produce 
electricity  from renewable sources  
253-12 ISC (100%)a Importation and purchase on the national market  of fuels 
to generate electricity   
Manufactures  56-07 ITBIS (100%)  Importation and purchase of inputs, raw materials, 
machinery, equipment and services for textile firms or 
leather manufacturers  
ISR (100%)  Textile firms or leather manufacturers  
Mining  146-71 Tariff (100%)  Machinery, equipment and spare parts  
Agriculture  182-09 ISC (100%)  Procurement of insurance policies  
532-69 Tariff (100%)  Animals and inputs  
a This is a refund, rather than an exemption from the ISC.  
Source:  Ministry of Finance (2021), Gasto Tributario en República Dominicana : Estimación para el 
Presupuesto General del Estado (PGE) correspondiente al periodo fiscal del año 2022 . Viewed at: 
https://www.digepres.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2021/10/Gastos -Tributarios.pdf . 
3.86.   Additionally, in 2022 the Dominican  Republic notified the WTO of the subsidy programme 
governed by Law No. 8-90 to "promote the establishment of new free zones and expand existing 
ones", which establishes a tax -exemption programme for firms manufacturing goods or providing 
services, located within geographic areas known as free zones.72 
3.87.   The legal provisions  governing free  zones have not changed substantially since the last review 
in 2015 . Free zones are governed by Law No.  8-90, its implementing Regulations and  amendments 
thereto73, and by Laws Nos.  139-11, 253 -12, and 37 -17 which all amended the regime . The National 
Council for  Free Export Zones (CNZFE) continues to be responsible for the free  zones regime . The 
Council's functions include making and delivering on policy proposals to the  Ministry of Industry, 
Trade and MSMEs (MICM ) on the promotion and development of the free  zones sector, and 
examining and approving applications from companies wishing to locate in the zones . The 
programme's chief objectives include foreign exchange generation, job creation, workforce training 
and development of the various regions of the country.  
3.88.   Businesses located in free zones enjoy a number of tax benefits that have not changed 
substantially since 2015 . Such businesses are exempt from paying the ISR ; tariff duties on imports, 
 
71 MICM. Viewed at: https://www.micm.gob.do/nosotros/dependencias/centro -de-exportacion -e-
inversion -de-la-republica -dominicana -cei-rd. 
72 WTO document G/SCM/N/343/DOM, 12 July 2019.  
73 Decree No. 366-97. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 69 - 
  exports and re -exports of raw materials, equipment and machinery used  to produce goods ; the 
ITBIS ; the tax on the registration and transfer of real estate ; municipal taxes ; and consular fees.74 
3.89.   Businesses located in free zones can sell up to 100 % of their goods and services on the 
domestic market without restriction and wit hout the proviso that they use local raw materials in 
preference to imports (Article  11 of Law No.  139-11). They must, however, pay the relevant import 
duties, the ITBIS and the ISR at a rate of 3.5 % of the value of their gross sales on the domestic 
market .75 Businesses that are accorded free -zone status obtain a (renewable) permit valid for 
30 years if the free zone is in the border zone with Haiti (Law No  12-21 establishing a Special Free 
Zone for Border  Development) and for 15  years for the rest of the country (Law No.  8-90 on the 
Promotion of Free Zones).76 
3.90.   In addition to the free  zones there is a special national regulatory system  for two national 
priority sectors , which  operat e both in the free  zones and on the domestic market, namely for the 
textile, clothing and accessories  production chain , and for hides and skins, and manufacturing of 
footwear and leather articles . Consequently imports and/or purchases on the domestic market of 
certain inputs, raw materials, machinery, equipment and services made by businesses belonging to 
these sectors are subject to a single 0 % tariff and are exempt from the ITBIS and the ISR 
(Table  3.14) .77 Moreover, businesses manufacturing these products in free zones may expor t to the 
customs territory of the Dominican Republic up to 100 % of the goods produced, tariff -free; for all 
other products they must pay 100 % of import tariffs and taxes.  
3.91.   The Centre for Industrial Development and Competitiveness (PROINDUSTRIA) is an entity  of 
the MICM . Its purpose is to promote the competitive industrial development of the manufacturing 
industry .78 To that end it proposes policies and support programmes that encourage domestic 
industrial revitalization  and innovation . A number of the progra mmes it implements are aimed at 
young entrepreneurs and start -ups (Proincube) and at MSMEs (guidance hubs, business parks and 
IT training for SMEs) . PROINDUSTRIA also provides technical and financial support through the 
Industrial Development Bank (BDI) .79 Additionally, businesses accredited/certified by 
PROINDUSTRIA qualify for various tax incentives (Section  2.4.2).80 
3.92.   MSMEs are one of the chief sources of employment and thus make a significant contribution 
to the economy of the Dominican Republic . Therefore, to promote job creation and formalization of 
businesses operating in the informal sector, the single window for business formalization 
(https://vu.formalizate.gob.do ) was set up . Once registered, bus inesses have access to (i) the 
various support programmes for MSMEs ; (ii) loans issued in the financial system ; 
and (iii) government procurement procedures (Section  3.3.6). 
3.93.   The Programme for the Promotion of and Support for Micro -, Small and Medium -Sized 
Enterprises (PROMIPYME), which seeks  to draw up  support policies, is still running, and was not 
subject to change  during the review period . Through the Banca Solidaria and other second -tier 
banks , PROMIPYME provides MSMEs with credit and other financial ser vices. The National Reserve 
Foundation, which is backed by the Reserve Bank (Banreservas), provides credit facilities to 
micro -enterprises .81 Between 2013 and 2022 (April), the Foundation awarded DOP  6.5 billion in 
microcredit s: 63% to commerce, 27 % to ser vices and the remainder to industry and agro -industry.  
3.94.   The National Council for the Promotion of and Support for Micro -, Small and Medium -Sized 
Enterprises (PROMIPYME National Council), which is attached to the MICM, is responsible for 
formulating business  development policy for MSMEs, including policies that contribute to the 
development of an export culture in the sector, as well as  the creation  of productive jobs and 
generation of foreign exchange for the country . Moreover , together with the Ministry of the 
Environment and Natural Resources, the PROMIPYME National Council shall ensure that the MSME 
 
74 Article  24 of Law No  8-90 and WTO document G/SCM/N/343/DOM, 12 July 2019.  
75 General Standard No.  05-12; Article  17 of Law No. 8-90; Law No.  139-11; and Law No.  253-12. 
76 WTO document G/SCM/N/343/DOM, 12 July 2019.  
77 Law No.  11-92, as amended by Law No.  147-2000.  
78 Law No.  392-07. 
79 MICM. Viewed at: https://www.micm.gob.do/nosotros/dependencias/centro -de-desarrollo -y-
competitividad -industrial -pro-industria .  
80 Law No.  392-07, amended by Law No.  242-20. 
81 Online information. Viewed at: https://fundacionreservas.com/financiamiento .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 70 - 
  sector improves its surrounding  environment s and obtains certification of compliance with 
international standards .82 The Council promotes funding programmes for the sector.83 
3.95.   As part of the Dominican  Republic's post -pandemic economic recovery policy, in 2021 
BANDEX became the Export and Development Bank.84 In its new guise, BANDEX will be a financial 
intermediary dedicated to the development of strategic production sectors in order to  diversify and 
strengthen the Dominican economy . The bank will offer new financial products, national and 
internationa l lines of credit, longer -term loans with lower rates, and administrative services for 
guarantee funds . All instruments will have more flexible conditions and differential measures such 
as longer repayment and grace periods . The agriculture sector will be prioritized to promote 
production technology, systematize the logistics chain and reduce irrigation.85 
3.3.2   Standards and other technical requirements  
3.96.   The Dominican Quality System (SIDOCAL) is governed by Law No.  166-12, which was not 
amended during the review period . The Law has not yet been fully implemented, pending the entry 
into force of its implementing regulations which, as of 2022, have not yet been drafted . Additionally, 
there is sectoral legislation  in the areas of health, safety, the environment and c onsumer protection 
that also govern technical regulations.  
3.97.   SIDOCAL's composition was not amended between 2015 and 2022 (Chart  3.4). The 
Dominican Quality Council (CODOCA) is the governing body that coordinates policy on quality with 
the system's other bodi es, namely the ministries and other state institutions, the Dominican Quality 
Institute (INDOCAL) and the Dominican Accreditation Authority (ODAC) . These bodies are attached 
to the MICM . Pro Consumidor, the state body with responsibility for consumer prote ction, is also part 
of SIDOCAL.  
Chart 3.4 Composition of SIDOCAL  
 
Source:  National Quality Policy (PNC) 2021 -24. Viewed at: 
https://indocal.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2021/08/Politica -Nacional -de-Calidad.pdf . 
 
82 Law No.  37-17. 
83 Online information. Viewed at: https://promipyme.gob.do . 
84 Law No.  122-21. 
85 News item of 14  July 2021, Office of th e President of the Republic. Viewed at: 
https://presidencia.gob.do/noticias/gobierno -transforma -el-bandex -en-banco -de-desarrollo -y-exportaciones .  
WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 71 - 
  3.98.   INDOCAL has responsibility for drawing up national standardization policy a nd the national 
standardization plan, based on national development needs . In 2020, the Dominican  Republic 
adopted its first national quality policy (PNC) 2021 -24; this gave rise to the national standardization 
policy (PNN), implementation  of which  began i n 2021 .86 The aim of the PNC is to promote quality in 
order to increase the competitiveness of Dominican goods and services and thereby increase their 
integration into international markets .87 According to the PNC, in order to encourage a culture of 
qualit y in the country it is necessary to strengthen quality systems, both in production processes 
and in marketing, adopt good practice to promote sustainable production, encourage the signature 
of agreements for the mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures , and promote 
training.88 
3.99.   Ministries, assisted by INDOCAL and (where necessary) Pro  Consumidor, have responsibility 
for drafting the technical regulations for the areas within their purview .89 As the authority with 
responsibility for metrology, INDOCAL is the only body that can draft technical regulations in that 
particular field . Technical regulations ensure national security ; protect human life, health and safety, 
animal life and health,  and the environment ; and prevent misleading business practices  that are 
harmful to consumers.90 
3.100.   In 2021 the Dominican  Republic adopted the Handbook of Good Technical Regulation 
Practices (GBPRT) based, as the name indicates, on the WTO TBT Code of Good Practice .91 The 
Handbook sets out the steps involved in drafting a technical regulation (Chart  3.5). INDOCAL assists 
ministries as part of the drafting process , providing them with the scientific and technical information 
that must be taken into account wh en drafting technical regulations and noting the points where the 
regulation must be based, whether wholly or in part, on Dominican standards (NORDOM), or on 
regional or international standards .92 The draft is assessed by the Technical Committee on Technic al 
Regulations (CTRT) established under the Ministry, in which INDOCAL and Pro  Consumidor are 
represented . The draft is assessed using a regulatory impact analysis ( RIA) (Section  2.2). One of 
the steps is an international public consultation, conducted by INDOCAL (the national authority for 
TBT notifications to the WTO) and the Directorate of Trade Integration (DIC) of the Vice -Ministry of 
Foreign Trade , within the  MICM (the WTO enquiry point) .93 Technical regulations must comply with 
all steps in the proce dure, except where emergency technical regulations are concerned : emergency 
technical regulations are not subject to international public consultation and may be issued only 
where a product presents risks to health or national security . They must nonethele ss be notified to 
the WTO as soon as they are implemented.94 
 
86 PNN. Viewed at: https://indocal.gob.do/publicaciones/politica -y-plan-nacional -de-normalizacion . 
87 CODOCAL (2021), Memoria institucional 2020 . Viewed at: https://codoca.gob.do/wp -
content/uploads/2021/03/Memorias -del-CODOCA -2020-1.pdf.  
88 PNC 2021-24. Viewed at: https://indocal.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2021/08/Politica -Nacional -de-
Calidad.pdf . 
89 Article  53 of Law No.  166-12, and information supplied by the authorities.  
90 Handbook of Goo d Technical Regulation Practices (GBPRT). Viewed at: 
https://indocal.gob.do/publicaciones/rtd . 
91 GBPRT.  
92 Article  54 of Law No.  166-12 and GBPRT.  
93 GBPRT  and information supplied by the authorities.  
94 GBPRT.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 72 - 
  Chart 3.5 Drafting procedure for a technical regulation  
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on the GBPRT.  
3.101.   Once approved by the CTRT, the Ministry issues a resolution to make the draft an official 
technical regulation (RT) . The Ministry may present the RT to CODOCA's Technical Commission of 
Experts (CTE) for it to confirm that the RT was drafted in conformity with the GBPRT . Following 
confir mation, the RT becomes a Dominican Technical Regulation (RTD) and is published in a CODOCA 
resolution .95 Currently there is no digital catalogue of technical regulations ; according to the 
authorities, metrological technical regulations ( RTMs ) and RTDs can be viewed on the INDOCAL and 
CODOCA websites respectively.  
3.102.   Technical regulations (RT/RTD/RTM) must be reviewed every five years or, because of the 
demands of technological or scientific developments,  following a request to that end . Nonetheless, 
the author ities indicated that the bulk of RTs has been subject to this process and that during the 
review period (2015 -22) only RTMs were reviewed.  
3.103.   Between 2015 and 2022 (August) , the Dominican  Republic notified 12 new technical 
regulations to the WTO and the revis ion of or addenda to  four previously notified technical 
regulations . The 12 technical regulations notified relate to products such as alcohol, tobacco, LPG, 
tyres, and metrological and measuring instruments . Two specific trade concerns were raised at the 
WTO TBT Committee about Dominican technical regulations ; they related to cosmetic and hygiene 
products and steel rebar . Since 2015 , only one emergency technical regulation has been notified, 
relating to alcohol and tobacco.96 
3.104.   Locally manufactured and imported products must comply with the technical regulations 
(RT/RTD/RTM) in force in the Dominican  Republic .97 Conformity assessment is performed by 
ODAC -accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs) . The bodies  may be either Dominican o r 
foreign, provided in the latter case that the Dominican  Republic has entered into multilateral 
recognition arrangements with the CAB's country of origin .98 The authorities stated that in 2022 
there were seven accredited Dominican bodies . ODAC awards fore ign CABs a "proof of accreditation" 
to allow them to operate . During the review period no accreditations were annulled or suspended .99 
In the Dominican  Republic , manufacturers may not assess the conformity of their own products . 
 
95 GBPRT and information supplied by the authorities.  
96 ePing SPS&TBT Platform. Viewed at: https://eping.wto.org/en .  
97 Article  6 of Law No.  166-12. 
98 ODAC reco gnizes foreign CABs whose country of origin is party to multilateral recognition 
arrangements of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation 
Cooperation (ILAC) and Inter -American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC). Vie wed at: 
https://odac.gob.do/todos -los-servicios/constancia -acreditacion -otorgada -por-organismos -de-acreditacion -
extranjeros . 
99 ODAC, viewed at: https://odac.gob.do ; SIDOCAL, viewed at: https://sidocal.gob.do/temas -de-
calidad/tc -acreditacion/ ; and United States Internat ional Trade Administration (ITA), viewed at: 
https://www.trade.gov/country -commercial -guides/dominican -republic -standards -trade.  
Assessed by 
the CTRT
ApprovedMinistry publishes 
the draft on its 
website
The Ministry 
considers the 
observations
The Ministry publishes the draft on its 
website and, where appropriate, 
responses to observationINDOCAL notifies 
the draft to the 
WTOInternational public 
consultation
(60 days, may be 
shorter) 
The Ministry 
considers the 
observationsThe technical 
regulation is made 
officialDraft 
technical 
regulation Not approved
Observations 
No Yes
The Ministry publishes 
the draft on its websiteObservations 
Yes NoReturned for amendment
National public 
consultation
(60 days) WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 73 - 
  However, c onsumers are able  to assess the conformity of the products they use through 
Pro Consumidor, which was accredited by ODAC in 2019 as an inspection body.100 
3.105.   Where imports are concerned, it must be established at the border that the imported product 
complies with the requireme nts of the relevant RTD/RTM ; accordingly it is recommended that 
conformity assessment should be performed prior to a good's arrival at its destination in order to 
expedite customs clearance . The Dominican  Republic accepts conformity assessments conducted b y 
foreign bodies that hold "proof of accreditation" issued by ODAC .101 Equally, importers are able to 
conduct conformity assessments in accredited laboratories in the Dominican  Republic . For example, 
in order to import measuring instruments , INDOCAL may, af ter examination of a sample, issue a 
"type approval certificate" in advance . If the importer fails to present the certificate upon clearance 
of the goods, the goods will be held for between 5 and 15 business days, which is the period deemed 
necessary for t ype-approval purposes.102 
3.106.   Original labels must be in Spanish ; if not, an additional label must be added in Spanish such 
that it does not cover the original label .103 Since 2021 , it has been possible to add the label to the 
product after importation but befor e being placed on the market ; previously products had to be 
labelled at origin .104 In accordance with the General Law on Health (Law No.  42-01), labels on 
imports of beer, alcoholic beverages and tobacco must include a disclaimer (Articles  123 and 124).  
3.107.   As the official body for standardization in the Dominican  Republic, INDOCAL is responsible 
for drafting NORDOMs following a procedure similar to that used for technical regulations, but 
omitting the international consultation phase (Chart  3.6). NORDO Ms must be based on regional or 
international standards, where they exist .105 Reviews of standards are held every five years but may 
be conducted earlier if necessary . When a NORDOM is used as the basis for drafting a technical 
regulation, the NORDOM is rep ealed .106 A NORDOM is published as an INDOCAL resolution . INDOCAL 
has a pay -for-access electronic catalogue of standards.107 
Chart 3.6 Procedure for drafting Dominican standards  
 
Source:  Information supplied by the authorities.  
3.108.   Use of NORDOMs is voluntary . However the authorities indicated that in conformity with the 
Health Law (Law No.  42-01), use of NORDOMs for food and beverages is compulsory.  
3.109.   Locally produced or imported products that comply with the technical regulations or 
NORDOMs may be certified by INDOCAL . Certification is voluntary, except for products containing 
specific types of cement and steel bars .108 Certification may be compulsory in other cases by default . 
For example, since 2022 , the Tobacco Institute of the Dominican  Republic (INTABACO) has allowed 
 
100 Pro Consumidor (2020), Memorias Constitucionales 2019 and General Law on Protection of 
Consumers' and Users' Rights (Law No.  358-05); and Pro  Consumidor. Viewed at: 
https://proconsumidor.gob.do/inspeccion -y-vigilancia . 
101 Article  80(d) of Law No.  166-12.  
102 Guía de Importación de Productos Regulados por INDOCAL . Viewed at: https://indocal.gob.do/guia -
de-importacion -productos -regulados -por-indocal . 
103 RTD 53: general labelling of pre -packaged foods; RTD  675: labelling of pre -packaged food 
(regulation on nutritional labelling); and RTD  634: labelling of and claims for pre -packa ged foods for special 
dietary uses.  
104 Information supplied by the authorities.  
105 Article  49 of Law No.  166-12. 
106 INDOCAL. Viewed at: https://indocal.gob.do/for os/topic/las -normas -dominicanas -pueden -ser-
derogadas .  
107 The catalogue can be accessed at: https://indocalnormas.gob.do/catalogo . 
108 Annex  D to INDOCAL document OD -DEC-003 (Revision 10) of 24  August 2020 . Viewed at: 
https://indocal.gob.do/areas -tecnicas/evaluacion -de-la-conformidad/certificacion -de-productos . 
Propsoal 
for a 
standard 
drawn upDraft 
standard 
drawn upDraft standard 
validated at the 
various committees 
and submitted for 
public consultationOnce approved, it 
undergoes a quality 
check and is allocated 
a sequential number
Where a product poses a risk to 
the user’s health or safety and 
there is no Dominican standard in 
place, an emergency Dominican 
standard is establishedDocument drawn 
up as a 
Dominican 
standard
The standard 
is reviewed 
every 5 yearsOnce delivered or in use, 
non-compliance results in 
corrective measuresWT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 74 - 
  the use of the geographical indication (GI) " cigarro dominicano " (Dominican cigar) only when the 
good manufacturing practice set out in the NORDOM has been complied with .109 A product certif ied 
by INDOCAL may obtain a "quality seal", awarded for three years, subject to regular assessments.110 
3.3.3   Sanitary and phytosanitary measures111 
3.110.   The regulatory framework for formulating and implementing sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures has not changed signi ficantly since the previous review in 2015 . A vast number of laws, 
decrees, regulations and resolutions continues to regulate plant and animal health and food safety, 
despite attempts by the Dominican  Republic to update the statute book , as notified to the  WTO 
(Table  A3.6).112 
3.111.   The main institution  responsib le for developing and implementing sanitary and phytosanitary 
(SPS) measures is the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Department of Plant Health (DSV) and 
the Department of Animal Health, which is attac hed to the Directorate -General of Livestock 
(DIGEGA) .113 To prevent the introduction and spread of pests and disease s the Departments of Plant 
Health and Animal Health are responsible for conducting risk analyses on imports of products and 
by-products of pl ant or animal origin to use as the basis for plant and animal health  import 
requirements .114 All agricultural products require a sanitary or no -objection phytosanitary certificate 
(health permit) . The Department of Animal Health operates specific programmes to control and 
eradicate animal diseases that are classed as priorities, due to their nature and the potential 
economic losses they could cause.  
3.112.   The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance  has responsibility for the safety of 
processed f oods. The Food and Beverage Risk Control Department of the Directorate -General of 
Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS) is the national technical and regulatory body with 
responsibility for conducting health controls on all foods and beverages – during production, 
transportation, storage, preparation, sale and consumption – in order to reduce the incidence of 
food-borne diseases, including imported diseases . The Ministry of Agriculture also has a Department 
of Food Safety (DIA) (Resolution No.  18/2005, amended by Resolution No.  27/2006) . This 
Department promotes agrifood safety at primary level  through training and the implementation of 
the food risk management system in order to promote the supply of  agricultural foods of a high 
sanitary quality fo r domestic consumption and export.  
3.113.   The National Committee for the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (CNMSF) 
brings together various public and private sector entities to manage the implementation of the 
WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the commitments 
undertaken by the Dominican State as part of other regional and bilateral agreements entered into 
on sanitary and phytosanitary matters and food safety .115 The Committee also acts as a consultation 
body when emergencies arise in agricultural health and food safety, and recommends the most 
appropriate measures and mechanisms that the designated national authorities should introduce to 
mitigate the emergency's impact .116 Additionally, the Office of Agricul tural Trade Agreements (OTCA) 
 
109 INDOCAL news item of 10  March 2022.  Viewed at: https://indocal.gob.do/certificaran -calidad -del-
tabaco -dominicano .  
110 INDOCAL document OD -DEC-003 (Revision 10) of 24  August 2020.  
111 Obtaining information for thi s section was difficult because access to various websites was denied. 
For example, the messages from some of the sites were as follows: " The owner of this website 
(agricultura.gob.do) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (CH) from access ing this website ." 
(Online information: https://agricultura.gob.do ); "The owner of this website (www.cnmsf.gob.do) has banned 
the country or region your IP address is in (CH) from accessing this website ." (Online  information: 
https://www.cnmsf.gob.do ); and " The owner of this website (otca.gob.do) has banned the country or region 
your IP address is in (CH) from accessing this website ." Online information:  https://otca.gob.do . 
112 WTO documents G/SPS/N/DOM/56/Add.1 and G/SPS/N/DOM/57/Add.1, 2  February 2015.  
113 The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MIMARENA) intervenes in exceptional cases, 
especially where there are allegatio ns concerning the environmental impact of products of plant or animal 
origin.  
114 SIDOCAL. Viewed at: https://sidocal.gob.do/temas -de-calidad/medidas -sanitarias -y-
fitosanitarias/departamento -de-sanidad -
vegetal/#:~:text=El%20Departamento%20de%20Sanidad%20Vegetal,diseminaci%C3%B3n% 20a%20nuevas
%20%C3  per centA1reas%20libres .  
115 Ministry of Agriculture. Viewed at: https://agricultura.gob.do/depend encia/comite -nacional -para-la-
aplicacion -de-las-medidas -sanitarias -y-fitosanitarias -cnmsf .  
116 Article  2(7) of Decree No  515-05. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 75 - 
  at the Ministry of Agriculture is the body that negotiates and administers international arrangements 
on agricultural matters .117 The Dominican  Republic notified OTCA at the Ministry of Agriculture and 
the Executive Secretariat  for the CNMSF as national enquiry points and notification authorities.118 
3.114.   The aim of the sanitary and phytosanitary system of the Dominican  Republic is to prevent, 
by means of three systems, the introduction into the national territory of pests or diseases . Those 
systems are sanitary and phytosanitary protection at the national borders, surveillance and 
diagnostic capacity to detect pests, diseases and sanitary issues, and the capacity to respond in 
agile fashion to emergencies . The Dominican  Republic place s special emphasis on enhanced border 
protection through the installation of inspection infrastructure .119 Thus the aim of the bulk of the 
import restrictions applied by the Dominican  Republic currently is to prevent the entry of pests or 
diseases into the national territory (Section  3.1.6) . Moreover, exporting establishments are 
inspected and agricultural products for export are certified to ensure the health of 
Dominican  products on international markets.  
3.115.   The drafting of SPS measures is governed by the reg ulations of the relevant ministries . There 
is still no single centralized mechanism for their preparation . However, they are drafted largely along 
the same lines as those used for technical regulations (Section  3.3.2) . According to the authorities, 
technic al working groups are being set up to assess the risks to plant and animal health and their 
economic impact, as well as how to  mitigat e them . An action plan is then drawn up to minimize 
those risks , based  on scientific analysis , and is presented to the mos t senior authorities (the 
Ministries of Agriculture and Public Health) so that a resolution can be issued and the measure 
implemented . Generally, sanitary and phytosanitary measures are based on scientific principles, risk 
criteria and parameters laid down  by international organizations such as CODEX, the International 
Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the World Organisation for Animal Health ( WOAH ). The aim 
of the measures is to protect the lives and health of people, animals and plants and to preserve the 
environment while facilitating national and international trade in goods.  
3.116.   Where the Ministry of Agriculture is concerned, the responsibility for coordinating the 
formulation, implementation and monitoring of technical regulations lies with each designated 
national authority (departments of animal health, plant health and food safety).  
3.117.   In order to amend or update an obsolete regulation, a multidisciplinary team instructed by 
the Ministry of Agriculture conducts a study to ascertain whether th e regulation is in line with other 
national regulations and international standards . As a result of their assessment, a draft regulation 
is drawn up and circulated to domestic authorities and legal advisors in order to obtain preliminary 
approval . The mult idisciplinary team reviews the legal advisors' comments and adjusts the proposal 
before notifying it to the WTO.  
3.118.   Imported products that present a risk to human, animal, plant, aquacultural or forest health 
must comply with the sanitary, phytosanitary, and animal health measures specified in the technical 
regulations and must have a no -objection permit.  
3.119.   Phytosanitary inspections are governed by the Law on Plant Health (Law No.  4990-58) 
determining crop zoning and the techniques approved for the production of  plant products in order 
to prevent pests and disease . Inspections are performed when an agricultural operation begins, and 
are repeated at regular intervals that vary according to the product concerned .120 Inspections are 
also carried out in the event of a  report of non -compliance or when requests are made for letters of 
compliance or export certificates.121 
3.120.   The Quarantine Division of the Plant Health Department is responsible for phytosanitary 
inspections that are carried out to identify the presence of pes ts, disease or other pathogenic agents 
on products of plant origin . Inspections are conducted of plants, fruits, vegetables and other products 
and by -products of plant origin intended for export, transit or domestic consumption . The Plant 
 
117 Ministry of Agriculture Resolution No. 54-05. 
118 ePing SPS&TBT Platform. Viewed at: https://eping.wto.org/en/EnquiryPoint/sps -nna.  
119 SIDOCAL. Viewed at: https://sidocal.gob.do/temas -de-calidad/medidas -sanitarias -y-
fitosanitarias/barreras -de-defensa -del-sistema -sanitario -y-fitosanitario -de-la-rd.  
120 The Integrated Pest Management Programme lays down the inspection frequency . 
121 SIDOCAL. Viewed at: https://sidocal.gob.do/temas -de-calidad/medidas -sanitarias -y-
fitosanitarias/servicios -de-evaluacion -de-conformidad -en-el-area-sfs.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 76 - 
  Health Department  issues a Phytosanitary Export Certificate after performing the relevant inspection 
and ascertaining compliance with the requirements in place at the product's place of destination.122 
3.121.   The Ministry of Agriculture's Department of Food Safety inspects product ion units to assess 
whether they comply with good agricultural practices (GAP), good animal husbandry practices 
(GAHP), good management practices (GMP) and preventive measures to ensure agricultural food 
safety .123 The Quality Management Division of the Ministry's Department of Food Safety issues 
certificates and letters of compliance for GAP, GAHP and GMP . The certificates are issued at the 
request  of a farming concern , provided that the business  complies with 90 % of the basic 
requirements of GAP, GAHP or G MP laid down in Decree No.  52-08. Letters of compliance are issued 
to concerns  that comply with 80 % of basic requirements . Certification is retained on the basis of 
on-site inspections that are conducted to ascertain compliance with the requirements.  
3.122.   Curre ntly (2022) there are three state test laboratories in the Dominican  Republic that 
assess sanitary and phytosanitary compliance . The Central Veterinary Laboratory (LAVECEN), a 
DIGEGA agency, is the national reference laboratory for the study of animal heal th and zoonotic 
diseases, as well as for quality control on food, animal feed, chemical residues in meat, fruit, plants, 
the quality of agrichemical  product s, and the production of biological agents and antigens for the 
veterinary industry .124 The laborator y of the Dominican Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute 
(IDIAF) has responsibility for plant protection (bacteriology, mycology, virology and entomology), 
post-harvest management, soils and water, plant biotechnology and molecular biology . In addition 
to the Biotechnological and Industrial Innovation Institute (IIBI), which provides analytical services 
in respect of microbiology, pesticides, agricultural consultancy, plant biotechnology and safe food 
practices, there are other accredited labora tories in the Dominican  Republic, one of them a private 
facility.  
3.123.   During the period 2015 -22, the Dominican  Republic made 25  notifications (including 
addendums and revisions) to the WTO SPS Committee . Twelve were related to food safety or the 
protection of human health, seven to animal health, four to plant health, and two to both plant and 
animal health . No emergency measures were issued . During the review period no trade concerns 
were raised in relation to the measures adopted by the Dominican  Republic in this regard.125 
3.3.4   Competition policy and price controls  
3.3.4.1   Competition policy  
3.124.   The competition regime is governed by the Constitution (Articles  50 and 217), the 
Competition Law of 2008 (Law No.  42-08) and its implementing regulations enacted in 2020 (Decree 
No. 252-20). Additionally, competition in sectors that have regulatory bodies is governed by sectoral 
laws.126 
3.125.   The Competition Law was enacted in 2008 ; however it was only able to enter into force in 
2017, after the appointment of members of the Steering Committ ee and the Executive Director to 
the National Competition Commission (Pro -Competencia) .127 Pro-Competencia is an autonomous, 
decentralized state body with administrative, technical and financial independence . The National 
Congress appointed the members of t he Steering Committee in 2011  and the government appointed 
the Executive Director  in 2017.  
3.126.   In 2020 , the regulations implementing the Competition Law were enacted . In 2021, in order 
to bolster the competition regime and following a public consultation proce ss, three  regulations were 
adopted determining the procedures for the presentation, assessment and approval of proposals 
 
122 The products requiring phytosanitary certificates are plants, bulbs and tubers, seeds for propagation, 
fruit and vegetables, cut flowers and branches, grains and growing mediums. Containers, wood, packaging and 
other means of preserving plant products mus t also hold sanitary certificates.  
123 Inspections are conducted of crop -growing and livestock farms, greenhouses, honey extraction 
rooms, fish farms, plants for packing fresh fruit and vegetables, and milk storage facilities.  
124 Law No. 4030 of 1948.  
125 Online information. Viewed at: https://eping.wto.org/en/Search/TradeConcerns .  
126 The regulated sectors are electricity, hydrocarbons, transport (air, maritime, land), 
telecommunications, health, educ ation, banking services, insurance services, pensions and the stock market 
(Article  69 of Law No.  42-08). 
127 Article  67 of Law No.  42-08. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 77 - 
  concerning commitments to desist, administrative investigation in the event that false information  
is provided  and the penalties reduct ion regime . Pro-Competencia issued the regulations by means  
of resolutions.128 
3.127.   The competition regime applies in all sectors of the economy to all economic operators, 
whether public or private, domestic or foreign, operating in the Dominican  Republic and ab road, 
where operations abroad harm competition on the Dominican market . There is however  
one exception , as the Law does not consider  collective bargaining agreements as arrangements that 
restrict competition . Accordingly they are excluded from the competition regime.129 
3.128.   The Competition Law prohibits any conduct that could have restrictive effects on competition, 
including concerted  practices and the abuse of dominant position . Nevertheless , such practices are 
not penalized where they help to improve economic efficiency . The Constitution prohibits monopolies 
"except for the benefit of the State" . Accordingly the activities reserved to the State do not constitute 
a monopoly, nor do they constitute by default conduct that restrict s competition.  
3.129.   Pro-Compe tencia is the authority responsible for conducting investigations into alleged 
anti-competitive practices and for imposing penalties in all sectors of the economy other than the 
regulated sectors . The competition regime in the regulated sectors is implemen ted by the sectors' 
regulatory bodies, which have the same functions as those exercised by Pro -Competencia for the 
rest of the economy .130 There may be more than one body with responsibilities for competition 
matters in a single sector .131 There are mechanisms for consultation and cooperation between 
Pro-Competencia and the various bodies . Specifically, Pro -Competencia gives its opinion on the 
administrative penalty procedures that the sectoral bodies may take, although that opinion is not 
binding . Pro-Competencia also refers cases involving competition in the regulated sectors to the 
relevant sectoral body.132 
3.130.   Investigations into alleged anti -competitive practices may be initiated ex officio , or upon 
receipt of a complaint . When determining whether an abuse of dominant position has occurred, 
Pro-Competencia uses the criteria set out in the Competition Law, including the market share of the 
operator under investigation and those of its competitors ; the Law does not stipulate  any 
thresholds.133 
3.131.   When Pro -Competencia initiates an investigation, the economic operator under investigation 
is given notice to present evidence related to the charges laid out by Pro -Competencia . The operator 
may also submit a commitment to desist proposal to Pro -Competenc ia so that the administrative 
proceeding may be brought to an early conclusion in exchange for the operator implementing the 
corrective measures required to counter the effects of the practice under investigation .134 The 
regulation issued in 2021 by Pro -Competencia lays down the procedure for submitting, assessing 
and approving proposals for commitments of this nature .135 For example it identifies the information 
that must accompany proposals and the process for assessing and approving them . Where 
Pro-Compete ncia takes the view that the measures proposed by the operator are insufficient to 
counter the effects of the conduct under investigation, it may request changes to the proposal, and 
the economic agent is required to res tart the process of submitting  the commitment to desist from 
the beginning . Pro-Competencia must issue a resolution in the event that it approves the 
commitment, in which it sets out the corrective measures that the operator undertakes to 
implement, the timetable for implementing them and th e period during which the measures are to 
remain in effect . Once the proposal is approved, the economic operator shall be subject to a one -year 
"monitoring and surveillance" regime to verify that it is complying with the commitment . Where the 
conditions in  the relevant market undergo substantial change during the period of "monitoring and 
surveillance", the economic agent may request Pro -Competencia to review the commitment . 
 
128 Pro-Competencia Resolutions Nos.  008-2021, 009 -2021 and 011 -2021.  
129 Article  3 of Law No.  42-08. 
130 Article  16 of Decr ee No.  252-20.  
131 For example, the electricity sector has the Electricity Supervisory Authority (SIE), the National 
Energy Commission (CNE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM). See Article  16 of Decree No.  252-20. 
132 Article  20 of Law No.  42-08 and A rticle 16 of Decree No.  252-20. 
133 Article  9 of Law No.  42-08. 
134 Article  21 of Decree No.  252-20. 
135 Pro-Competencia Resolution No.  011-2021 (Regulation on the submission and approval of 
commitments to desist).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 78 - 
  Pro-Competencia is not obliged  to accede  to that request . The consequence of failure to comply with 
the commitment to desist is that the investigation shall be re-opened.  
3.132.   An economic operator who provides false or altered information to Pro -Competencia during 
an investigation is liable to an economic penalty as th e Competition Law classifies  such conduct as 
an administrative offence .136 Moreover an administrative investigation may be opened into the 
operator using a simplified procedure instituted by Pro -Competencia . An operator who is the subject 
of an administrati ve investigation may submit evidence to demonstrate that the information provided 
is not false . An administrative investigation does not have the effect of staying an investigation into 
alleged anti -competitive behaviour.137 
3.133.   In 2021 , a penalties reduction r egime was also introduced (clemency programme) . The 
programme is open to an unlimited number of operators, whether companies or individuals, who 
participate in a cartel and report it . Joining the programme reduces the fine imposed for participating 
in a ca rtel. The percentage by which the fine is reduced  depends on the point at which the operator 
joins the programme . For the first informant the fine is all but waived : the amount payable is the 
sum equivalent to 30  times the minimum wage, or for the conclusi on of public procurement 
contracts, 200  times the minimum wage . The second and subsequent informants receive a reduction 
of between 50 % and 70 %.138 The clemency programme applies only to economic operators 
regulated  by Law No.  42-08. In August  2022, the aut horities indicated that no economic operators 
had joined the programme.  
3.134.   Between 2017 and 2022, Pro -Competencia initiated 18  investigations for alleged 
anti-competitive conduct, six of which it initiated ex oficio . The markets investigated were chiefly in 
the agrifood sector . Additionally, penalties were imposed for abuse of dominant position and for 
price fixing . 
3.135.   Law No.  42-08 does not regulate economic concentrations . However there are other sectoral 
provisions that provide for economic concentrations to be notified and controlled ex ante. For 
example , in the telecommunications sector , economic concentrations must be notified in advance 
and authorized by INDOTEL .139 Additionally, in the financial intermediation market, prior 
authorization is required from the Monetary Board in order to be able to merge with or absorb 
another entity, provided that the transaction represents 30 % or more of the paid -up capital .140 
Finally, all  mergers between listed companies  require ex ante  approval from the Securities 
Supervisory Authority.141 
3.136.   There are also sectoral provisions limiting business -to-business integration . The electricity 
sector is a case in point (Section  4.2.3). 
3.137.   In addition to preventing anti -competitive practices in the various markets, Pro -Competencia 
also promotes a culture of competition : (i) by ensuring that the various state institutions do not 
place obstacles in the way of free competition ; and (ii) conducting investigati ve surveys to analyse 
the degree of competition in economic sectors and issuing recommendations . To that end, 
Pro-Competencia set up the Observatory on the Conditions of Competition in Markets to identify the 
risks of anti -competitive practices  occurring . 
3.138.   One of the objectives of economic policy in the Dominican  Republic is to promote economic 
growth and development in an environment where there is free competition so that prices are fair 
and stable, thereby strengthening the purchasing power of the populat ion. In that connection,  the 
National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor) was set up as the state 
 
136 Article  61(d) of Law No.  42-08. 
137 Pro-Compete ncia Resolution No.  009-2021 (Regulation establishing the simplified procedure for signs 
that false or altered information has been provided as part of investigation procedures conducted by the 
Executive Directorate).  
138 Pro-Competencia Resolution No.  008-2021 (Regulation establishing a penalties reduction regime 
(RRS)) and information provided by the authorities.  
139 Regulation on free and fair competition.  
140 Articles  31 and 36 of the Regulation on the opening and operation of financial intermediaries and 
representative offices. Viewed at: http://sib.gov.do/content/reglamento -0.  
141 Article  386 of the General Law on Business Corporations and Sole Proprietorships with Limited 
Liability (Law No.  479-08). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 79 - 
  body to protect consumer rights .142 Its tasks include monitoring domestic and international prices, 
and conducting market surveys of the goods and services that have the greatest impact on the 
family budget, with the twofold purpose of safeguarding consumers and encouraging healthy 
competition in the market .143 Through its surveys , Pro Consumidor  can establish whether there are 
any unjustified price deviations, for example as a result of suppliers hoarding goods or reaching 
agreements among themselves, and may act to penalize such practices .144 Thus, although for several 
years there was no competit ion law in force in the Dominican  Republic, certain practices were 
regulated under the General Law on Protection of Consumers' and Users' Rights.  
3.3.4.2   Price control s 
3.139.   The prices of sugar, fuel, natural gas and electricity are still controlled in the 
Dominican  Republic.  
3.140.   The National Sugar Institute (INAZUCAR) regulates the selling price from producer to 
wholesaler, wholesaler to retailer, and retailer to end consumer . The price is set by sugar type (raw 
or refined) while taking into account profit margins and all economic variables that affect  production 
and marketing .145 Prices are updated as market conditions require . They were revised in 2016, 2018 
and 2020.146 
3.141.   The MICM sets the price of fuel and natural gas weekly ; account is taken of the international 
parity price, domestic taxes and the marketing  margins of distributors, retailers and transporters . 
MICM publishes prices online.147 
3.142.   The Electricity Supervisory Authority (SIE) sets tariffs for electricity supply for reg ulated 
clients . The tariff is set by voltage and consumption level and varies according to the distributor.  
3.143.   According to law, the primary objective of the National Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE) 
is to regulate the prices of agricultural products o n the domestic market where the situation so 
requires, through the processes of supply and demand .148 The authorities indicated that , during the 
review period , intervention by INESPRE in the marketing of agricultural products did not affect prices.  
3.3.5   State tr ading, state -owned enterprises, and privatization  
3.144.   In 2022 , the Dominican  Republic notified the WTO that INESPRE is a state trading enterprise 
according to the definition of Article  XVII of the GATT  1994.149 INESPRE may import products of 
agricultural origin  when domestic production is insufficient, or export agricultural products when 
surpluses are produced .150 According to the notifications made in 2022, INESPRE is not engaged in 
Dominican foreign trade ; it purchases and sells products on the local market.  
3.145.   The State continues to be the sole proprietor or majority stakeholder in various financial and 
non-financial public enterprises (Table  3.15) . Additionally, the State has a n equity holding in 
two power generation companies and one ferronickel mining  company .151 The Chamber of Accounts 
of the Dominican  Republic (CCRD) periodically reviews and verifies the accounts and economic 
circumstances of public enterprises.152 
 
142 General Law on Protection of Consumers' and Users' Rights (Law No.  358-05 of 26  July 2005).  
143 Pro Consumidor. Information viewed at: https:/ /proconsumidor.gob.do/observatorio -de-
comparacion -de-precios -de-los-mercados -internacionales  and https://proconsumidor.gob.do/sondeo -de-
precios .  
144 Articles  107–116 of Law No.  358-05 of 26  July 2005.  
145 Law No.  619-65 and Decree No.  649-03. 
146 INAZUCAR Price Resolutions Nos.  004/2016, 001/2018 and 001/20. Viewed at: 
https://www.inazucar.gov.do/index.php/sobre -nosotros/marco -legal/category/16 -resoluciones .  
147 Prices are published at: https://micm.gob.do/direcciones/combustibles/avisos -semanales -de-
precios/aviso -semanal -de-precios -de-combustibles -version -12-11-2021. 
148 Law No.  526 of 11  December 1969.  
149 WTO Document G/STR/N/19/DOM, 9  August 2022.  
150 Law No.  526 of 11  December 1969.  
151 Information supplied by the authorities.  
152 Law No.  10-04. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 80 - 
  Table 3.15 Selected public enterprises, 2 022 
 State shareholding (%)  
Non-financial public enterprises (NFPE)   
Santo Domingo Water and Sewerage Corporation (CAASD)  100.0  
Santiago Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAASAN)  100.0  
Moca Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAAMOCA)  100.0  
La Romana Water and Sewerage Corporation (COAAROM)  100.0  
Puerto Plata Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAAPPLATA)  100.0  
Boca Chica Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAABO)  100.0  
Monseñor Nouel  Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAAMON)  100.0  
La Vega Water and Sewerage Corporation (CORAAVEGA)  100.0  
Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID)  100.0  
Punta Catalina Thermal Power Station  100.0  
Dominican Power Transmission Company ( ETED)  100.0  
Northern Electricity Distribution Company (EDENORTE)  100.0  
Southern Electricity Distribution Company (EDESUR)  100.0  
Eastern Electricity Distribution Company (EDEESTE)  100.0  
Dominican Oil Refinery (REFIDOMSA)  100.0  
State Radio And Television Corporation (CERTV)  100.0  
Dominican Postal Institute (INPOSDOM)  100.0  
National Lottery  100.0  
Public financial institutions   
Dominican Agricultural Insurance Company (AGRODOSA)  79.3 
Agricultural Bank of the Dominican  Republic (BAGRICOLA)  100.0  
Reserve Bank of the Dominican Republic (BANRESERVAS)  100.0  
Savings Bank for Workers and Monte de Piedad   100.0  
Source:  WTO Secretariat ; Directorate -General of the Budget (DIGEPRES) at the Ministry of Finance . 
Information viewed at: https://www.digepres.gob.do/presupuesto/empresas -publicas  and 
information supplied by the authorities.  
3.146.   Non-financial public enterprises (NFPE ) primarily provide  basic services such as electricity, 
potable water, sewer age, broadcasting  and postal services . The State also has a monopoly on certain 
activities, for example , electricity transmission and distribution, and the postal service . NFPE are  
financed by public funds ; in 2020 total transfers amounted to DOP  35,922.3  million (0.7 % of GDP) , 
of which 62.7 % was transferred to the three public electricity distribution and marketing 
enterprises.153 
3.147.   During the review period, the Dominican  Republic con tinued the process of reforming 
state-owned enterprises . In 2017 a start was made to the (still ongoing) process of dissolving and 
winding up the Dominican State -Owned Enterprises Corporation (CORDE), a public institution 
established as a single umbrella f or managing all productive and commercial enterprises inherited 
by the State .154 It managed, controlled and developed public enterprises . In 2022 , two mining 
enterprises are still overseen by  CORDE, which has minority stakes in two private manufacturing 
enterprises ; the other enterprises have been privatized . Similarly, the process of winding up the 
Dominican Corporation of State -Owned Electricity Companies (CDEEE), which co -ordinated 
operations by public enterprises in the electricity sector , began in 2020.155 
3.3.6   Government procurement  
3.3.6.1   Legal framework  
3.148.   Government procurement of goods, services and works in the Dominican  Republic is 
governed essentially by the Law on Procurement and Contracts for Goods, Services and Works (Law 
No. 340-06), the amendments ther eto, and its implementing regulations .156 It is also governed by 
 
153 Directorate -General of the Budget (DIGEPRES) at the Ministry of Finance. Viewed at: 
https://www.digepres.gob.do/presupuesto/empresas -publicas . 
154 Law No.  289-1966.  
155 Decree No.  342-20. 
156 Law No.  340-06 on Procurement and Contracts for Goods, Services, Works and Conces sions of 
18 August 2006, as amended by Laws No.  449-06 of 6  December 2006 and No.  47-20 on Public -Private 
Partnerships of 20  February 2020; and Regulations implementing Law No.  340-06 (Decree No.  543-12 of 
6 September 2012). Viewed at: https://www.dgcp.gob.do/sobre -nosotros/marco -legal/leyes -y-decretos .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 81 - 
  specific articles of the Constitution of the Dominican Republic157, and by the Law on the Public 
Administration158, the Law on the Rights of Individuals in their Interactions with the Administra tion 
and Administrative Procedures159, the Law establishing a Regulatory Regime for the Development 
and Competitiveness of Micro -, Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)160, Decree  188-14 on 
Citizens' Oversight Committees161 and the Law establishing  the N ational Development Strategy 2030 
(END).162 
3.149.   The government procurement procedure  underwent some significant changes during the 
review period . The changes include a number of laws and decrees enacted to improve the 
transparency of the domestic procurement sy stem through the Portal Transaccional  (transaction 
portal)163, prevent regulatory non -compliance and administrative irregularities164, lay down a specific 
procedure for purchasing vaccines during the  health crisis165, establish a new regulatory framework 
for public -private partnerships166, promote the purchase of domestically produced goods as a tool 
to develop the economy, create  jobs and improve the competitiveness of the country's various 
production sectors167, and empower MSMEs to take part in procurement procedures (Table  3.16) .168 
Additionally, the body governing the government procurement system regularly issues guidelines in 
the form of circulars, resolutions, guidance and standards.169 
3.150.   One of the most significant changes introduced into the government procurement regime 
was the enactment in 2020 of the Law on Public -Private Partnerships, which repeals several articles 
of Law No.  340-06 in order to exclude concessions from its scope . The Law approves a new 
institutional framework and the processes for developing investment projects as public -private 
partnerships, with special emphasis on the regulation and distribution of risks.170 
3.151.   Additionally, the Dominican  Republic has included provisions on government procurement in 
its regional trade ag reements (CAFTA -DR, CARICOM, Central  America , United Kingdom and the EU) . 
With the exception of the CARICOM agreement, the Dominican  Republic undertakes to grant national 
treatment to suppliers and entities of the other parties.  
3.152.   The Dominican  Republic is n ot party to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement 
and does not have observer status at the WTO Government Procurement Committee.  
Table 3.16 Chief instruments enacted in relation to government procurement , 2015 -22 
Law/ decree  Object ive 
Decree No.  370-15 of 
5 November  2015.  Establishes  the presidential initiative to support and promote MSMEs to improve 
their competitiveness.  
Decree No.  15-17 of 
8 February  2017 Establishes  procedures and controls to improve transparency and ensure prompt 
payment of suppliers.  
 
157 See, for example, Articles  8 (Essential function of the State), 39 (Right to equality), 138 (Principles 
of public admini stration), 193 (Principles of territorial organization), 196 (The region), 222 (Promotion of 
popular economic initiatives) and 238 (Criteria for allocating public expenditure).  
158 Law No.  247-12 on the Organization of the Public Administration of 14  August 2012.  
159 Law No.  107-13 on the Rights of Individuals in their Interactions with the Administration and 
Administrative Procedures of 8 August 2013.  
160 Law No.  488-08 establishing a Regulatory Regime for the Development and Competitiveness of 
Micro, Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) of 19  December 2008.  
161 Decree  No. 188-14 of 4  June 2014.  
162 Law No.  1-12 on the National Development Strategy 2030 of 25 January 2012. General Objective 1.1 
("Efficient, transparent, results -oriented public administration") includes as a course of action "strengthening 
the governmental procurement and contracts system, with support for the use of information and 
communications technologies (ICT) to ensure that the system operates in a lawful, transparent, efficient 
manner and  is easy to manage".  
163 Decree No.  350-17 of 14  September 2017.  
164 Decree No.  36-21 of 21  January 2021.  
165 Decree No.  6-21 of 20  January 2021.  
166 Law No.  47-20 on Public -Private Partnerships of 20  February 2020.  
167 Decree No.  168-19 of 6  May 2019 and Decree No.  86-20 of 21  February 2020.  
168 Decree No.  24-22 of 27  January 2022.  
169 Directorate -General of Government Procurement, legal framework. Viewed at: 
https://www.dgcp.gob.do/sobre -nosotros/marco -legal. 
170 Law No.  47-20 on Public -Private Partnerships of 20  February 2020.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 82 - 
  Law/ decree  Object ive 
Decree No.  350-17 of 
14 September  2017 Establishes the Transaction Portal of the Computerized Management System for 
Procurement and Contracts of the Dominican State as a permanent technological 
tool to manage government procurement of goods, works, services and 
concessions.  
Decree  No. 168-19 of 
6 May 2019 Supports domestic production, eliminates intermediation, regionalizes 
procurement, contributes to economic development and creates jobs  to increase 
the competitiveness of the country's various production sectors.  
Law No.  47-20 on 
Public -Private Partnerships of 
21 February  2020. Establishes a regulatory framework to regulate the launch, selection, award, 
procurement, execution, monitoring and termination of public -private 
partnerships.  
Decree No.  86-20 of 
21 February  2020 Provid es instructions to institutions responsible for implementing social 
programmes so that in their procurement processes the calls for tenders are 
directed exclusively to domestic producers in order to contribute to development 
and create jobs . 
Decree No.  434-20 of 
1 September  2020. Approves and brings into force the Regulations implementing Law No.  47-20 on 
Public -Private Partnerships.  
Law No.  6-21 adding a fifth 
numbered paragraph to 
Article  6 of Law No.  340-06 of 
20 January  2021 Excludes from the scope of Law No.  340-06 processes for the procurement of 
vaccines in the event of a pandemic, threat of a pandemic, or a declared 
epidemic.  
Decree No.  36-21 of 
21 January  2021 Establishes the Programme of Regulatory Compliance in Government Procurement 
in the Dominican  Republic , with the aim of promoting standards and policies to 
prevent regulatory non -compliance and administrative irregularities.  
Law No.  118-21 of 
31 May 2021 Permits and ensures that works to construct schools, hospitals and  roads that are 
currently suspended owing to a lack of budget allocations  can be concluded by the 
procuring entity.  
Decree No.  426-21 of 
7 July 2021 Sets up public procurement monitoring committees as a mechanism to observe, 
oversee and monitor purchasing and procurement processes.  
Decree No.  34-22 of 
27 January  2022 Provides instructions to ensure that all public institutions with responsibility for 
social programmes acquire the goods in question directly from MSMEs, thus 
contributing to the co untry's development and creating jobs  
Source:  Directorate -General of Government Procurement, Legal framework . Viewed at: 
https://www.dgcp.gob.do/sobre -nosotros/marco -legal. 
3.3.6.2   Institutional framework  
3.153.   The Directorate -General of Government Procurement (DGCP)171, which is attached to the 
Ministry of Finance, continues to be the governing body for the government procurement and 
contracts system . The DGCP is charged with, inter alia , formulating and proposing policies on the 
procurement of goods, services and works, and verifying that procuring entities have complied with 
regulations in conformity with the principle of a centralized approach to policies and regulations, and 
a decentra lized approach to operational management .172 In practice, responsibility  for the 
operational management of government procurement lies with the purchasing entities' procurement 
units173, of which there were 392 at 31  December  2021.174 Public entities are requ ired to draw up 
annual procurement plans and programmes for goods, services and works that then form the basis 
for the budget implementation schedule.175 
3.154.   Pursuant to the Law on Public -Private Partnerships ( PPP), which excludes public -private 
partnerships fr om the scope of Law No.  340-06, the Directorate -General of Public -Private 
Partnerships (DGAPP) was established in 2020 , as a body attached to the Ministry of the Presidency, 
charged with  promoting and regulating public -private partnerships in an orderly, e fficient and 
transparent manner, ensuring compliance with the relevant legislation and mitigating the risks 
associated with this type of partnership.176 
 
171 Directorate -General of Government Procurement. Viewed at: https://www.dgcp.gob.do . 
172 Article  34 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
173 Article  35 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
174 DGCP (2021), Memoria institucional . Viewed at: https://www.dgcp.gob.do/sobre -
nosotros/planificacion -y-desarrollo/memorias -institucionales .  
175 Article  38 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
176 Article  5 of Law No.  47-20 on Public -Private Partnershi ps.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 83 - 
  3.3.6.3   Procurement procedure  
3.155.   The Constitution of the Dominican Republic provides that publicity and transparenc y are 
principles of administrative proceedings .177 Additionally, Law No. 340-06 establishes  that all stages 
of government procurement must take place within a context of transparency and publicity, using 
computerized technology to facilitate public access t o information on public management .178 In 2017 
the Transaction Portal of the Computerized Procurement and Contracts Management System of the 
Dominican State179 went live as a technological tool to manage government procurement of goods, 
works and services , except for the concessions governed by the Law on Public -Private Partnerships 
that are published on the website of the Directorate of Public -Private Partnerships . Use of the portal 
is compulsory for all bodies and entities that fall within the scope of Law No. 340-06 and, as from 
1 November  2017, they were required to use it as the sole method of managing their procurement 
processes from the planning stage to contract closure .180 The DGCP is in charge of portal 
management . As of July 2022, the Transaction Por tal covered 465 institutions.181 
3.156.   In 2021, contracts with a total value of DOP 130,852  million were awarded through the 
Transaction Portal (24.7 % more than in 2020) (Table  3.17) .182 In the same year 207,712  tenders 
were received, 23.03 % more than the previous  year, of which 61 % were received in digital format.  
Table 3.17 Contracts processed through the Transaction Portal, 2018 -21 
(DOP million s) 
Object  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Goods  33,864.8  44,482.2  55,411.8  66,617.1  
Services  14,362.6  40,540.2  22,323.1  30,918.1  
Works  12,696.1  26,146.8  27,039.0  27,787.7  
Concessions  11.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Not specified  0.0 41.4 160.2  5,529.3  
Total  60,935.4  111,210.6  104,934.0  130,852.2  
Source:  Information supplied by the authorities.  
3.157.   In the Dominican Republic, natural or legal persons wishing to submit a tender for goods, 
services, or works must be entered in the Register of State Suppliers183, which is managed by the 
DGCP .184 Persons who wish to register must fill in a registration application form, provide a simple 
declaration that there are no bars to entering into a contract with the State and attach the necessary 
documentation .185 The form may be submitted in person at the DGCP or through the Transaction 
Portal .186 In 2021, 10,566 new suppliers registered, bringing the total number of state suppliers to 
102,510, i.e.  11.5% more than the previous year.187 
3.158.   For foreign suppliers, they only need to be register ed if they secure a contract or are 
domiciled in the country .188 However, in order to be able to participate in procurement processes 
through the Transaction Portal, they must obtain a provisional registration which, if successful in the 
bidding process, they must formalize before the contract is signed .189 Additionally, i n order to be 
 
177 Article  138 (Principles of public administration) of the Constitution.  
178 Article  10 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
179 Decree No.  350-17. The Transaction Portal can be accessed at: www.compras dominicana.gob.do .  
180 Article  8 of Decree No.  350-17 of 14  September 2017.  
181 DGCP. Viewed at: https://www.dgcp.gob.do/instituciones -implementadas .  
182 DGCP (2021), Boletín Contrataciones en Cifras Estadísticas , January -December. Viewed at: 
https://www.dgcp.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/page/Boletin -Contrataciones -en-Cifras -Estadisticas -2021-.pdf. 
183 Article  7 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
184 Article  36 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
185 In addition to the registration form, natural persons must be entered on the National Taxpayers 
Register (RNC) and be up -to-date with their tax obligations, and legal persons must submit a copy of their 
business registration certificate, a copy of their A rticles of Association and copy of the minutes of the last 
meeting at which the corporate purpose, the current shareholding structure and a declaration of the final 
beneficiaries were confirmed.  
186 DGCP Resolution No.  PNP-04-2022 on requirements for entry i n the Register of State Suppliers of 
17 June 2022.  
187 DGCP (2021), Boletín Contrataciones en Cifras Estadísticas , January -December. Viewed at: 
https://www.dgcp.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/page/Boletin -Contrataciones -en-Cifras -Estadisticas -2021-.pdf.  
188 Regulations implementing Law No.  340-06 (Decree No.  543-12 of 6  September  2012).  
189 For final registration, foreign natural persons must, in ad dition to the registration form, give their 
corporate purpose or commercial activity, passport number and proof that they are up -to-date with their tax WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 84 - 
  able to take part in contracts for works or to be awarded a contract by the State, foreign suppliers 
must be partnered with  a Dominican national  or be part of a joint venture with a 
Dominican  enterprise.190 
3.159.   The Register of State Suppliers is o rganized by activity (goods, services, consultancy services 
and works)191 and by business register (large enterprise ; certified MSME ; natural person, uncertified 
MSME and other organizations) .192 The Register also includes penalties imposed on suppliers for 
failure to comply with prevailing regulations or non -performance of a contract.  
3.160.   The Dominican  Republic has six government procurement selection procedures : (i) open 
tendering ; (ii) restricted tendering ; (iii) lotteries  for construction contracts ; (iv) pric e comparison ; 
(v) small -scale purchasing (and purchases above and below the threshold value for small -scale 
purchasing) ; and (vi) reverse auction (Table 3.18) . The procedures have not changed since the 
previous review.  
Table 3.18 Selection procedures  
Procedure  Description  
Open tendering  An open public call for tenders to enable interested parties to make their bids ; may have 
one or two stages . Where there are two stages, the technical tenders and th e financial tenders 
are opened separate ly. Open tendering  may be domestic or international . International calls for 
tenders  are held as follows:  
 
• where procurement is within the framework of a treaty or agreement in force 
between the Dominican  Republic and  (an)other country(ies) or a multilateral or 
bilateral lending agency;  
• where there is insufficient capacity in the country to supply the goods or services or 
carry out the works;  
• where a domestic open procedure  is unsuccessful.  
 
An open call for tenders is published in at least two daily national newspapers at least 
30 working days before the date set for bid -opening . Notice of international calls for tenders 
must also be given in foreign publications, 40 days in advance.  
Restricted 
tendering  An invitation to participate addressed to a limited number of suppliers because of the specific 
nature of the goods, services or works in question . The call is forwarded directly to the 
suppliers and is also published on the procuring entity's website and the Transaction Portal or , 
failing that,  in the two newspapers with the highest circulation in the country, in both cases 
with 20  working days' notice.  
Lotteries for 
construction 
contracts  A contract is awarded at random for construction contracts , subject to a design and price 
determined in advance by the institution making the call for tenders, to one of the participants 
that meet the necessary requirements for carrying out the contract . The call is sent directly to 
the tenderers and is also published on the Transaction Portal and website of the procuring 
entity . At least 10 working days must elapse between the call for tenders and the drawing of 
lots. 
Price comparison  A broad -based  call for tenders issued to all suppliers in the Register of State Suppliers who 
may meet the requirements . This procedure applies to the procurement of common goods with 
standard specifications, and minor service and construction contracts . At least five working  
days must elapse between the call for tenders and the bid -opening date.  
Small -scale 
purchasing  Streamlined procedure for the procurement of goods and services for maximum procedural 
efficiency . In this procedure, the procuring entity must invite tenders from all possible bidders, 
provided always that there are no fewer than three . The call is issued directly to suppliers and 
is also published on the Transaction Portal and the procuring entity's website . In this procedure 
there is no minimum period that mu st elapse between the call for tenders and the bid -opening 
date. 
In practice there is also a procedure for purchases that are below the threshold value and one 
for those that are above it . In 2021 , purchases below the threshold value were the most 
popular arrangement among procurement units, accounting for 50% of all contracts awarded 
and a total value of DOP  1,763,700,000.00.  
 
obligations; foreign legal persons must, in addition to the registration  application, give their corpora te purpose 
or business activity, tax identification number in the country of origin, information on the management body 
and shareholder structure, proof that they are up -to-date with their tax obligations and a declaration 
identifying the final beneficiari es. (See DGCP Resolution No. PNP -04-2022 on requirements for entry in the 
Register of State Suppliers (RPE) of 17  June 2022 ).  
190 Article  25 of the Regulations implementing Law No.  340-06 (Decree No.  543-12 
of 6 September  2012).  
191 Regulations implementing L aw No.  340-06 (Decree No.  543-12 of 6  September  2012).  
192 DGCP, Datos abiertos , dictionary Viewed at: https://datosabiertos.dgcp.gob.do/opendata/diccionario .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 85 - 
  Procedure  Description  
Reverse auction  Procedure for purchasing common goods with standard spe cifications that is carried out 
electronically . It is a downward bidding contest in which the winner is the supplier who makes 
the lowest bid . The call for tenders is published on the Transaction Portal and the procuring 
entity's website . At least five wor king days must elapse between publication of the call for 
tenders and the opening of the bids.  
Exceptional 
procedures  Pursuant to  Law No.  340-06, the following activities are deemed exceptional, provided they are 
not used to infringe the principles laid d own in that Law:  
 
• Those that by reason of national emergency or security could have a deleterious 
effect on the public interest, citizens' lives or the economy of the country;  
• Where scientific, technical or artistic works or the restoration of historic monuments 
must be performed by or purchased from companies, artists or specialists that are 
the only persons able to perform them;  
• Procurement or contracts for goods or services that are only available from 
one supplier or from a supplier with exc lusive rights to the goods or services to be 
procured;  
• Where emergency situations do not allow for another selection procedure  to be 
carried out  in a timely manner;  
• Procurement or contracts for the construction, installation or purchase of foreign 
service offices;  
• Cancelled contracts where the undelivered balance  does not exceed 40% of the total 
amount;  
• Purchases to promote the development of MSMEs ; and the purchase of advertising 
through social media.  
Source:  Law No.  340-06 and its implementing regulations (Decree No.  543-12). 
3.161.   In 2021, 1,390  contracts were awarded through international and domestic public bidding 
at a value of DOP  62,982  million , representing 48.1 % of the total . Generally speaking more than 
84% of the tota l sum was awarded through public bidding and exceptional procedures (Table  3.19) . 
Around 30 % of the national budget is allocated to government procurement.193 
Table 3.19 Amounts awarded through selection proced ures, 2015 -21 
(DOP million s)  
Procedure  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Price comparison  9,291.3  6,686.0  6,088.9  12,366.1  18,261.1  11,525.8  12,071.8  
Purchases above the 
threshold value  7,473.3  618.1  212.4  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Small -scale 
purchasing  3,261.6  3,449.7  4,144.8  5,535.0  8,076.0  5,488.9  6,352.1  
Purchases below the 
threshold value  898.9  1,038.4  1,199.5  1,530.0  2,127.8  1,462.2  1,785.9  
Domestic open 
tendering  13,111.8  12,885.8  12,469.7  35,040.3  49,218.9  32,832.0  62,585.0  
International open 
tendering  0.0 0.0 0.0 195.3  3,972.2  11,001.5  396.6  
Restricted tendering  1,510.4  1,384.6  258.2  245.1  244.4  1,652.3  270.2  
Exceptional 
procedures  15,198.4  16,009.4  13,558.7  17,655.1  30,264.5  41,684.7  47,028.8  
Lotteries for 
construction 
contracts  502.8  80.1 70.1 49.3 1,317.0  205.0  118.1  
Reverse auction  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 243.6  
Total  51,248.6  42,152.0  38,002.3  72,616.3  113,481.8  105,852.6  130,852.2  
Source:  Information supplied by the authorities.  
3.162.   A series of thresholds published and updated every year by a resolution of the 
Directorate -General of Government Procurement (DGCP) is used to determine the selection 
procedure for a tendering process (Table  3.20) .194 The thresholds are calculated by multiplying the 
central government's income budget by the factors for works, goods and services set out in Law 
No. 340-06. The applicable selection procedure will be the one that matches the closest threshold 
immediately below the estimated budget or cost for the work, good or service to be procured .195 The 
DGCP may set lower thresholds under regional trade agreements signed by the Dominican  Republic . 
The reverse auction for the procurement  of goods is the only procedure that can be used for any 
 
193 DGCP (2021), Memoria inst itucional . 
194 The thresholds for 2022 were published in Resolution  PNP-01-2022 of 3  January 2022.  
195 Article  17 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 86 - 
  estimated bu dget value . Projects that fall under  the new Law on Public -Private Partnerships may be 
submitted to the DGAPP by public or private initiative . If the DGAPP considers the project to be in 
the public interest , it will hold a competitive selection process  to award a contract , in accordance 
with the tender specifications . The Law does not specify the procurement method to use or the 
thresholds for contracts of this kind . The procedure has two stages : (i) a technical evaluation of the 
tender (which is eliminator y) and (ii) a financial evaluation . The financial proposal that is selected is 
the one that is best suited to the users of the public good or service provided by the  public -private 
partnership.196 
Table 3.20 Thresholds determining the selection procedure, 2022  
Procedure  Works  Goods  Services  
Open tendering  From DOP 404,657,143.00 up  From DOP  5,312,506.00 
up From DOP  5,312,506.00 up  
Restricted 
tendering  From DOP  206,227,321.00  
to DOP 404,657,142.99  From DOP  5,258,566.00  
to DOP  5,312,505.99  From DOP  5,258,566.00  
to DOP  5,312,505.99  
Lotteries for 
construction 
contracts  From DOP  123,736,393.00  
to DOP  206,227,320.99  N/A N/A 
Price comparison  From DOP  32,996,371.00  
to DOP 123,736,392.99  From DOP  1,237,364.00  
to DOP  5,258,565.99  From DOP  1,237,364.00  
to DOP  5,258,565.99  
Small -scale 
purchasing  Not applicable . In this case, t he 
price comparison procedure must 
be used.  From DOP  164,982.00  
to DOP 1,237,363.99  From DOP  164,982.00  
to DOP  1,237,363.99  
Source:  Resolution  PNP-01-2022 of 3  January  2022. 
3.163.   On 7  July 2021, the DGCP  submitted a preliminary draft general law on government 
procurement to the Government Legal Advisory Service . Its chief aim included amending the 
selection procedures so that they are not determined exclusively on the basis of procurement 
thresholds but on the nature and complexity of the good, service or work concerned.197 
3.164.   The national government procurement and contracts system has a strategic function to the 
extent that it allows the government to use procurement as a tool to drive nation al development . 
Accordingly, in order to support MSMEs and promote their involvement in government procurement 
procedures, the legislation  provides that procuring entities must allocate 20 % of their procurement 
budget exclusively to MSMEs and 5 % of that pe rcentage to women's MSMEs .198 Additionally, for the 
remaining 80 % of government procurement contracts , MSMEs may submit partial bids in line with 
their capacity . As a general rule , contracts may not be split , except when they are adjudicated  by 
stages, tran ches or lots to encourage participation by MSMEs .199 Similarly, procuring entities must 
give winning MSMEs an advance of 20 % of the value of the contract to bolster their financial 
position.200 
3.165.   The goods or services that procuring entities purchase from MSME s must be of domestic 
origin . The requirements determining domestic origin are : (i) for agricultural products, the place 
where grown or born ; (ii) for manufactured or industrial products, the total value of imported inputs 
must be no greater than 65 % of the sales price ; (iii) for pharmaceutical products, they must be 
manufactured in a laboratory located in the Dominican  Republic ; and (iv) for consultancy, at least 
70% must be of domestic origin .201 Since 2019 , institutions with responsibility for social prog rammes 
have had to put out calls for tenders to purchase agricultural products of domestic origin directly 
from producers, without intermediaries .202 In 2020 , instructions were given that certain specific 
institutions responsible for social programmes had t o direct their calls for tenders exclusively to 
domestic agroindustry and industry in order to contribute to their development and to job creation . 
 
196 Chapter  V of Law No.  47-20 on Public -Private Partnerships of 20  February 2020.  
197 DGCP (2021), Memoria insti tucional . 
198 Articles  25 and 26 of Law No.  488-08 of 19  December 2008, establishing a regulatory regime for the 
development and competitiveness of micro -, small and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs).  
199 Article  10 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006, and Arti cle 59 of the Regulations implementing Law 
No. 340-06 (Decree No.  543-12 of 6  September  2012).  
200 Article  9 of Law No.  340-06 of 18  August 2006.  
201 Decree No.  164-13 of 10  June 2013.  
202 Decree  168-19 of 6  May 2019.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 87 - 
  The National Programme for State Supplier Development was also set up to encourage more 
high-quality supplie rs in these sectors to supply the State.203 
3.166.   In order to participate in the procurement procedures and be eligible for the support 
measures, MSME s must be entered in the Register of State Suppliers and be certified by the MICM 
as such (or as a "Mipyme Mujer "204 in the case of  enterprise s managed by women) .205 In 2021, 
1,914  MSMEs certified by the MICM joined the Register of State Suppliers, bringing the total number 
of registered MSMEs to 13,039 .206 Of these, 732 were MSMEs managed by women, bringing the total 
to 3,837 . In 2021, MSME state suppliers secured contracts to the value of DOP  36,626  million, 
i.e.  they accounted for 28 % of the total amount awarded, overshooting by some margin the 20 % 
target set in Law No.  340-06. The chief procurement arrangement for M SMEs was the domestic open 
tendering  procedure (13,700  million), followed by exceptional procedures (12,133  million), price 
comparison (6,179  million) and small -scale purchasing (3,409  million).  
3.167.   Since 2022 , all public institutions with responsibility for s ocial programmes, especially in 
rural areas and the border zone, have had to purchase goods that are the subject of a procurement 
contract exclusively from MSMEs in order to help develop the country's economy and create jobs .207 
3.3.7   Intellectual property rights  
3.168.   Intellectual property rights (IPR) are protected in the Dominican  Republic by the Constitution 
(Article  52) and Laws No.  20-00 on Industrial Property208, No. 65-00 on Copyright209 and No.  450-06 
on protecti ng the rights of breeders of new pla nt varieties . The regulations to implement Law 
No. 450-06 are set out in Decree No.  108-15, promulgated  in 2015 . In order to bolster protection , 
Law No.  17-19 was also enacted, penalizing the illicit trade in products protected by industria l 
property rights (alcoholic beverages, medicin es and tobacco).  
3.169.   During the review period (2015 -22), three WIPO treaties entered into force for the 
Dominican  Republic : in 2018 , the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitat e Access to Published Works  for 
Persons Who Are B lind, Visually Impair ed or Otherwise Print Disabled ; and, in 2020 , the Lisbon 
Agreement for the protection of appellations of origin and their international registration and the 
Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performance s. At the time of writing ( June 2022), 11 treaties 
administered by WIPO are in force in the Dominican  Republic and the country has also acceded to  
the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants . 
3.170.   The responsibility for implementing the intellectual property regime c ontinues to lie with the 
National Industrial Property Office (ONAPI), the National Copyright Office (ONDA) and the Office for 
the Registration of New Varieties of Plants (OREVADO) . The ONAPI and the ONDA are attached to 
the MICM , and the OREVADO to the Min istry of Agriculture . The ONDA, which was previously attached 
to the Ministry of Culture, was moved across to the MICM in 2017 in order to "recognize" copyright 
as an essential element  for economic development.210 
 
203 Decree  86-20 of 21  February 2020.  
204 Resol ution No.  PNP-02-2021 of 27  February 2021. In conformity with Law No.  488-08, 
Mipymes  Mujer  are enterprises certified as MSMEs by the MICM that are managed by women, where the share 
capital is held chiefly by women (more than 50%).  
205 In conformity with Law  No. 187-17 on Classification of MSMEs of 28  July 2017, "MSME" means any 
unit of economic exploitation, run by a natural or legal person, performing agricultural, industrial, commercial 
activities or providing a service, in a rural or urban area, that fall s within one of the following categories, 
depending on its size: (1) microenterprise: (a) up to 10  workers and (b) gross annual sales of up to 
DOP 8 million; (2) small enterprise: (a) between 11 and 50  workers and (b) gross annual sales of up to 
DOP 54 million; (3) medium -sized enterprise: (a) between 51 and 150  workers and (b) gross annual sales of 
DOP 202 million.  
206 Directorate -General of Government Procurement (2021), Memoria institucional . 
207 Decree  31-22 of 27  January 2022.  
208 Law No.  20-00 was amended by Laws No.  424-06 and No.  493-06. Its implementing regulations are 
contained in Decree No.  599-01.  
209 Law No.  65-00 was amended by Laws No.  424-06, No.  493-06 and No.  2-07. Its implementing 
regulations are contained in Decree No.  362-01. 
210 Article  104 of Regulation No.  362-01, amended by Decree No.  436-17, and ONDA news item 
"El Poder Ejecutivo cambia la adscripción de la ONDA a Industria y Comercio ", of 15  January 2018. Viewed at: 
https://onda.gob.do/index.php/noticias . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 88 - 
  3.171.   The requirements for securing protection an d the terms of IPR protection have not changed 
substantially since 2015 (Table  3.21) . The Law on Industrial Property does not include provisions 
protecting layout -designs of integrated circuits – they are protected when they are incorporated into 
an invent ion.211 Since 2015 , the main change in terms of procedures for securing protection has 
been to register trade names more promptly . As a result , the time taken to deliver a registration 
certificate fell from five days to one in 2018, and , since 2018 , applications have had to be submitted 
electronically via the Electronic Service Request Form (SAC) and the Electronic  Registration  Request  
System  (E-SERPI) .212 Additionally,  in order  to speed  up the procedure  for granting  patents  and 
reduce  the number  of unreviewed  requests,  more reviewers  were recruited  and ONAPI  took 
measures  to streamline  internal  procedures . Consequently , the number  of patents  grant ed in 2021 
rose (Chart  3.7). 
Table 3.21 Requirements and terms of intellectual property rights protection , 2022  
 Type of 
protection  Requirements for 
securing protection  Term of protection, 
start date  Observations  
Inventions  Patents  Must be novel, have a 
degree of inventiveness 
and be capable of 
industrial application  20 years from the 
date of filing 
(non-extendable) . 
Opportunity to 
request an extension 
of up to three years  
in the event of 
"undue" delays in the 
granting of the patent  Article  2 of Law 
No. 20-00 lists the 
items  that cannot b e 
patent ed as they are 
not considered  an 
invention . 
Second  medical  use 
pharmaceutic al 
patents are not 
granted.  
Utility models  Patents  Must be novel and 
capable of industrial 
application  15 years from the 
date of filing 
(non-extendable)  The following items  
cannot be protected 
by utility models : 
(a) chemical, 
metallurgical or any 
other substances or 
compositions ; and 
(b) inventions that 
cannot be  patent ed.  
Industrial 
designs  Registration  Be novel and have a 
distinct  character . In 
complex products , the 
designs must also be 
visible and not hidden 
while the product is in use  5 years from the date 
of filing, extendable 
for up to two 
five-year periods  Article  2 of Law 
No. 20-00 lists the 
items that cannot be 
protect ed as industrial 
designs . For example , 
no protection can be 
granted for an 
industrial desi gn that 
has technical 
characteristics only 
and does not 
incorporate aesthetic 
features  
Distinctive signs : 
marks, trade 
names, logos, 
emblems and 
commercial 
slogans  Registration  Signs, words or 
combinations of the two 
that allow one product or 
service to be 
distinguished from 
another  10 years from the 
date of filing . 
Protection may be 
renewed indefinitely 
for periods of the 
same length.  No protection can be 
granted for 
expressions  or 
commercial 
advertising signs or 
for protected 
indications  
Distinctive signs : 
geographical 
indications (GI) 
and appellations 
of origin ( AO) Registration  The quality, reputation or 
other characteristics of 
the good is fundamentally 
attributable to its  
geographic origin in the 
case of  GI or is essentially 
attributable to its 
geographic origin in the 
case of  AO  For as long as the 
requirements 
conferring prot ection 
continue to exist   
 
211 Information supplied by the authorities.  
212 Articles  65 and 66 of Decree No.  599-01, amended by Decree No.  260-18. The authorities  indicated  
that in 2020 new digital  services  were added  to E-SERPI.  For further  informati on, see ONAPI.  Information  
viewed  at: https://www.onapi.gov.do/index.php/noticias/item/462 -onapi -anuncia -nuevos -servicios -a-traves -
de-su-plataforma -virtual . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 89 - 
   Type of 
protection  Requirements for 
securing protection  Term of protection, 
start date  Observations  
Trade  secret  Automatically 
protected  Undisclosed commercial 
information held by a 
natural or legal person , 
which  may be used in any 
productive, industrial or 
commercial activity and is 
capable of being passed 
on to a third party.  For as long as it 
remains undisclosed  Test data are 
protected for 5 years 
(pharmaceutical 
products) or 10 years 
(agro -chemical 
products)  
Copyright and 
related rights  Automatically 
protected  Making or publication of a 
work Ownership rights : life 
of the author plus 
70 years ; for 
anonymous works : 
70 years from 
publication ; for 
collective works and 
computer programs : 
70 years from 
publicatio n or 
completion   
New plant 
varieties  Breeder's right  The variety must be new, 
distinct, uniform and 
stable  For trees and vines, 
25 years from the 
date on which the 
plant breeder's right 
was granted ; for 
other species, 
20 years from that 
date. No extensions.   
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on legislation and online information from ONAPI and ONDA.  
3.172.   During the review period, the Dominican  Republic did not grant any compulsory licence s on 
grounds of national emergency or security.  
3.173.   The intellectual property regime recognizes international exhaustion of rights . Accordingly, 
the Dominican  Republic allows parallel imports in connection with  industrial property, copyright and 
related rights.213 
3.174.   Since 2015 , the number of patents for inventions submitted by and awarded to residents 
has been relatively low (Chart  3.7), possibly owing to the fact that the Dominican production 
structure is still geared to economic activities that make little use of  innovation .214 In 2022 , the 
Dominican  Republic adopted Innovation Policy 2030 to promote investment in R&D alongside 
entrepreneurship and productivity . The authorities pointed out that residents were making greater 
use of distinctive signs (marks), demonst rating the importance of commercial activities in the 
country.  
3.175.   Illegal use of IPR may be the subject of administrative, civil or criminal action . Administrative 
actions are heard by ONAPI and ONDA . Conciliation is an alternative to administrative proceedings.  
3.176.   Intellectual property laws provide that precautionary measures may be initiated at the 
border in respect of goods suspected of being counterfeit or pirated . As a result , the right holder 
may apply for customs clearance to be sus pended as a precaution . For an industrial property right, 
the application is brought before the courts ; for copyright and related rights , the proceeding s are 
carried out  within  the Directorate -General  of Customs  (DGA)  or the Office  of the Attorney -General 
of the Republic (PGR) .215 The DGA is the body that suspends  customs  clearance  and may also act 
ex oficio  if it suspects that goods entering the country are counterfeit or pirated . To facilitate the 
identification of counterfeit/pirated goods, the DGA keeps  a (free)  Register  of Intellectual  Property  
Right Holders .216 Once goods have been held at the border, the right holder has 10 days in which to 
take the relevant action ; in the event that no action is taken, the DGA releases the goods . Counterfeit 
or pirated goods may be donated, subject to the right holder's agreement . According to the 
 
213 Articles  30 and 88 of Law No.  20-00 and Articles  71 and 72 of Law No.  65-00. 
214 UNCTAD (2021), República Dominica – Examen de las políticas de ciencia, tecnología e innovación . 
Viewed at: https://www.un -ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210054928 . 
https://unctad.org/system/files/official -document/dtlstict2020d8 summary_en.pdf . 
215 In 2020 , the PGR set up an Intellectual Property Unit (UPI) to bolster compliance.  
216 DGA Resolution No.  01-2010.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 90 - 
  authorities, between 2015 and 2022 (June) , counterfeit goods seized at the border consisted chiefly 
of accessories for mobile phones and tablet computers (33 % of the to tal), footwear (20 %) and 
textiles (14.1 %). The Dominican Republic has penalties for marketing goods that infringe intellectual 
property rights rather than their consumption.  
3.177.   The protection  of intellectual  property  rights  in the Dominican  Republic  is still hampered  in 
some  respects  by, for example , the lack of coordination  and cooperation  between  institutions,  and 
scarce  resources (economic, technological and human) .217 However , in 2020 , the Intellectual 
Property Unit was set up in the PGR and , in 2021, it ran training courses for prosecutors and judges 
in conjunction with ONDA.218 
3.178.   Where the digital environment is concerned, the authorities indicated that the notification 
and withdrawal mechanism was used to safeguard copyright and related rights, although there were 
no provisions to that end in any legislation . The Dominican  Republic applies the "safe harbour" 
rule/discipline to Internet service providers (ISP).  
 
217 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 's Global Innovation Policy Center (2022), 2022 International 
IP Index  - Compete for Tomorrow , 10th Edition, viewed at: 
https://www.uschamber.com/assets/documents/IPIndex -FullReport_2022.pdf.pdf#asset:185047@1 ; and 
National Associ ation of Young Entrepreneurs and OMG Institute (2019), Trabas Burocráticas y otras barreras al 
emprendimiento en la República Dominicana , viewed at: https://anje.org/wp -
content/uploads/2021/08/Avances -Informe -_-Trabas -burocraticas -y-legales -para-hacer -negocios -en-la-
Republica -_-Version -12-Mayo.pdf . 
218 ONDA news item of 29  March 2021. Viewed at: https://onda.gob.do/index.php/noticias/item/622 -
pgr-y-onda-clausuran -primer -curso -para-fiscales -en-materia -de-propiedad -intelectual . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 91 - 
  Chart 3.7 Data on industrial property protection rights, 2015 -21 
 
Source:  Information supplied by the authorities.
050100150200250300
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Applications for invention patents
Residents Non-residents020406080100120140160180200
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Invention patents granted
Residents Non-residents
02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Applications to register marks
Residents Non-residents02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Marks registered
Residents Non-residents051015202530
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Applications for utility models 
Residents Non-residents0246810121416
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Utility models granted
Residents Non-residents
05101520253035404550
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Applications to register industrial designs
Residents Non-residents051015202530354045
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021Industrial designs registered
Residents Non-residentsWT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 92 - 
  4  TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.1  Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  
4.1.  The contribution to  GDP by the agricultural sector (including crop farming , livestock  farmin g, 
forestry and fisheries) increased slightly , from 5.5%  in 2015  to 5.7% in 2021. Growth in the sector 
was around 5.5% from 2016 to 2018, but began to decrease in 2019 and then contracted 
significantly in 2020 and 2021, most likely as a result of the pande mic. Livestock, forestry and 
fisheries saw greater volatility during the period. The sector 's structure did not change substantially, 
despite crop farming' s larger contribution. In 2021, crop farming  accounted for 64.7% of agricultural 
GDP (63.9% in 2015),  livestock, forestry and fisheries  35.2% (36.1% in 2015) and other  activities  
5.4% (6.1% in 2015). From 2016 to 2021, a downward trend was noted in the percentage of the 
population employed in the agricultural sector (Table  4.1). However, most of the rural  population 
depends on agriculture, hence the sector 's importance for enhancing food security, harnessing  
export potential , generating employment and income for the rural population and ensuring  
environmental sustainability.  
Table 4.1 Main  agricultural sector indicators, 2015 -21 
 
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Agricultural sector share of GDP (% at 
current prices)         
Agricultural sector  5.5 5.5 5.3 5.1 5.2 6.0 5.7 
Crop farming  3.5 3.6 3.5 3.3 3.4 4.1 3.7 
Livestock, forestry and fisheries  2.0 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.8 2.0 2.0 
Share of agricultural GDP (% at current 
prices)         
Crop farming  63.9 65.2 64.9 64.0 65.2 67.7 64.7 
Livestock, forestry and fisheries  36.1 34.8 35.1 36.0 34.8 32.3 35.3 
Real growth rate (% at constant prices)         
Agricultural sector  2.3 5.6 5.8 5.5 4.1 2.8 2.6 
Crop farming  2.1 6.4 5.9 5.2 4.4 3.7 2.9 
Livestock, forestry and fisheries  2.9 4.3 4.8 6.1 3.5 -0.2 1.1 
Employment (% of total employed 
population)         
Crop farming  and livestock  9.7 8.9 9.6 9.3 8.8 9.0 8.0 
Agricultural sector (WTO definition)         
Total exportsa        
Value (USD million)  2,254  2,419  2,250  2,422  2,538  2,214  2,703  
Share of total exports (%)  24.0 24.7 22.0 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.8 
Growth rate (%)  .. 7.3 -7.0 7.7 4.8 -12.8 22.1 
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  31.8 31.6 37.5 36.6 37.2 42.3 45.7 
08. Edible fruit and nuts; citrus fruit or 
melons  16.5 20.1 16.7 15.8 16.5 16.4 13.7 
18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  11.7 10.0 6.5 9.1 7.7 8.7 8.1 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  7.2 7.0 7.6 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.9 
17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  5.2 4.8 5.4 5.4 4.4 6.1 5.2 
Total importsb        
Value (USD million)  2,502  2,572  2,681  2,851  2,907  2,957  3,858  
Share of total imports (%)  14.6 14.4 14.8 14.0 14.2 17.3 15.8 
Growth rate (%)  .. 2.8 4.2 6.4 2.0 1.7 30.5 
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
10. Cereals  14.2 13.3 13.8 13.5 13.8 12.7 15.3 
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  11.1 11.1 10.9 11.5 13.2 13.9 11.6 
22. Beverages, spirits  and vinegar  9.3 8.6 9.1 8.9 9.4 7.6 10.5 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 93 - 
   
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
15. Animal or vegetable fats and oils; 
prepared edible fats  7.6 7.6 8.4 7.5 6.7 7.7 9.4 
02. Meat and edible meat offal  6.3 6.6 6.6 7.5 7.2 6.4 8.6 
Agricultural trade balance (USD million)  -248 -153 -431 -429 -370 -743 -1,155  
.. Not available.  
a Exports are classified as exports for consumption, free zone exports and exports for other purposes 
(temporary admission for inward processing, re -export s consumption , warehousing for re -export, 
temporary admission under leas e, re-export , and temporary exi t for outward processing).  
b Imports are classified as imports for consumption, free zone imports and imports for other purposes 
(customs warehou sing, inward processing and reimport in the same state ). 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data fro m the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic and 
the COMEX trade database.  
4.2.  The Dominican Republic is a net importer of agricultural products. The agricultural trade 
balance is in deficit and deteriorated throughout the  review period, increasing  from USD  248 million 
in 2015 to USD  1,155  million in 2021, due to rising cereal prices in international markets. During 
the review period, cereals were the main imported product (except in 2020), accounting for 14.6% 
and 15.3% of total agricultural imports  in 2015 an d 2021 respectively , followed by tobacco 
(11.1%  in 2015 and 11.6% in 2021). Tobacco, meanwhile, is the Dominican Republic 's main 
exported product and accounted for 45.7% of total agricultural exports in 2021, followed by fruit 
(16.5% in 2016 and 13.7% in 2 021). Most exported tobacco and tobacco substitutes are produced 
in free zones and account for 76.3% of agricultural exports and 78.9% of free  zone imports. None 
of the other exported products (fruit, cocoa, alcoholic beverages and sugar s) are produced und er 
the free  zone regime (Table  4.2). The United States is the main market for both exports and imports.  
Table 4.2 Top agricultural sector exports and imports, 2015 -21 
 
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Agricultural sector according to 
WTO  definition         
Total exportsa        
Value (USD million)  2,254  2,419  2,250  2,422  2,538  2,214  2,703  
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  31.8 31.6 37.5 36.6 37.2 42.3 45.7 
08. Edible fruit and nuts; citrus fruit or melons  16.5 20.1 16.7 15.8 16.5 16.4 13.7 
18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  11.7 10.0 6.5 9.1 7.7 8.7 8.1 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  7.2 7.0 7.6 6.3 6.2 6.1 6.9 
17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  5.2 4.8 5.4 5.4 4.4 6.1 5.2 
Total importsb        
Value (USD million)  2,502  2,572  2,681  2,851  2,907  2,957  3,858  
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
10. Cereals  14.2 13.3 13.8 13.5 13.8 12.7 15.3 
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  11.1 11.1 10.9 11.5 13.2 13.9 11.6 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  9.3 8.6 9.1 8.9 9.4 7.6 10.5 
15. Animal or vegetable fats and oils; prepared 
edible fats  7.6 7.6 8.4 7.5 6.7 7.7 9.4 
02. Meat and edible meat offal  6.3 6.6 6.6 7.5 7.2 6.4 8.6 
Exports from the national territory and 
other exports         
Value (USD million)  1,251  1,376  1,116  1,199  1,273  992 1,097  
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
08. Edible fruit and nuts; citrus fruit or melons  27.7 32.4 29.6 27.8 28.9 31.6 27.1 
17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  9.2 8.3 10.9 10.8 8.7 13.5 12.9 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  11.1 10.7 12.0 9.8 9.3 9.0 10.7 
18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  10.3 9.1 5.9 8.3 7.4 9.6 9.9 
21. Miscellaneous edible preparations  10.1 8.9 8.5 6.5 7.0 7.6 6.9 
Imports into the national territory and 
other imports         
Value (USD million)  2,170  2,223  2,280  2,433  2,440  2,480  3,323  
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
10. Cereals  16.4 15.4 16.2 15.8 16.4 15.2 17.8 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 94 - 
   
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
15. Animal or vegetable fats and oils; prepared 
edible fats  8.7 8.7 9.9 8.8 7.9 9.0 10.7 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  9.4 8.3 9.0 8.8 9.5 7.9 10.2 
02. Meat and edible meat offal  7.1 7.6 7.7 8.7 8.5 7.6 9.9 
04. Dairy produce; natural honey  8.2 8.2 8.6 9.4 9.6 10.6 8.8 
Free zone exports         
Value (USD million)  1,003  1,043  1,134  1,223  1,265  1,221  1,606  
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  69.7 71.0 72.6 71.6 73.1 76.0 76.3 
18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  13.5 11.1 7.1 9.8 8.0 8.0 6.8 
08. Edible fruit and nuts; citrus fruit or melons  2.6 3.7 4.1 4.1 4.0 3.9 4.6 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  2.3 2.2 3.3 2.9 3.0 3.8 4.3 
20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit or other 
parts of plants  0.4 1.0 1.0 0.9 1.0 1.2 3.1 
Free zone imports         
Value (USD million)  332 350 400 418 468 477 535 
Top five products, by HS chapter (% of 
agricultural total)         
24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  80.5 76.9 67.9 77.1 80.6 84.5 78.9 
22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  8.0 10.7 9.4 9.7 8.8 6.3 12.7 
13. Gums, resins and vegetable extracts  1.7 2.4 14.6 7.1 4.7 4.7 3.5 
15. Animal or vegetable fats and oils  0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 
17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  0.9 0.9 1.3 1.0 1.5 0.9 1.0 
a Exports are classified as exports for consumption, free zone exports and exports for other purposes 
(temporary admission for inward processing, re -export s consumption , warehousing for re -export, 
temporary admission under leas e, re-export and temporary exit for outward processing).  
b Import s are classified as imports for consumption, free zone imports and imports for other purposes 
(customs warehous ing, inward processing, reimport in the same state , etc.).  
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from the Central Bank of the Domini can Republic and 
the COMEX trade database.  
4.3.  The Dominican Republic 's agricultural policy is outlined in the Sector al Agricultural Operati onal 
Plan (POA), drafted on an annual basis. This document is prepared in accordance with general 
development plans, suc h as the National Multi-Year Public Sector Plan  (PNPSP), the National 
Development Strategy  (END 2030) (Law No.  1-12), the Sector al Strategic Plan  2020-30 - 
Vision  2050, the Sector al Multi-Year Plan 2020-21, the Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and 
Security  Plan 2019-22, and the Institutional Strategic Plan  (PEI) 2021 -24. The policy is also 
developed taking account of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs).  
4.4.  During the review period, the agricultural policy generally focused on enhancing agri cultural 
production by improving productivity and adopting sustainable agricultural practices that help 
protect the environment with a view to ensuring food security, creating rural jobs and increasing 
agricultural product  exports. The policy also strives to promote gender equality and the 
empowerment of women and young people in agricultural activities.1  
4.5.  The laws governing the agricultural sector in the Dominican Republic did not undergo 
substantial changes during the review period, but were subject to s ome reforms (Table  4.3). The 
END 2030, established by Law No.  1-12, requires that a law governing the Dominican agricultural 
sector be drafted . However, no such law has been approved to date.  
Table 4.3 Main laws governing the agricultural sector, 2022  
Type of legislation  Subject matter  
Law No.  4990-58  Plant health  
Law No.  4030-55 Declares the health  protection of livestock in the Dominican Republic to be a matter of 
public interest  
Law No.  5879-62  Land reform  
Law No.  6186-63 Agricultural development  
Law No.  8-65 Determines the functions of the Ministry of Agriculture  
Law No.  618-66  Organic law of the Dominican Sugar Institute  (INAZUCAR)   
Law No.  7-66 Establishes  the State Sugar Council (CEA)  
Law No.  526-69  Establishes  the Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE)  
 
1 Sectoral Agricultural Operational Plan 2019, 2021 and 2022.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 95 - 
  Type of legislation  Subject matter  
Law No.  27-87  Gives INAZUCAR its own legal status  
Law No.  434-87  Regulation on INAZUCAR 's organization and functions  
Law No.  367-72  Amends Law No.  6186-63 on agricultural development  
Law No.  27-98  Establishes  the National Grape Institute (INUVA)  
Law No.  180-01  Establishes  the National Council for t he Regulation and Development of the Dairy 
Industry (CONALECHE)  
Law No.  307-04  Establishes  the Dominican Fisheries and Aquaculture Council (CODOPESCA)  
Law No.  157-09  Agricultural insurance in the Dominican Republic  
Law No.  251-12 Establishes  the National Agricultural and Forestry Research System (SINIAF)  
Law No.  108-13 Establishes  the Dominican Agricultural Supply Markets (MERCADOM) public entity  
Law No.  589-16  Establishes  the National System for Food and Nutritional Sovereignty  and Security in the 
Dominican Republic  
Law No.  246-17  Establishes  the Dominican Coffee Institute (INDOCAFE)  
Law No.  34-18  Reforms the Tobacco Institute (INTABACO)  
Law No.  10-21  Amends the functions of the Ministry of Agriculture  
Law No.  6-22 Provis ionally applies zero -rated customs tariffs to certain goods that affect the cost of 
basic food items consumed by Dominican families  
Decree No.  351-82  Establishes  the National Livestock Production Council (CONAPROPE)  
Decree No.  515-05 Establishes  the National Committee for the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures  
Decree No.  182-12 Regulation implementing Law No.  157-09, as amended by Law No.  197-11 
Decree No.  65-21  Establishes  the Consultative Council ( Gabinete ) for Agr iculture  
Decree No.  605-21  Establishes  the Commission for Agricultural Imports  
Decree No.  319-22 Establishes the regulation governing the Register of Agricultural Product Importers  
Source:  WTO Secretariat.  
4.6.  At the institutional level, no substantial changes have been made since the previous review 
(Table  4.3). The Ministry of Agriculture, which consists of various vice -ministries, 2 formulates and 
implements the agricultural policy in coordination with other agricultural sector institutions 
(Table  4.4). The Vice -Ministry of Agricultural Sector Planning includes the Office of Agricultural Trade 
Agreements  (OTCA), which is tasked with negotiating and administering agricultural trade 
agreements and the tariff quo tas negotiated under them. The OTCA acts as the Executive Secretariat 
for the Commission for Agricultural Imports. In 2021, the Commission was empowered to, among 
other things, draft a regulation on the procedures for awarding agricultural product import  licences.3 
The Consultative Council ( Gabinete ) for Agriculture  was also created in 2021 and tasked with 
proposing and developing agricultural policies to promote the development of the domestic  
agricultural sector and ensure the population 's food and nutri tional security.4 
Table 4.4 Major agricultural sector institutions, 2022  
Institution  Function  
Directorate -General of Livestock (DIGEGA)  Develops and implements livestock policy, with a particular focus 
on animal health.  
Dominican Agricultural Institute (IAD)  Takes and distributes land and grants permanent  ownership titles 
to landholders under the agricultural reform.  
Directorate -General of Agricultural Risks 
(DIGERA)  Implements agricultural insurance.  
Specific products   
National Grape Institute (INUVA)  Promotes and develops vine cultivation in the country and grape  
processing.  
National Tobacco Institute (INTABACO)  Regulates tobacco activity to ensure a good quality product that 
meets market requirements.  
Dominican Sugar Institute (INAZUCAR)  Recommends the national sugar policy to the Government and 
ensures compliance with that policy.  
State Sugar Council (CEA)  Promotes and develops sugar cane production.  
Dominican Coffee Institute (INDOCAFE)  Promotes coffee sector productivity and competitiveness.  
Dominican Fisheries and Aquaculture Council 
(CODOPESCA)  Promotes the sustainable development and management of 
fisheries, aquaculture and the environment . 
 
2 There are currently six vice -ministries: Agricultural Sector Planning; Scientific and Technological 
Affairs; Agricultural Production and Marketing; Agricultural Rural Development; Administrative, Technical and 
Financial; and Agricultural Research, Extension and Training (2022  Agricultural POA).  
3 The Commission comprises representatives of the ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Industry, Trade 
and MSMEs, and Planning, Economy and Development, as well as the Directorate -General of Customs, the 
Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic, the National Price Stabilization Institute and the 
Directorate -General of Government Procurement (Decree No.  605-21). 
4 Decree No. 65 -21. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 96 - 
  Institution  Function  
Markets   
Dominican Markets (MERCADOM)  Ensures the proper operation of regional wholesale and retail 
markets and slaughterhouses belonging to the National Food 
Netwo rk (RENA).  
Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE)  Regulates agricultural product prices in the domestic market.  
Financing and insurance   
Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic 
(BAGRÍCOLA)  Offers financing to agricultural producers.  
Dominican Institute of Cooperative Credit 
(IDECOOP)  Promotes cooperativism.  
Special Agricultural Development Fund 
(FEDA)  Offers financing at below -market interest rates to small - and 
medium -scale agricultural producers and to agricultural micro and 
small enterprises.  
Research   
Dominican Institute for Agricultural and 
Forestry Research (IDIAF)  Conducts and implements the sector 's scientific and technological 
research policy.  
Agricultural and Forestry Research (CONIAF)  Develops technology and promotes its transfer.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat . 
4.1.1   Measures affecting imports and exports  
4.7.  The average MFN tariff for agricultural products (WTO definition)  increased slightly from 2014 
to 14.5%  from 14.2%. In the Dominican Republic, the highest tariffs, ranging from 40% to 99%, 
are used only for agricultural products such as rice, sugar, meat, dairy products and vegetables. 
During the review period, like in 2014, the highest average tariff was for dairy products  (25.9%) 
and for sugar and confecti onery (24.2%) (Table  A3.2). Nevertheless, most of the products 
mentioned earlier are subject to tariff quotas and may therefore be afforded  less protection. Although 
the Dominican Republic gives less preference to agricultural products than to non -agricult ural 
products under its trade agreements, the preferential tariffs under the various CAFTA agreements 
are very similar for both product categories since almost 100%  of lines are duty -free. 
4.8.  Given the importance of agricultural exports for the Dominican Repu blic, the development of a 
modern agricultural health and safety system to prevent the entry of pests and diseases is one of 
the pillars of agricultural policy.5 That is why some products cannot be imported from certain origins6 
and why all agricultural products require the corresponding "sanitary  no-objection  certificate"  
(phytosanitary  and animal health  no-objection certificate) to control the entry of pests and diseases 
at the border.7 Cattle and fresh meat imports also require this certificate .8 The certificates are issued 
by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Department of Plant Health or the Animal Health 
Directorate.  
4.9.  In addition to phytosanitary  and animal health  permits, all agricultural products, with some 
exceptions, require import licences, including products subject to WTO  tariff quotas, to which 
non-automatic licensing applies, except for maize  (corn) . In the context of this review, the 
authorities stated th at a regulation governing WTO  tariff quotas is being developed. The Commission 
for Agricultural Imports continues to be in charge of allocating the quotas negotiated within  the 
WTO framework . In general, these quotas are for rice, garlic, (fine and brown)  sugar, chicken meat, 
onion, beans and milk. Until 2021, these quotas were allocated through public auctions organized 
by the Agribusiness Exchange of the Dominican Republic  (BARD). They are currently allocated at the 
importer 's request. For maize  (corn)  (HS 10.05), the quota is allocated automatically , and an 
automatic import licence is required.9 
4.10.   The Dominican Sugar Institute ( INAZUCAR ) is responsible for administering 70% of the tariff 
quotas corresponding to producers. The rest is administered jointly w ith the Commission for 
Agricultural Imports and is allocated to the commercial sector ( i.e. distributors, warehouse keepers, 
 
5 END 2030 established by Law No.  1-12. 
6 These include: pesticides; cocoa plants, fruit, seeds and any parts thereof; musaceae (banana plants); 
entire plants, corms, leaves, pollen and botanical seeds of musaceae or parts thereof, fresh or dried (inclu ding 
handicrafts); ginger rhizomes, turmeric rhizomes, potato tubers, musaceae handicrafts and plants; live pigs, 
products and by -products of pig origin, and live or dead shrimp of the species Litopenaeus vannamei  and 
Penaeus monodom , at any stage of devel opment, frozen or raw.  
7 Resolution No. 024 -2006.  
8 Decree No. 329 -11. 
9 Information provided by the authorities.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 97 - 
  wholesalers and retailers). Prior to import, sugar also requires a statement of need, supported by 
the existence of a domestic prod uction deficit, issued by INAZUCAR.10 In 2021, the 
Dominican  Republic did not use the quota negotiated within  the WTO  framework  since there was no 
deficit in domestic production.  
4.11.   Where a deficit has been confirmed in the domestic production of any products  subject to 
quotas, the additional quantity needed may be imported at the negotiated quota tariffs. This explains 
why imports of chicken meat, onions, garlic and maize  (corn)  at the in-quota tariff exceed ed the 
quota volumes in 2021.  
4.12.   Under the CAFTA -DR, th e Dominican Republic has preferential quotas for six agricultural 
products from Costa Rica, the United States and Nicaragua (Table  A3.4). The OTCA is responsible 
for allocating these quotas and acts as the Secretariat for the Commission for Agricultural Im ports. 
The allocation of these quotas did not change during the review period.11 
4.13.   The Dominican Republic notified the WTO that it did not grant any export subsidies for 
agricultural products during the period  2015-21.12 
4.14.   The policy on the promotion of agricu ltural exports aims to capitalize on comparative 
advantages and the facilities granted by the trade agreements the country has signed. More 
specifically, support programmes  are implemented  under this policy for coffee, cocoa  and fruit plant 
(citrus, avocad o, sapote, nispero, guanabana and mango) production and for the marketing of these 
products in international markets through trade facilitation and technical assistance.  
4.1.2   Domestic support  
4.15.   The policy on enhancing domestic marketing seeks to stabilize supply and demand with a 
view to ensuring food security. The purpose of this measure is to monitor supply in order to provide 
alternatives or substitutes where necessary, reduce agricultural product price increases brought 
about by  insufficient supply and attempt  to control price increases caused by excess demand. This 
policy also takes international markets into account to seize opportunities for the export and import 
of products for consumption and inputs for production.  
4.16.   The Dominican Republic intervenes in agri cultural markets to, first and foremost,  ensure 
market access for farmers and food security for the population. The overarching objective pursued 
by the Price Stabilization Institute (INESPRE ) is the price regulation of agricultural products in the 
domesti c market, when the situation  so requires , through associated supply and demand 
processes.13 The Institute can import products of agricultural origin when domestic production is 
insufficient or export them when surpluses are produced. Although it has the po wer to control, 
coordinate and distribute goods imported through assistance programmes , it does not actually carry 
out these types of activities. Rather, it provides support for marketing in the agricultural sector with 
the aim of improving the profitabili ty and competitiveness of agricultural producers and ensuring 
that consumers have access to products.  
4.17.   The country's sugar policy did not change during the review period. The sugar sector continues 
to be highly regulated. The Executive  can take whatever ste ps it deems appropriate to regulate 
sugar production across the national territory and its export in order to meet annual domestic 
consumption needs and fulfil the export quotas allocated to the Dominican Republic in preferential 
markets.14 
4.18.   Every year, the  Executive  sets the date on which the sugar season is to begin by way of a 
decree. This also includes the quantity of cane each mill is to cut, pull and grind ; the quantity of 
sugar each mill is authorized to produce ; and the sugar export quota established  for each mill based 
on the quotas allocated to the Dominican Republic in the various markets. The decree stipulates the 
sugar milling and production programmes  for each of the country 's four mills. One of the mills 
 
10 Law No.  619-65. 
11 Decree No. 705 -10. 
12WTO documents G/AG/N/DOM/25 -29 of 18  August  2020, G/AG/N/DOM/44 of 8  March  2021, and 
G/AG/N/DOM/47 of 21  January  2022.  
13 Law No.  526-69. 
14 Law No.  618-65. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 98 - 
  receives around 54% of the total tonnage of cane that can be milled ; the second receives 
around  27%; the next receives 2% ; and the fourth receives the remainder. The export quotas are 
divided between the three largest mills and are allocated as follows: 62.84%, 27.16% and 10%. The 
export quota percentage does not change from year to year. Export quotas are allocated to each 
mill according to the average produced in the last three sugar seasons. Surplus stocks from the 
season are used for domestic consumption off -season.15 
4.19.   INAZUCAR  issues permits for exports  of sugar, molasses and other by -products produced by 
the mills , and for imports  of sugar when a production deficit is declared. It also approves the opening 
of the tariff quota, which provides for tariffs of 14% and 20% dependin g on the type of sugar. The 
quota was not used in 2021.  
4.20.   At present, according to the authorities, sugar is distributed in the domestic market using a 
free market approach. Mills produce the sugar and distribute it to interested natural or legal persons. 
Every year, the Institute reviews the selling prices of the various types of sugar produced in the 
country for the local or domestic market and issues a Resolution setting  those prices.16 The prices 
are reviewed and established taking into account all the va riables affecting production and 
marketing. The objective is to establish a fair selling price for the various types of sugars produced 
in the country that guarantees "the prosperity of sugar cane processors, thus helping to support 
thousands of employees and workers dependent on sugar activities. "17 
4.21.   The National Pledge Programme is implemented  annually to provide support in marketing  
agricultural product s. The production of various products is pledged through this programme, 
including rice, garlic, chicken  meat, onions, beans, eggs, milk and potatoes. However, 95% of the 
programme benefits rice. As reported to the WTO, this programme provides support for the storage 
of products through three contributions that partly cover: (i)  the interest on loans negotia ted with 
financial institutions, (ii)  the storage costs and (iii)  the cost of insuring the stocks stored.18 
4.22.   The Dominican Republic also supports the agricultural sector through a series of programmes 
administered by the Ministry of Agriculture. The key objectives of agricultural and 
fisheries -aquaculture support programmes include improving productivity and strengthening 
marketing channels in order to increase the supply of major agricultural crops, ensuring food security 
in the various parts of the country . The main programme implemented by the Ministry is the 
Production Promotion Programme, subdivided as follows: Promotion of Rice Production; Promotion 
of Other Agricultural Crops; Seed Promotion and Distribution; Development of the Cocoa Sector; 
Promotion and Development of Agribusinesses; and Promotion of Fruit Production. Some of these 
programmes were reported to the WTO as "development programmes " in the following categories: 
agricultural input subsidies generally available to low -income or resource -poor producers; extension 
and advisory services; and other general services.19 
4.23.   One of the objectives of the END  2030 is to develop financial services for agricultural and 
forestry production units with mechanisms that meet sector needs and provide small - and 
medium -scale producers with individual or collective access. The purpose is to improve coverage 
and focus on the rural population with a view to increasing financial inclusion. These services are 
offered primarily through the Agricultural Bank of the Domini can Republic (BAGRÍCOLA ) and the 
Special Agricultural Development Fund (FEDA ). 
4.24.   The Dominican Republic has various financing mechanisms and modalities for all agricultural 
producers, for both the domestic and the export market. Three such modalities are cre dit, "contract 
farming" and trusts. The credit modality involves providing financing to producers at competitive 
interest rates for the short, medium and long term, with payment plans that are in line with crop 
periods. This credit allows for pledged colla teral, enabling small -scale producers to participate in the 
formal financial system. There are also mortgage  guarantees for medium - and large -scale producers, 
with the inclusion of risk mitigation methods. The "contract farming"  modality is a mechanism under 
which the Government provides financing through BAGRÍCOLA and FEDA that the y then channel to 
producers with land pursuant to the "no vacant land " concept known as Cero Predios Baldíos . Under 
 
15 Decrees No.  393-18 and No.  745-21. 
16 Decree No.  649-03 and Resolution No.  001/2020 of the Dominican Sugar Institute.  
17 Preamble to Decree No.  649-03. 
18 WTO documents G/AG/N/DOM/39 -43 of 20  August  2020 and G/AG/N/DOM/46 of 23  July 2021.  
19 WTO document G/AG/N/DOM/46 of 23  July 2021.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 99 - 
  the trust modality, developed by t he fiduciary system, producers are placed in direct contact with 
financial institutions, marketers and financial system regulators.20 
4.25.   BAGRÍCOLA has maintained below -market interest rates to support the agricultural sector. 
The subsidies granted by the Bank  due to the spread between the interest rate it offers and the 
lending interest rate charged in the rest of the national banking system were reported to the WTO.21 
The Bank is financed with funds from FEDA, with funds from CONALECHE or with resources from 
international loans or grants. In some cases, the Government allocates funds for the Bank to grant 
special credit lines. In 2020, a total of DOP  5 billion in special funds was allocated at an interest rate 
of 0% to finance credit operations for the revival  of the agricultural sector. An agreement between 
the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Bank was signed for the implementation, 
management and administration of these special funds. Small -scale producers with up to 
200 hectares of land are alloc ated 60% of these funds, wh ile medium - and large -scale producers 
with more than 200  hectares of land receive the remaining 40%.22 
4.26.   Agricultural sector financing through FEDA is characterized by solidarity, low annual interest 
rates and no mortgage guarantee s in order to facilitate access for small -scale producers organized 
in agricultural cooperatives and to meet their investment needs. Credit is granted to producers at 
competitive interest rates for the short, medium and long term and is easily accessible t o them so 
they can invest effectively in their land as needed. The investment subsidies granted through FEDA 
and BAGRÍCOLA were reported to the WTO. The purpose of offering different financing modalities, 
in addition to diversifying options and support ing agricultural producers by providing them with lines 
that have specific characteristics, is to encourage the use of banks among small - and medium -scale 
producers and the development of microfinance institutions in this sector.  
4.27.   The Dominican Agricultural Ins urance Company (AGRODOSA ), a majority -state-owned 
mixed -capital company, is the only company offering insurance to Dominican agricultural 
producers.23 Agricultural insurance currently cover s risks such as fire, cyclones, tornado es, floods 
and droughts. All  types of crops are covered, but mainly rice, plantains, bananas, beans, fruit and 
vegetables, grown throughout the national territory in protected environments or in open fields. 
There is also livestock, forestry and aquaculture insurance.24 This insuranc e benefits from a subsidy 
ranging from 25% to 50% of the value  of the premium. Agricultural insurance policies are also 
exempt from Selective Consumption Tax  (ISC).25 Through the Directorate -General of Agricultural 
Risk (DIGERA), the Ministry of Agricultur e design s the annual agricultural insurance plan and 
implements the subsidy.26 
4.28.   The government procurement system is also used to promote demand for agricultural 
products of domestic origin. As of 2019, institutions responsible for social programmes can onl y 
purchase agricultural products of domestic origin directly from producers, without intermediaries.27 
In 2020, certain institutions running these types of programmes were required to purchase goods 
exclusively from agribusiness and the domestic industry. Goods or services procured by state -owned 
entities from MSMEs must be of domestic origin. For agricultural products, the requirement for 
conferring such origin is cultivation or birth (Section  3.3.6).28 
 
20 POA 2022.  
21 WTO documents G/AG/N/DOM/39 -43 of 20  August  2020 and G/AG/N/DOM/46 of 23  July 2021.  
22 Memoria Institucional Año  2020. 
23 AGRODOSA. Viewed  at: http://www.agrodosa.com.do/nosotros .  
24 Livestock insurance covers cattle, sheep and pigs and the rearing of broilers and layers (AGRODOSA. 
Viewed at: http://www.agrodosa.com.do/productos/14 -seguro -pecuario ; and 
http://www.agrodosa.com.do/productos/15 -seguro -forestal  y http://www.agrodosa.com.do/productos/16 -
seguro -acuicola ). 
25 Law N o. 182-09. 
26 WTO documents G/AG/N/DOM/39 -43 and G/AG/N/DOM/46, of 20  August  2020 and 23  July 2021, 
respectively.  
27 Decree No. 168 -19. 
28 Decree No. 164 -13. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 100 - 
  4.1.3   Fisheries29 
4.29.   The fisheries sector in the Dominican Rep ublic is very important in terms of job creation, food 
security for coastal populations and marine resource management. However, due to the narrowness 
of the island shelf, marine  resources are rather limited. The Dominican Republic has 17  coastal 
provinces , 17 dams and four lagoons that support numerous fishing communities.30 The sector is 
essentially characterized by small -scale fisheries, catching mainly lobster, lambi, demersal and 
pelagic fish, and shrimp. According to the National Fisheries Census conducted in 2019, 
14,929  people were engaged in fishing, mostly coastal marine fishing.31 
4.30.   Fisheries and aquaculture production in 2020 was 14,091.3  tonnes.32 The domestic market is 
the main destination for domestic production, with a strong demand for fresh and frozen fish for the 
tourism sector.33 Fisheries trade is in deficit. In 2021, 83,479  tonnes of fishery products worth 
USD 233 million were imported , while 1,364  tonnes of fishery products (WTO defini tion) worth 
USD 9.6 million were exported.34 The main imports  were cod (HS  0305.51) (25.9%), sardines, 
sardinella and brisling or sprats (HS  1604.13) (18.3%), herring s (HS 0305.42) (11.2%), and tuna s, 
skipjack and bonito (HS  1604.14) (8.6%).35 The largest import markets were Norway  (25.8%), 
China  (22.1%), Canada  (11.9%), India  (9.5%) and Thailand  (7.2%). The main export s were cod 
(HS 0305.51) (27.9%), live eels (HS  0301.92) (27.8%) and herring s (HS 0305.42) (22.3%),36 while 
the main export markets were Hait i (50.9%), the United States  (18.4%), Canada  (18.4%) and 
Spain  (4.1%).37 
4.31.   The fisheries sector is governed by the Law on Fish eries and Aquaculture,38 which aims to 
establish a fisheries and aquaculture system based on the principles of responsible fisheries  and the 
rational and sustainable use of fishery resources. The Law applies to all activities relating to the 
exploitation and extraction of fishery resources by Dominican and foreign natural and legal persons 
in waters under the jurisdiction of the Domini can Republic,  as well as to the activities of Dominican 
vessels on the high seas or in waters of third States.39 To date, this Law has no  implementing 
regulation s, despite the provisions of Articles  9 and  10. The fisheries sector is also directly or 
indire ctly governed by the General Law on the Environment and Natural Resources40 and the Law 
on Biodiversity and Protected Areas.41 
4.32.   The Dominican Fisheries and Aquaculture Council (CODOPESCA ) is the governing body of the 
fisheries sector, established under the Law on Fish eries and Aquaculture, and is responsible for 
regulating the extraction and ensuring the protection of fishery resources within a sustainable 
framework. Other government agencies are also involved in the sector (Table  4.5). 
 
29 The WTO Secretariat was unable to access the CODOPESCA website (viewed at: 
www.codopesca.gob.do ), as the website  owner has prohibited access from devices located in Switzerland.  
30 FAO, Fishery and Aquaculture Country Profiles  – Dominican Republic , June  2019. Viewed at: 
https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/facp/dom?lang=es .  
31 National Statistics Office  (ONE), I Censo Nacional Pesquero 2019 - Informe general , August  2020. 
Viewed at: https://web.one.gob.do/media/ecsm23x3/informe -general -i-censo -pesquero -2019.pdf . Of the 
14,929  people identified, 14,312 identified themselves as fishers (95.87%), 347 as skippers or boat owners  
(2.32%) and 267 as fishers and boat owners (1.79%).  
32 National Statistics Office  (ONE), Producción de los principales productos de pesca por año, según 
producto, 2002 -2021. Viewed at: https://www.one.gob.do/datos -y-estadisticas/temas/estadisticas -
economicas/estadisticas -sectoriales/agricultura -ganaderia -silvicultura -y-pesca/pesca .  
33 FAO, Fishe ry and Aquaculture Country Profiles  – Dominican Republic, June  2019. Viewed at: 
https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/facp/dom?lang=es .  
34 COMEX trade database.  
35 FAO, GLOBEFISH Market Profile  – 2019, Dominican Republic. Viewed at: 
https://www.fao.org/3/cb9693en/cb9693en.pdf .  
36 COMEX trade database.  
37 COMEX trade database.  
38 Law No.  307-04 of 3 December  2004 creating the Dominican Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Council  (CODOPESCA).  
39 Article  1 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
40 General Law No. 64 -00 of 18 August  2000 on the environment and natural resources.  
41 Law No.  333-15 of 11 December  2015 on biodiversity.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 101 - 
  Table 4.5 Government agencies involved in the fisheries sector  
Agency  Function  
Dominican Navy  Responsible for coastal and maritime surveillance and navigation in Dominican 
waters and in the country's  exclusive economic zone. Works with  the National 
Directorate of Fisheries, established by Decree No.  323-02 of 9  May 2002, the 
function of which is  to promote fisheries development and control throughout 
the national territory and in international waters.  
Ministry of the Environment and 
Natural Resources  Responsible for environmental management, ecosystems and natural 
resources (including fishery resou rces).  
Dominican Port Authority  Responsible for managing and administering maritime ports.  
Directorate -General of 
Customs  (DGA)  Establishes mandatory customs procedures for importing or exporting fishery 
products.  
National Maritime Affairs 
Authority  (ANAMAR)  Responsible for the research, conservation and sustainable use of living and 
non-living marine resources and for harmonizing the government 's maritime 
policy so as to ensure  consistency with international law.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat and information  provided by the authorities.  
4.33.   Fishing activities in the Dominican Republic require a fishing licence issued by CODOPESCA. 
Fishing licences, which are non -transferable, specify the fishing activity for which they are granted, 
the type of usable gear and the  place of operation and are valid for a period of two years, renewable 
successively for another two years. In granting new or renewing existing fishing licences, 
CODOPESCA takes into account the state of the resources to be exploited under the requested licence 
so as to ensure their sustainability. Preference is therefore given to the renewal of existing licences 
over the granting of new ones. Licences are granted and renewed for  a fee.42 
4.34.   To engage in fishing in any of its forms, Dominican vessels must obtain a fishing vessel  permit 
issued by CODOPESCA. This permit is granted provided that the applicant holds a valid fishing 
licence. Fishing vessels must be duly registered with the Navy and  have an up -to-date ship 's 
passport. Like fishing licences, fishing vessel permits are valid for two years and may be renewed 
for successive two -year periods. The permit specifies the type of vessel concerned, its size and 
power, the fishing activities in which it engages, the type of gear it uses and the place of operation. 
These permits are granted and renewed for  a fee.43 
4.35.   Foreign vessel access to the waters of the Dominican Republic is subject to the fulfilment of 
a number of requirements. To obtain the fishing licence, foreign vessels must be authorized by the 
Navy and the National Drug Control Directorate and be registered in a competent port authorized by 
both organizations. Foreign vessels also require a fishing vessel permit. If the natural or legal 
persons operating  the foreign vessel are domiciled in the Dominican Republic, the permit is granted 
under the same conditions as those that apply to domestic fishing vessels (in this case, all crew 
must be domiciled in the Dominican Republic and catches must be landed and marketed in the 
country). If the vessel belongs to a State with which the Dominican Republic has an agreement or 
other fishing arrangements, the conditions set out in that agreement or arrangement apply. 
Otherwise, CODOPESCA may grant a fishing vessel perm it provided that the foreign vessel 's 
activities do not harm  Dominican fishing interests. Foreign vessels allowed to operate in 
Dominican  waters must respect the applicable fisheries management measures.44 
4.36.   CODOPESCA must maintain an up -to-date register of fishing activities carried out in the 
country, which includes  details of fishing licence holders, vessels with a  vessel permit and foreign 
vessels authorized to operate in the waters of the Dominican Republic.45 
4.37.   According to the 2019  National Fisheries Cen sus, compliance with these requirements 
by Dominican fish ers and boat owners is far from optimal. Of the 1,573  vessels declared, 
only 445 (28.29%) were licensed for fishing and 38% were unregistered. In the case of fishing 
licences, only 1,215  persons (bar ely 8.32%) were licensed.46 
 
42 Article  15 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
43 Article  16 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
44 Article  19 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
45 Article  70 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
46 National Statistics Office  (ONE), I Censo Nacional Pesquero 2019 - Informe general , August  2020. 
Viewed at: https://web.one.gob.do/media/ecsm23x3/informe -general -i-censo -pesquero -2019.pdf .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 102 - 
  4.38.   In addition to the above -mentioned requirements, natural and legal persons engaged in 
fishing  must comply with all established conservation measures (restricted or prohibited areas, catch 
limitations, protected species and speci mens, and prohibited fishing gear and equipment), declare 
the species and quantities caught to the authorities ashore, comply with all fishing safety measures 
set by CODOPESCA and not contaminate waters, coastal areas and the environment in general.47 
4.39.   In 2019, aquaculture accounted for 14% of the sector 's total production.48 Authorization from 
CODOPESCA is  also required to engage in aquaculture. If the activity is carried out in an area that 
is publicly owned, a concession is required  as well . Applications for authorization must include an 
environmental assessment specifically identifying the possible environmental impact. Such 
authorization is not granted in cases where the activity is intended to be carried out in a special 
protection area or an area decla red to be of special interest by the Government.49 The authorization 
may be revoked in the event of non -compliance with the conditions by the fish farmer or if necessary 
to protect  the environment.50 CODOPESCA keeps an up -to-date register of the aquacultur e facilities 
authorized to operate.51 
4.40.   Fishery and aquaculture products can be imported, provided that domestic production does 
not meet domestic demand, trade in the products in question is legal in the country,52 the competent 
health and customs bodies ha ve authorized the import , and the importer has paid the corresponding 
fees and obtained the CODOPESCA no-objection certificate.53 Imports of all fishery products, whether 
processed or not, are subject to an ad valorem  tax of 0.5%, which is used to finance CODOPESCA 
activities. In exceptional cases, if CODOPESCA does not object, the Executive  may waive payment 
of these taxes . Inputs (food, hormones, lines, hooks, refrigeration equipment, engines, etc.) used 
in fisheries and aquaculture are free of import dut y, as long as  the fish farmers or fishers  are 
registered with CODOPESCA or research centres.54 
4.41.   Fishery products can be exported, provided that trade in the products in question is legal in 
the country, the health and customs bodies and the Dominican Republic Export and Investment 
Centr e (CEI-RD) have authorized the export , and the exporter has paid the applicable fees and 
obtained the CODOPESCA no-objection certificate.55 Exports of fish in their natural state are subject 
to an ad valorem  tax of 0.5% and exports of molluscs and crustaceans in their natural state , to an 
ad valorem  tax of 5%. Aquaculture products and processed fish and shellfish56 are free of export 
tax.57 As an incentive to produce and export, commercially produced aquaculture  or sea -farming 
products are free of tax for five years , and fish caught at sea, if they receive value added, are free 
of tax for three years.58 
4.42.   Fishery resources can be marketed by natural and legal persons domiciled in the 
Dominican  Republic, provided th at such resources were legally obtained, comply with the relevant 
quality and health standards, are brought ashore and are marketed in the country.59 Foreign 
operators therefore cannot market them, unless they are domiciled in the Dominican Republic. In 
March 2021, CODOPESCA submitted the "National Plan for the Registration of Fish ery and 
Aquaculture Product Marketers. "60 
4.43.   4.43. Dominican legislation provides for various fisheries management measures aimed at 
preserving fishery resources (Box  4.1). Responsibility for most of these measures falls to 
 
47 Article  17 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
48 FAO, GLOBEFISH Market Profile  – 2019, Dominican Republic. Viewed at: 
https://www.fao.org/3/cb9693en/cb9693en.pdf .  
49 Article  22 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
50 Article  24 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
51 Article  71 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
52 The importation of specimens or parts of species the catching of which is subject to time or other 
restrictions in the Dominican R epublic requires prior authorization from CODOPESCA.  
53 Article  68 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
54 Article  26 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
55 Article  69 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
56 Fish and shellfish are considered to have been p rocessed if they have been salted, dried, dehydrated, 
filleted, smoked, cured, preserved in brine and/or vinegar, and/or packed in tins or glass containers.  
57 Article  25 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
58 Article  25 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004. 
59 Article  67 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
60 "Codopesca diseña un plan de registro de comercializadores en Santo Domingo ," 19 March  2021. 
Viewed at: https://industriaspesqueras.com/noticia -65139 -sec-Portada .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 103 - 
  CODOPESCA, which is also in charge of monitoring compliance with such measure s, with the support 
of the police, the Navy and civil society.61 
Box 4.1 CODOPESCA measures for the preservation of fishery resources  
CODOPESCA 's fishery resource preservation powers include:  
• requesting that the Executive create fishery reserve areas in waters under Dominican jurisdiction;  
• limiting the fishing effort and establishing the total allowable catch  (TAC) to prevent overexploitation;  
• prohibiting the unauthorized exploitation of fishery resources where  appropriate ; 
• establishing the catch and closed season;a 
• limiting specimen size and catch quantity;  
• granting catch licences for lobster and lambi and for ornamental species; and  
• authorizing any extraction of any aquatic resource not intended for human consumption.  
a See, for example, Decree No.  119-12 of 14  March  2012 establishing a closed season for several 
species of lobster throughout the national territory; Decree No.  499-09 of 7 July 2009 establishing a 
closed season for lambi throughout the national territory; and Decree No.  813-08 of 
5 December  2008 establishing a closed season for several crab species throughout the national 
territory.  
Source:  Law on Fish eries and Aquacult ure of 3  December  2004.  
4.44.   The Dominican Republic adopted the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, but is 
not a party to the Agreement on Port State Measures, which aims to prevent, deter and eliminate 
illegal, unreported and unregulated  (IUU) fishi ng. The Dominican Republic participates in the 
following regional fisheries  bodies: the Central America Fisheries and Aquaculture 
Organization  (OSPESCA); the Commission for Small -Scale and Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 
of Latin America and the Caribb ean (COPPESAALC); the International Whaling Commission  (IWC); 
the Aquaculture Network for the Americas  (RAA); and the Western Central Atlantic Fishery 
Commission  (WECAFC). The Dominican Republic also has a memorandum of understanding with the 
members of th e Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism.62 
4.2  Mining and Energy  
4.2.1   Mining  
4.45.   The Dominican Republic has various non -renewable mineral resources (bauxite, copper, iron, 
nickel, gold, silver and zinc) in different areas of the country.63 In the period under review, mining 
accounted for 1.8 % of the country's GDP. Historically, metal mining has focused on the production 
of ferronickel64, which was the only metal produced in the country up to the mid -2000s.65 Foreign 
investment has played a key role in the development of the country's mining sector. Copper, gold 
and silver mining begins with the granting of concessions and special contracts to foreign -owned 
companies to operate in reservas fiscales  ("fiscal reserves", government -reserved area s for mining 
activities ).66 As a result, the Dominican Republic has become one of the region's leading exporters 
of gold during the period under review (Table 4.6), with that metal accounting for 81.6 % of the 
country's metallic mineral production value bet ween 2015 and 2021. In 2021, some 810,000 ounces 
of gold and 2.39  million ounces of silver were produced. Production has fallen compared to previous 
 
61 Article  74 of Law No.  307-04 of 3  December  2004.  
62 FAO. Viewed at: https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/organization/search . 
63 A map of mineral resources in the Dominican Republic. Online information from the National 
Geological Service: https://sg n.gob.do/images/docs/map_rec_minerales.pdf . 
64 Ferronickel is an alloy of iron and nickel obtained from the carbothermic reduction of nickel minerals. 
In the Dominican Republic, its production is highly dependent on the electricity supply.  
65 This mineral ha s been exploited by a private consortium (Falconbridge Dominicana), in which the 
Dominican State holds a 10 % stake; the remaining shares are held by foreign investors, with shares changing 
hands several times in recent years. The exploitation concession fo r the province of Monseñor Nouel was 
awarded in 1958; since then, the contract has been extended or amended three times (in 1969, 1988 and 
1994). Ferronickel production was intermittent between 2008 and 2016, as a result of problems with the 
electricity su pply, among other things.  
66 In 2003, the foreign -owned Corporación Minera Dominicana (Dominican Mining Corporation, or 
CORMIDOM) obtained part of the concession initially awarded to Falconbridge Dominicana in the provinces of 
Monseñor Nouel and Sánchez Ram írez to operate the Cerro de Maimón mine. In 2012, two other companies 
(Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation and Las Lagunas Limited) began operating under special contracts. The 
first began operating the Pueblo Viejo mine, while the second recovered minera l residue deposits from the 
Las Lagunas tailings dam.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 104 - 
  years, because, in 2019, a special contract for the exploitation of these resources expired and work 
began to expand the Pueblo Viejo mine, the largest in the country.  
Table 4.6 Production, trade and share of GDP of the mining sector, 2015 -21  
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 
Production  (thousand metric tons or  thousand troy ounces)  
Ferronickel  0.0 33.2 43.9 53.7 78.6 59.2 75.9 
Bauxite  1,724.2  7.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.5 80.6 
Copper  7.3 9.7 9.6 8.6 6.0 2.2 4.8 
Gold (oz)  1,001.0  1,219.6  1,133.1  1,017.0  1,022.4  905.2  813.6  
Silver (oz)  3,077.0  3,914.3  4,879.1  5,353.1  4,494.3  2,825.7  2,390.7  
Zinc 4.7 3.6 3.9 4.0 5.5 2.4 4.9 
 (USD million)  
Ferronickel  0.0 90.9 153.6  233.8  383.4  231.2  392.6  
Bauxite  27.6 3.4 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.0 1.6 
Copper  38.3 45.8 54.3 59.8 26.8 16.1 45.2 
Gold 1,227.3  1,575.3  1,456.7  1,360.6  1,544.3  1,675.5  1,610.3  
Silver  49.9 68.4 82.7 86.4 54.4 58.1 61.7 
Zinc 7.6 8.0 10.4 9.0 13.3 5.1 13.4 
 
Export -production ratio, 
by value (%)  99.4 99.7 99.7 100.1  99.4 106.7  105.1  
Share of GDP (%)  1.6 2.0 1.9 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.6 
a Preliminary data.  
Source:  Directorate -General of Mining.  
4.46.   The Dominican Republic also has smaller -scale mining operations for minerals such as 
bauxite.67 Non-metallic minerals are also exploited today. However, given their lower value, the total 
value of no n-metallic mineral production is around USD  230 million per year.68 One such mineral is 
limestone, which is mined in both its coralline and crystalline forms. There is also some artisanal 
and small -scale mining in the country.  
4.47.   The Ministry of Energy and Mi nes (MEM) is the regulatory body for the country's mining and 
energy sector. Through various affiliated institutions (such as the Directorate -General of Mining 
(DGM) and the National Geological Service (SGN)), MEM is responsible for issuing concessions, 
supervising companies and carrying out geological surveys. The Ministry is also tasked with 
developing, implementing and evaluating policies and strategies relating to the extractive sector. 
The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MMARN) also oversees some aspects of 
extractive industries, as it issues environmental licences and verifies compliance with the 
General  Law on the Environment and Natural Resources (Law No.  64-00). 
4.48.   The mining sector is governed by Law No.  146-71 (the Mining Law), the  amendments thereto 
(Law No.  79-03) and its implementing regulations (Decree No.  207-98), which govern the 
exploration, exploitation and beneficiation of metallic and non -metallic substances. These legal texts 
also regulate the tax -related aspects of minin g concessions (such as mining patents, export royalties 
and income tax). Under the Mining Law, special contracts can be entered into for the exploration 
and exploitation of resources in reservas fiscales ; the terms and conditions of these contracts may 
differ from those set forth in the Mining Law. Special contracts must be approved by the 
National  Congress.69 
4.49.   The Mining Law sets no limits on foreign ownership, except in relation to foreign governments 
or foreign state -owned companies (Article 9 of the Mining Law).70 However, if a foreign company 
obtains an exploitation concession, it must be incorporated in the Dominican Republic within 
six months of obtaining the concession. Any national or foreign natural or legal person may carry 
out surface inspecti ons (outside areas already covered by concessions).  
 
67 Between 2013 and 2015, the total value of bauxite exports was USD 81 million.  
68 Average value based on information provided by the authorities for the period 2017 –20. 
69 Law No.  79-03. 
70 These agreements can only be entered into by the executive branch with the approval of the 
National  Congress.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 105 - 
  4.50.   There are two types of concession: three -year exploration concessions, which can be 
extended for a further two years maximum on justifiable grounds, and 75 -year exploitation 
concessions. Applications for both types of concession must include a work programme, maps and 
plans of the area, and documents attesting to the applicant's moral, technical and financial 
solvency.71 The total cost of the application and concession can range from as little as DOP  96,20 0 
for non -metal exploration concessions to as much as DOP  148,300 for metal exploitation 
concessions. An environmental licence must be obtained before a concession can be awarded.72 
Mining concessions are recorded in the Public Register of Mining Rights, w hich serves as the basis 
for the Mining Cadastre.73 Concessions are transferable, subject to the prior approval of MEM.74 
4.51.   Any Dominican or foreign natural or legal person that reports a new mineral discovery is given 
a 30-day preferential right to apply fo r a concession. The holder of a valid exploration licence has 
the exclusive right to apply for an exploitation concession for the area covered by the exploration 
concession. Holders of exploitation concessions are granted tax stability for a period of 25 y ears. 
Once that period has expired, they must comply with the tax regime governing mining activities in 
force at that time.  
4.52.   Chapter II of Title VII of the Mining Law sets outs the amount and terms of the annual 
payment of the mining patent. The amount is c alculated on a per -hectare basis and is always higher 
for exploitation concessions than for exploration concessions; the per -hectare amount also increases 
according to the surface area allocated.75 Chapter III of  Title VII of  the Mining Law provides for a 
royalty of 5 % of the f.o.b  selling price at Dominican ports for minerals exported in their natural state 
or in the form of metalliferous mineral concentrates. This royalty does not apply to exports of 
metallurgical products by beneficiation plants (smeltin g or refining). Although Article 122 of the 
Mining Law stipulates that surplus production may only be exported once domestic market demand 
has been met, domestic metal mining production is focused on the export market (Table 4.6), and 
the authorities have indicated that this provision has never been enforced.76 
4.53.   In July  2022, a total of 26 metallic mineral exploration concessions and 40 non -metallic 
mineral exploration concessions were in force, together with 2 metallic mineral exploitation 
concessions and 1 01 non -metallic mineral exploitation concessions. Between 2015 and July  2022, 
159 exploration concessions were awarded (58 of which were for metallic minerals) and 
6 exploitation concessions (all for non -metallic minerals). During that same period, 40 non -metallic 
mineral exploitation concessions expired.77 
4.54.   The executive branch may declare an area to be a reserva fiscal  (Chapter III of Title I of the 
Mining Law).78 The Mining Law provides for the possibility of negotiating special contracts between 
the Stat e and private operators to exploit areas within these reserves. The special contracts are 
awarded through an open tender process and must be approved by the National Congress. At the 
start of the period under review, the Dominican Republic had two mining reservas fiscales : La Cuaba , 
which was created in 1983 and then expanded in 1987, and Montenegro, which was created in 2004. 
In 2018, the Government established the Ávila reserva fiscal , which covers an area of almost 
 
71 To obtain an exploitation concessions, additional information is required, such as an environmental 
feasibility study. The application requirements fo r both exploration and exploitation concessions are available 
online. MEM. Viewed at: https://mem.gob.do/servicios/concesion -de-exploracion -minera -metalica -y-no-
metalica . 
72 The cost of an environmental licence varies depending on the type of exploitation (metal or 
non-metal) and the size of the investment.  
73 Mapa General de Derechos Mineros . DGM online information: 
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BuRAH9vbjR_Gd4dy8ncSuyAAR9A&usp=sharing . 
74 The sale, cession or transfer of mining rights under an exploitation or exploration concession (for 
metals or non -metals) costs DOP 50,900 (MEM Resolution No. 035 -2016).  
75 For example, the amount paid per hectare ranges from DOP 0.10 for exploration concessions of up to 
1,000 hectares to DOP 2 for exploitation concessions of up to 20,000 hectares.  
76 Other tax -related aspects of the Mining Law, such as the 40 % tax on net earnings (Article 123) and 
the ITBIS exemptions for machinery, mining and metallurgical equipment and vehicles (Article 129), were 
repealed in subsequent tax reforms (Law No. 11 -92) and tariff reforms (Law No. 14 -93). 
77 The criteria for declaring a concession forfeit (e.g. the time limit for commencement of work, 
maximum duration of work interruptions and obligation to pay patents, royalties and taxes) are set out in the 
Mining Law (Articles 69, 70 and 75).  
78 A reserva  fiscal is a defined geographical area that, once created, implies exclusive use by the State, 
since new concessions cannot be requested within its perimeter.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 106 - 
  15,000  hectares in the province of Pedernales.79 Out of the three  reserves, mining activities are only 
carried out in the Montenegro reserve, under two special contracts.80 The contractual conditions 
related to taxation, renewal and duration vary depending on the contract, but must not be less 
favourable to the State th an the national economic interests set forth in the Mining Law.81 
4.55.   Only one of the five main metal mining operations active in the Dominican Republic during 
the period under review is operated under the concessions scheme.82 Three of the operations are or 
were run under special contracts, and the ferronickel mining operations are subject to a contract 
entered into in 1956, before the Mining Law came into force.83 
4.56.   Between 2015 and 2021, the tax revenue from mining and extractive industries amounted to 
DOP 128.3 billion.84 The main sources of these revenues were: the net profits share (PUN) (37.2 %), 
ISR (36.4 %) and the net smelter return (RNF) royalty (17.6 %).85 According to the data available 
for 2020 and 2021, 86.1 % of these revenues is related to the Pueblo Viejo mine operations, the 
largest in the country, which extracts primarily gold and silver.  
4.57.   The Dominican State -Owned Enterprises Corporation (CORDE), which is currently in the 
process of being dissolved by the Commission for the Liquidation of State Orga ns (CLOE), holds 
six non-metallic mining concessions (for travertine, marble, gypsum and salt). Three of these 
concessions, for the exploitation of marble and gypsum, have been leased out by CORDE since 2000 
under leasing contracts.  
4.58.   The State also holds a 9.98% stake in the company Falconbridge Dominicana and, up until 
2019, almost all of these shares were managed by CORDE.86 Then in 2019, the shares managed by 
CORDE were transferred first to the Reformed Companies Equity Fund (FONPER), established in 
2001,  and then to the Ministry of Finance.87 According to the authorities, the purpose of this second 
transfer was to consolidate the management of all the State's interests in the hands of a single 
representative.  
4.59.   In order to monitor mining activity in the country, between 2017 and 2020, all export s of 
metallic and non -metallic minerals under the concessions system required a certificate of 
no-objection issued by MEM.88 This certificate cost DOP  1,000 and, according to official information, 
was issued within one day.  
4.60.   In 2016, a ban was placed on exp orts of amber and laminar in their natural state or 
semi-processed to promote domestic processing activities and develop an artisanal industry; these 
minerals were only authorized for export in their processed form.89 However, in 2018, the ban on 
exports o f these minerals in their natural state and semi -processed was lifted. In addition, amber 
and laminar concessions stopped being granted only to cooperatives and campesino  associations 
from the areas where the deposits are located.90 In this connection, in 2019, a regulation was issued 
that delimits exclusive areas and sets out the requirements and the methods and equipment allowed 
 
79 Decree No. 430 -18. 
80 These contracts are the Special Mining Lease Agreement with the Pueblo Vie jo Dominicana 
Corporation (2002), and the Special Contract for the Evaluation, Exploitation and Beneficiation of the 
Las Lagunas Tailings Dam with Las Lagunas Limited (2004).  
81 The tax conditions are combinations of an annual minimum tax, income tax (ISR),  a share of net 
profits (PUN) and the payment of a net smelter return (RNF) royalty.  
82 Namely the concessions granted to CORMIDOM for the exploitation of gold, silver and copper at the 
Cerro de Maimón mine.  
83 The ferronickel exploitation concession is gove rned by the initial exploration and exploitation contract 
of 24 December 1956, and the amendments thereto (the supplementary agreement of 26 September 1969, 
the amendment agreement of 26 May 1988 and the amendment addendum of 25 August 1994). These 
contrac ts also specify the applicable taxes and royalties, the ISR rate, an earnings -adjustable tax and a tax on 
the surface area.  
84 Information based on the four Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reports on the 
Dominican Republic,. Viewed at: https://eitird.mem.gob.do . 
85 Disaggregation by taxes is only available for the peri od 2015 -18. 
86 Up until that time, CORDE managed 285,982 of the 299,332 shares that the State held in the mining 
company Falconbridge Dominicana.  
87 Decrees No. 167 -19 and No. 470 -19. 
88 MEM Resolution No. 34 -17. 
89 MEM Resolution No. 47 -16. 
90 Decree No. 431 -18 and MEM Resolution No. 40 -18. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 107 - 
  for the artisanal exploitation of these minerals. That regulation also stipulates that a certificate of 
no-objection must be obt ained from MEM in order to export these minerals in their natural state or 
semi-processed.91 
4.2.2   Hydrocarbons  
4.61.   The Dominican Republic remains a net importer of hydrocarbons. The cumulative trade deficit 
during the review period in mineral products (Section V of  the Harmonized System) stood at over 
USD 14 billion. Imports increased by 54 % between 2015 and 2021, highlighting a steady rise 
throughout that period under review, with the exception of 2020. In 2021, these mineral products 
were the main products importe d by the Dominican Republic, accounting for 16.9 % of total imports. 
Exports remained relatively stable, ranging between USD  1.4 billion and USD  1.6 billion per year 
until 2019. They then dropped sharply, down to USD  1.1 billion for 2020 and 2021 combined.  
4.62.   The institutions governing the hydrocarbons sector are MEM, which is the regulatory body for 
exploration and exploitation, and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM), which is 
responsible for regulating and overseeing the commercialization of pet roleum products.92 
4.63.   No substantial changes were made to the legal framework governing hydrocarbons during the 
period under review. Law No.  4532-56 (as amended by Law No.  4833-58) governs the exploration 
and exploitation of hydrocarbons and Law No.  112-00 (as amended by Laws No.  557-05, No.  495-06 
and No.  253-12) governs the commercialization of petroleum products. Other laws, such as the 
General Law on Electricity, contain measures related to specific subsectors and products.  
4.64.   Non-renewable natural resources belong to the Nation, and exploration and exploitation rights 
are granted to private -sector entities through concession contracts following a tender process. These 
concession contracts must be approved by Congress. Other governments are prohibited from 
involvement in the exploitation and/or exploration of deposits either directly or as partners of or 
shareholders in companies that hold a permit or concession.93 Furthermore, all geological and 
geophysical surveys must be authorized by MEM, and all survey res ults must be submitted to the 
Ministry.94 
4.65.   In 2016, the first regulation governing the exploration and production of hydrocarbons was 
issued; it covers hydrocarbons in any physical form present in the soil or subsoil of the national 
territory, including the  exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. In 2021, the periods of 
validity set in 2016 for exploration and exploitation contracts were extended.95 
4.66.   In 2019, the Dominican Republic opened the first licensing round for oil and gas blocks, which 
resulted in one block located on the continental shelf being auctioned off.96 In 2021, the exploitation 
contract and the amendment thereto were approved by Congress and promulgated by the executive 
branch.97 This is the only such concession contract currently in force in the Dominican  Republic.  
4.67.   Imports of fossil fuels and petroleum products are subject to a licence issued by the MICM98, 
and imports to be used to produce electricity must also be authorized by the National Energy 
Commission.99 The MICM  also grants licences for the storage, transport and distribution of petroleum 
 
91 Regulation No. 370 -19. 
92 Law No.  100-13, as amended by Law No.  142-13. 
93 Law No.  4532-56, as amended by Law No.  4833-58. 
94 MEM Resolution No. 1 -16. In addition, MEM Resolution No. 12 -19 requires that well logs be compiled 
when drilling for hydrocarbons. There are currently no valid authorizations for surveys relating to 
hydrocarbons.  
95 Decree No.  83-16, as amended by Decree No.  164-21. 
96 The auction of onshore blocks was declared void, and only one company pre -qualified for  the auction 
of offshore blocks. The authorities have indicated that the lack of accurate geological information concerning 
the viability of the other blocks had an impact on the outcome of the auction of the blocks not assigned.  
97 In 2018, MEM issued a mo del production sharing contract, which forms the basis for the contracts for 
onshore areas and for offshore areas.  
98 Law No. 37 -17 (Article 2) grants the MICM the power to regulate these aspects. Import authorization 
takes between 30 and 90 days and costs between DOP 1,025,000 and DOP 4,055,000, depending on the 
importer 's storage capacity.  
99 Article 9 of Law No.  112-00, as amended by Laws No.  557-05, No.  495-06 and No.  253-12. 
Article  129 of Law No.  125-01 (General Law on Electricity (LGE)), as amended by Law No.  186-07. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 108 - 
  products, as well as the operation of petrol stations and other fuel retail outlets (such as for LPG).100 
The MICM issues resolutions governing various aspects of these activitie s (including construction 
and operation requirements, Ministry service charges and licences). In 2021, the period of validity 
of licences issued by the MICM was increased from one to two years.101 
4.68.   The Dominican Republic has one single refinery, the Refinerí a Dominicana de Petróleo SA 
(REFIDOMSA), which has a refining capacity of 35,000 barrels a day. In 2021, the Dominican 
Government acquired the remaining 49 % of the shares in REFIDOMSA, making it the sole 
shareholder. During the period under review, the com pany has expanded its list of crude oil suppliers 
and improved its refining process. Domestically refined petroleum products met a fifth of the 
country's demand for these products in the period under review. The rest was imported by 
REFIDOMSA and another s ix privately owned companies, with the public sector providing 
approximately 60 % of marketed fuels.  
4.69.   In 2021, 78  million barrels of natural gas were imported, representing an increase of 86 % on 
2016 levels. Natural gas is imported by a private company that generates electricity, and almost all 
the gas (90 %) is used for that purpose.102 The natural gas is distributed to power stations through 
a network of three gas pipelines103, while compressed natural gas is distributed to industries by 
lorry.  
4.70.   Eighty private companies transport petroleum products to a network of 911  LPG stations, 
850 liquid fuel stations and 39 stations for natural gas vehicles (NGV).104 Distribution is in the hands 
of 58 companies, all locally registered, of which only two are subsidia ries of foreign companies. 
The three main distribution companies control 40 % of the sales to the public. Existing infrastructure 
can store 7.8  million barrels. In recent years, the Dominican Republic has increased its average 
stocks for consumption of all petroleum products; LPG stocks remain the lowest in terms of days of 
supply.105 
4.71.   The (weekly) retail prices for LPG, gasoline, kerosene, aviation turbine fuel (avtur), diesel oil 
and fuel oil are regulated by the MICM. They are set in line with international  oil prices and the 
exchange rate, which determine the import parity price (IPP).106 When calculating official retail 
prices, the Ministry also factors in marketing margins, which cover transportation, distribution, retail 
outlets and the selective consumpt ion tax levied on hydrocarbons ( ISC sobre hidrocarburos ).107 
4.72.   The State subsidizes household consumption of LPG (for poor and lower -middle -class 
households) through the Bonogás  for households (BGH) programme. Similarly, it provides LPG 
subsidies to drivers o f vehicles that transport passengers through the Bonogás  for drivers (BGC) 
programme. The monthly subsidy is in the amount of DOP  228 (increased to DOP  470 as from 
March  2022) for recipients of the BGH and DOP  3,420 under  the BGC. In addition, there are sy stems 
for refunding or offsetting the ISC on hydrocarbons for fossil fuels and petroleum products used in 
the industrial sector and to generate electricity, within certain monthly consumption limits.108 
 
100 All of these licences may be obtained through the MICM 's online service platform, which also lists all 
the requirements that have to be met in the different cases. Viewed at: 
https://ventanillavirtual.micm.gob.do/Servicios/Info . 
101 MICM Resolution No. 311 -21. 
102 National Energy Commission, National Energy Plan 2022 –36, March 2022.  
103 Construction of the eastern gas pipeline was completed in 2019, providing natural gas to power 
stations in San Pedro de Macorís. MEM Resolution No. 36 -19 establishes the requirements for the permit to 
construct pipelines.  
104 In general, NGV  stations also distribute other petroleum products, such as liquid fuel or LPG.  
105 National Energy Commission, National Energy Plan 2022 –36, March 2022.  
106 The international benchmark price is that of a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, 
f.o.b., while, in the case of LPG, the simple averages of the Mont Belvieu (non -TET) price on the Tuesday of the 
previous week is used.  
107 Law No.  112-00 and Decree No. 307 -01, as amended by Decree No.  176-04. Taxes on hydrocarbons 
consist of a first specific c omponent (per US gallon, depending on the type of hydrocarbon) and a 
second  ad valorem  component on the IPP set by the MICM.  
108 Established by Law No.  253-12. Decree No. 275 -16 governs the system of refunds for energy 
companies, companies established in fre e zones or special border development zones, public works contractors 
and mining concessions.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 109 - 
  Between 2015 and 2020, the revenue foregone as a resul t of these various concessions amounted 
to DOP  112.8  billion, equivalent to 34.6 % of the tax revenue collected in this category.109 
4.2.3   Electricity  
4.73.   The capacity of the country's electricity sector has increased by 44 % since 2015, reaching an 
installed capacity of 5,148 MW in December  2021. The obsolescence of some generators makes the 
national grid (known as SENI) vulnerable. Electricity generation continues to rely on imported fuel 
(Table 4.7). During the period under review, the use of fuel oil to generate pow er dropped sharply 
(down 35 percentage points), while the proportion of coal and, to a lesser extent, natural gas 
increased considerably. These changes are due to the conversion to natural gas of generating units 
in the eastern region producing more than 7 00 MW, and the entry into service of the Punta Catalina 
coal-fired thermal power station.110 Renewable energy sources have doubled their contribution to 
electricity generation between 2015 and 2021, with only hydropower following a downward trend 
from 2017 onwards. According to the authorities, this change in the energy mix has led to a reduction 
in the production price, which fell from USD  161.40 per MWh in 2010 to USD  151.11 per MWh in 
2021.  
Table 4.7 Supply a nd demand in the national grid, 2015 –21  
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Installed capacity (MW)  3,577  3,640  3,708  3,986  4,921  4,921  5,148  
Generation (GWh)  
Fuel oil (%)  
Natural gas (%)  
Coal (%)  
Renewable energy (%)  
Hydropower  
Wind 
Solar 
Biomass  14,177  
47.3 
28.6 
15.7 
8.4 
6.4 
2.0 
0.0 
0.0 14,984  
48.4 
24.3 
15.2 
12.1 
9.8 
2.1 
0.2 
0.0 15,282  
33.4 
34.3 
15.2 
17.1 
13.8 
2.5 
0.3 
0.5 15,702  
38.6 
33.8 
12.6 
15.0 
10.5 
2.8 
0.5 
1.2 17,412  
38.6 
29.9 
19.7 
11.8 
5.6 
4.3 
0.9 
1.0 17,663  
16.8 
32.8 
35.1 
15.3 
6.7 
6.1 
1.6 
0.9 21,404  
12.8 
40.1 
30.9 
16.2 
7.0 
5.8 
2.3 
1.1 
Demand (GWh)  16,003  16,838  17,159  17,714  19,266  19,804  21,649  
Source:  Annual reports of the Coordinating Agency 2015 –21. 
4.74.   The electricity market is regulated by the General Law on Electricity (LGE)111, which is 
implemented by three bodies: (i) the National Energy Commission (CNE), which formulates 
electricity policy and is presided over by MEM; (ii) the Electricity Supervisory Authority (SIE), which 
is the  regulatory body for the ele ctricity market and is attached to MEM; and (iii) the Coordinating 
Agency, which coordinates the technical and commercial operations relating to the national grid. Up 
until 2020, the Dominican Corporation of State -owned Electricity Companies (CDEEE) played  a major 
role in the sector, as it was responsible for implementing various development policies for 
state-owned electricity companies, as well as for the electrification of rural and suburban areas. 
Since then, the CDEEE has been in process of being liqui dated; its responsibilities and functions were 
transferred to MEM; the management boards of the three electricity distribution companies (EDE), 
under its oversight, were merged; and the Rural and Suburban Electrification Unit (UERS) became 
part of the Vice -Ministry of Energy of MEM.112 According to the authorities, the companies previously 
under the oversight of the CDEEE will operate independently once the process of dissolving the 
CDEEE has been completed.  
4.75.   In 2021, the National Pact to Reform the Electrici ty Sector 2021 -30 (Electricity Pact)113 was 
signed, with a view to providing a universal, high quality, efficient, reliable, resilient, and 
environmentally and financially sustainable electricity service. The objectives of the Electricity Pact 
 
109 National Energy Commission, National Energy Plan 2022 –36, March 2022.  
110 The Punta Catalina thermal power station accounts for 15.11 % of the national grid's nomi nal 
installed capacity.  
111 Law No.  125-01, as amended by Laws No.  186-07 and No. 100 -13, and Decree No. 555 -02, as 
amended by Decrees No. 749 -02, No. 494 -07, No. 342 -20 and No. 167 -21. The most recent amendment to the 
regulations implementing the Law concer ns the definition of the grounds on which the electricity supply to 
end-consumers can be suspended and the related procedures.  
112 Decree No. 342 -20. 
113 Signed on 25 February 2021. Decree No. 655 -21 contains the implementing regulations of the 
Electricity Pac t. The full version of the Electricity Pact is available online at: https://mem.gob.do/wp -
content/uploads/2021/03/pactp -electrico.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 110 - 
  include integrating  the CNE into MEM, rather than  being  a unit attached to the Ministry, and to 
eliminate the support for  electricity tariffs.  
4.76.   
 there has been a significant improvement in the electricity supply, which could be 
attributable to the diversificatio n of the energy mix and efforts to modernize and restructure the 
sector, major challenges remain. Specifically, the dependency on imported fuel, electricity tariffs 
that fail to cover costs, a series of subsidies, the lack of investment in distribution and  transmission, 
the high level of losses and the inadequate management of the distribution companies (EDE).  
4.77.   Reducing distribution losses remains a challenge for the Dominican electricity sector. Loss 
reduction targets have not been met114 and, although there has been a slight decline since 2015, 
losses remained above 33 % in 2020.115 The main reasons for these losses are inadequate 
administrative and commercial management and energy theft. The Electricity Pact sets the objective 
of reducing loss levels by 15 percentage by 2026 and provides for the construction of new power 
stations to reduce electricity costs. Another shortcoming that has been identified in the 
Dominican  electricity sector is the lack of a system of penalties for failure to c omply with regulations, 
both for operators and for users.  
4.78.   The conditions of access to the electricity market have not changed during the review period. 
The private sector can undertake electricity generation activities, although the generation of 
hydroelec tric power in excess of 5 MW is an activity reserved to the State. The state -owned 
Empresa  de Generación Hidroeléctrica Dominicana (Dominican Hydroelectric Power Company) 
(EGEHID) has a monopoly in this regard.116 In addition to the EGEHID, the State is inv olved in 
electricity generation through its ownership of the Punta Catalina thermal power station and through 
its 49.9 % stakes in the generating companies EGE ITABO and EGE HAINA.117 In 2021, a trust was 
set up to facilitate the transfer of CDEEE's assets a nd rights in the Punta Catalina thermal power 
station to another state entity for their administration.118 In addition to the four state -owned 
generating companies, which account for 28 % of the country's installed capacity, 22 private 
generating companies supply electricity to the national grid.  
4.79.   Electricity transmission is also reserved to the State. Another state -owned company, Empresa 
de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (Dominican Elect ricity Transmission Company) (ETED), has a 
monopoly in this regard. The private sector is authorized to participate in the financing, construction 
and/or management of activities under state monopoly (i.e. transmission and generation activities).  
4.80.   Three sta te-owned companies are responsible for distribution and marketing (EDENORTE, 
EDESUR and EDEESTE), which have been under the supervision of the Reformed Companies Equity 
Fund since 2021. Nevertheless, according to the authorities, these companies operate as  private 
enterprises. However, their operations have been managed by a single board of directors since 2020. 
While the private sector is permitted to participate in the distribution and marketing of electricity, 
no private companies are actively involved i n these activities.  
4.81.   In 2015, there were seven privately funded isolated electricity systems, most of which have 
now been gradually integrated into the national grid.119 
 
114 The Electricity Sector Action Plan so ught to reduce losses to 10.5 % by 2021.  
115 Generation and transmission losses are relatively low – below 2 % in each area. The Empresa 
Distribuidora de Electricidad del Este (Eastern Electricity Distribution Company) (EDEESTE) has particularly 
high loss rate s. National Energy Commission, National Energy Plan 2022 –36, March 2022.  
116 General Law on Electricity and Law No. 57 -07. 
117 Law No.  394-14 authorizes the Dominican State, through the CDEEE, to be involved, directly or 
indirectly, in electricity generation a s a promoter, operator and/or owner. The authorities indicate that, since 
the CDEEE is being liquidated, rights over future electricity generation facilities will be awarded through public 
tenders or public -private partnerships.  
118 Decree No. 538 -21. 
119 For instance, the following systems have been integrated during the review period: Altobandera, 
Cap Cana Caribe, Compañía de Electricidad de Bayahíbe, Corporación Turística de Servicios Punta Cana, 
Costasur Dominicana, Luz y Fuerza de Las Terrenas, El Prog reso del Limón and Puerto Plata de Electricidad. 
The Consorcio Energético Punta Cana -Macao continues to operate as an isolated system and its activities 
include electricity transmission within its concession area. In many cases, the isolated systems do not  apply a 
SIE-approved tariff structure.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 111 - 
  4.82.   Generation, transmission and distribution activities in the electricity sector are subje ct to a 
concessions system. Where electricity is to be generated from renewable sources, the CNE must first 
grant a provisional concession before a final concession can be awarded. In all other cases, the 
provisional concession is optional. The provisional  concession (up to 18 months) entitles holders to 
carry out the exploratory work, analyses and surveys needed to demonstrate the project's viability. 
The application for a final concession to exploit, build and launch generation, transmission or 
distributi on works must be filed while the provisional concession is still valid. Applications for 
conventional electricity generation and distribution must be filed with the SIE, while those for 
electricity generation from primarily renewable sources must be filed with the CNE. In all cases, the 
CNE and SIE draw up a recommendation report for the executive branch, which then decides whether 
to award the final concession for a period of up to 40 years (with the possibility of an extension).120 
Transmission concessions  are only granted on an exceptional basis to generating companies that 
are too far away from the national grid to be connected to it. It is expected that the ETED will take 
over this infrastructure at some point in the future, subject to a compensation agr eement with the 
investor. Isolated systems, which provide generation, transmission and distribution services, must 
also apply for a concession if demand exceeds 2 MW.  
4.83.   Vertical integration of companies in the subsector is not generally allowed. However, 
distribution companies may be authorized to operate power stations, as long as they do not account 
for more than 15 % of national grid demand. As a result of the transfer of shares in distributing 
companies from the CDEEE to the Reformed Companies Equity Fund in 2021 the distribution and 
generation activities of state -owned companies were separated.  
4.84.   Under the General Law on Electricity, 20 % of the electricity bought on the wholesale market 
must come from the spot market. However, this target has not been met, a s the spot market supplies 
only 6 –7% of electricity. The proportion of electricity bought under long -term contracts or on the 
spot market varies depending on the distributor and the year in which the contract was signed. 
According to the authorities, this is because the preferred method for purchasing electricity has been 
long-term contracts between generating and distributing entities, in particular, since 2015, in an 
effort to promote investment in renewable energies and in new generation facilities. The authorities 
point out that the spot price did not guarantee a return on investment, so long -term contracts were 
introduced to provide greater investment certainty. The authorities note that purchases are currently 
made through a tender process. The CDEEE a lso serves as an intermediary in the wholesale 
electricity market. Despite being in liquidation, the CDEEE continues to manage energy supply 
contracts with two independent private producers.121 In 2021, the direct sale of clean energy to 
distributors, witho ut the CDEEE serving as an intermediary, was approved.122 
4.85.   In order to encourage the development of renewable energies, the Dominican Republic 
continues to offer incentives to promote the production of clean electricity and biofuels 
(Section  2.4.1).123 In 201 5, the incentives regime was extended to include the production of energy 
from biomass and solid residues, as well as geothermal energy.124 In addition, in 2020, new 
incentives were introduced for energy and material recovery plants, with recovery processes  
including solid waste co -processing.125 Efforts to promote renewable energies have resulted in a total 
installed capacity of 677 MW from renewable energy facilities under 24 final concessions granted 
during the period 2015 –21. 
4.86.   The tax foregone as a result of renewable energy incentives during the period 2014 –21 
amounts to USD  252.7  million, disaggregated as follows: exemption from import taxes (41 %, mainly 
for large -scale projects); exemption from the ITBIS (31 %); and tax credits (28 %). With regard to 
 
120 According to the authorities, various factors are taken into account when determining the 
concession's time span, such as the general interest, the project 's social value, and the guaranteed return on 
and profitabi lity of the investment.  
121 Dominican Power Partners (270 MW) and Compañía Eléctrica de San Pedro de Macorís (300 MW).  
122 Decree No. 608 -21. In 2021, the CNE issued a price recommendation for long -term renewable 
energy purchase contracts with distributors.  
123 This regime is described in detail in WTO document WT/TPR/S/319/Rev.1 of 13  November  2015.  
124 Law No.  57-07, as amended by Laws No.  253-12 and No. 115 -15, and Decree No. 202.08. The 
incentives set forth in the Law were not amended but rather extended to inc lude other renewable energy 
producers.  
125 Law No. 225 -20 and Decree No. 320 -21. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 112 - 
  the f ourth renewable energy incentive, namely the tax reduction on external financing, no 
applications have been received.  
4.87.   Electricity tariffs are controlled for regulated customers. Free clients (i.e. those whose monthly 
demand exceeds 1 MW) negotiate the purc hase price directly with the distribution and/or generating 
companies.126 The electricity tariffs paid by regulated users are set quarterly by the SIE; these rates 
were frozen between 2015 and the third quarter of 2021. In the fourth quarter of 2021, the el ectricity 
tariff was adjusted, in order to meet one of the targets of the Electricity Pact127, with a linear 
adjustment in the difference between the indexed or technical tariff128 and the applied tariff up to 
2026. In recent years, the applied tariff had be en considerably lower than the technical tariff for 
residential users.  
4.88.   In the Dominican Republic, there are both direct and indirect subsidy schemes for regulated 
customers. The Bonoluz  programme is a direct subsidy for poor families with a monthly consump tion 
of 100 kWh. A refinement of the subsidy has reduced the number of beneficiaries from 462,166 in 
2015 to 354,584 in 2020. The annual cost of the subsidy in 2020 was USD  34.5 million. The 
Electricity Tariff Stabilization Fund (FETE) is a system of indir ect subsidies to prevent fluctuations in 
fossil fuel prices being passed on to consumers' bills.129 The difference between the indexed tariff, 
which varies according to the consumption range and the type of consumer, and the applied tariff is 
funded by the FETE, with the subsidy paid directly to distributors. While including coal in the energy 
mix helped to reduce energy production costs and, consequently, the cost of this subsidy, the State 
paid out USD  1,229  million to cover the needs of the FETE between 2 018 and 2020. It is expected 
that gradually eliminating (or making linear adjustments to) the difference between the tariffs will 
mean that the FETE can be eliminated in 2026.  
4.3  Manufacturing  
4.89.   The manufacturing sector in the Dominican Republic has two components: a local 
manufacturing sector, mainly oriented towards the domestic market, and a sector that operates 
under the free -zone regime and is mainly oriented towards exports. The free -zone manufacturing 
sector accounts for a quarter of the country's manufacturing GDP (Table 4.8), and free zone 
manufacturing exports largely exceed manufacturing exports under the national regime (see below). 
The free zones are therefore a key source of foreign exchange for the country.  
4.90.   During the period under review, th e manufacturing sector's share of GDP remained stable, at 
an average of around 14.4 %. There were approximately 450,000 jobs in the industrial sector, which 
also includes mining and quarrying, at end -2020, which is around 10 % of all the jobs in the country' s 
economy. The sector is therefore the second -largest employer in the Dominican  Republic, exceeded 
only by commercial activities. In 2021, the free zones' share of total GDP was 3.6 %, and the 
cumulative investment by companies based in free zones totalled USD 5,903.1  million. Domestic 
capital made up a fifth of these investments, while the main sources of foreign investment are the 
United States (36.2 % of total investment), the United Kingdom (6.6 %), Germany (6.4 %) and 
Canada (4.2 %). By the end of 2021, the re were 79 free zones with 734 companies employing more 
than 183,232 people.  
4.91.   Local manufacturing production is quite diversified, with the main industry being prepared 
foodstuffs, followed by beverages and tobacco, and refined petroleum products. Industrie s operating 
under the free -zone regime have undergone a major transformation since the previous trade policy 
review, with production now focused on medical instruments and apparatus, electrical machinery 
and equipment, and pearls, precious stones and precious metals, while production of articles of 
apparel and clothing accessories has decreased.  
 
126 Free clients can buy their electricity directly on the spot market. In 2020, only 96 of the 214 free 
clients made use of the wholesale electricity market; the majority of free  clients have a direct business 
relationship with a distributor.  
127 SIE Resolution No. 61 -22 contains the most recent tariff update for the quarter from July to 
September  2022.  
128 The method for calculating the technical tariff was updated in June 2022 throu gh SIE Resolution 
No. 65-22. 
129 Decree No. 302 -03. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 113 - 
  Table 4.8 The manufacturing sector's share of GDP and employment, 2015 –21 
(%) 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 
 Share of current GDP  
Local manufacturing  11.4 11.1 10.8 10.8 10.6 10.9 11.5 
Prepared foodstuffs  4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4.6 4.5 
Beverages and tobacco  1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 
Refined petroleum products  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.2 
Free-zone manufacturing  3.3 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.5 3.6 
 Share of total employment  
Industrial sectorb 10.1 10.4 10.2 10.0 10.2 10.7 10.1 
a Preliminary data.  
b Includes mining and quarrying.  
Source:  Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.  
4.92.   The free zones make a significant contribution to manufacturing exports at the national level 
(Table 4.9), accounting for 61 % of these exports in 2021, down slightly on the 2015 figure of 65 %. 
This decline was due to the fact that exports under the national regime (and others) have increased 
more rapidly (+50 %) than free -zone manufacturing exports (+26 %). As a result of these strong 
growth rates, manufacturing exports accounted for three quarters of total exports under all customs 
regimes combined in 2020.  
4.93.   Among products under the national regime, iron and steel exports were particularly strong 
during the period under review, with their export value increasing almost five -fold. However, exports 
of pearls, precious stones and precious metals remained the leading manufacturi ng exports under 
the national regime by some margin (accounting for more than 50 % of exports). Under the free -zone 
regime, exports of electrical sound reproducing machinery and equipment were particularly strong, 
as were exports of pearls, precious stones and precious metals. In both cases, export values doubled 
between 2015 and 2020. Exports of articles of apparel and clothing accessories declined in value 
relative to 2015; this was the only major category of free -zone products that recorded a downward 
trend. 
Table 4.9 Manufacturing exports, by regime and by main activity, 2015 –21 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Value of manufacturing exports (USD  million)  
Total exports  6,726  6,995  7,497  7,802  8,269  7,619  9,042  
National regime and others  2,336  2,653  2,848  2,878  3,182  3,012  3,505  
Free-zone regime  4,391  4,342  4,649  4,924  5,087  4,606  5,537  
Manufacturing exports' share of total exports, by customs regime (%)  
Total exports  71.6 71.5 73.3 72.5 73.3 77.3 76.4 
National regime and others  58.5 60.3 64.1 62.4 64.5 74.8 74.8 
Free-zone regime  81.4 80.6 80.4 80.1 80.1 79.0 77.5 
Main manufacturing exports under the national regime and others (%)  
71. Pearls, precious stones and precious 
metals  54.8 61.7 53.9 50.2 50.9 58.6 50.9 
72. Iron and steel  5.6 6.8 10.1 13.5 15.3 14.7 17.6 
39. Plastics and articles thereof  10.2 8.8 7.9 6.9 6.7 7.6 8.5 
Main manufacturing exports under the free -zone regime (%)  
90. Optical, precision, medical or surgical 
instruments and apparatus  22.5 25.2 21.0 19.3 19.5 23.4 21.3 
85. Electrical machinery and equipment; sound 
reproducers  12.2 13.3 17.4 19.5 20.1 24.6 20.7 
71. Pearls, precious stones and precious 
metals  9.0 9.2 9.3 10.1 10.5 9.5 13.9 
61. Articles of apparel and clothing 
accessories, knitted or crocheted  12.7 12.4 12.3 13.0 12.3 6.7 8.0 
30. Pharmaceutical products  7.1 7.4 9.2 10.0 9.8 9.7 7.9 
Source:  Datacomex  RD, Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM) and National Statistics Office.  
4.94.   In 202 1, the tariff applied to non -agricultural products (WTO definition) was 6.6 %, slightly 
lower than the average MFN tariff for the tariff universe as a whole, which was 7 .8%. Based on the 
HS sections, the manufactured product groups with an above -average tariff are precious stones 
(18.1 %), edible preparations (17.5 %), footwear (16.7 %) and miscellaneous manufactured articles 
(16.8 %). The product groups subject to the lowest  tariffs are mineral products (2.3 %), products of 
the chemical or allied industries (2.3 %) and machinery and mechanical appliances (3.4 %). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 114 - 
  4.95.   In addition to tariffs, the manufacturing sector can avail itself of various tax incentives set 
forth in the Law on I ndustrial Competitiveness and Innovation (Law No.  392-07), the Law 
establishing the Special Comprehensive Border Development  Zone (Law No.  12-21), the Law on the 
Promotion of Free Zones (Law No.  8-90), the Law on Reviving and Promoting Exports (Law 
No. 84.99) and the Law declaring of textile and leather manufacturing subsectors to be a national 
priority and creating a national regulatory regime for them (Law No.  56-07).130 The Law on Industrial 
Competitiveness and Innovation and the laws on the border regime  (Laws No.  28-01 and No.  12-21) 
have been amended during the review period, while no changes were made to the other regimes 
(Section 2.4).  
4.96.   The Center for Industrial Development and Competitiveness (PROINDUSTRIA) is the public 
entity responsible for promoti ng the industrial competitiveness of the manufacturing sector. The 
management board of PROINDUSTRIA is the agency's governing body, responsible for proposing 
and furthering policies and programmes for the sector's development and modernization.131 
Manufactu ring industries that have obtained Industrial Recognition can apply to PROINDUSTRIA to 
receive the benefits set forth in Law No.  392-07.132 This incentives regime expired in 2017 after 
10 years in force, but some of the incentives were reinstated in 2020 fo r a further 15 fiscal years.133 
In addition to investment incentives (Section 2.4), a 50 % exemption from the ITBIS  is applied to 
purchases of some capital goods and raw materials that are imported or purchased on the domestic 
market134; exporters are entitled to a refund of the ITBIS and the ISC135; and recognized companies 
can join the partial processing regime.136 
4.97.   PROINDUSTRIA promotes the creation of new manufacturing companies and enterprises by 
young entrepreneurs, carries out other technical assistance programmes, provides technological 
training and promotes industrial parks. These parks, which may be public, privat e or joint ventures, 
provide logistical facilities and industrial premises at low rents. They seek to generate productive 
and associative links between companies, and most of what they produce enters the local market.  
4.98.   In 2021, the incentives regime for the  Special Border Development Zone expired and was 
replaced with a new regime known as the Special Comprehensive Border Development Zone.137 
Under the new regime, the incentives' period of validity was extended from 20 to 30 years.138 In 
addition to investment  incentives (Section 2.4), some of the production -related incentives were 
amended: for example, the 50 % reduction in fees for transit and use of ports and airports was 
abolished, and the exemption from payment of the ITBIS on purchases of supplies and raw materials 
used to produce goods not exempt from the ITBIS was reduced from 100 % to 50 %. The following 
exemptions were not modified: the exemption from  the ISR; the exemption from the ISC on 
telecommunications and insurance relating to project facilities; t he exemption from the ITBIS on 
purchases and imports of supplies and raw materials used to produce goods that are exempt from 
the ITBIS; and the exemption from the tariff on imports of production -related supplies and raw 
materials not produced in the count ry. 
 
130 These regimes are mutually exclusive, in other words a company cannot operate under two different 
regimes at the same time.  
131 Law No. 392 -07 and Decree No. 674 -12. 
132 To apply for Industrial Recognition, t he applicant company must show that: (a) it is a manufacturing 
industry dedicated to the production of tangible and marketable goods; (b) that the industrial activity is carried 
out in a factory; and (c) that the industry is not benefiting from any special  regime that offers exemption from 
the ISR (PROINDUSTRIA Resolution No. 248 -52-2013).  
133 Law No. 242 -20 amended the scope of Law No. 392 -07 on Industrial Competitiveness and 
Innovation, as amended by Law No. 542 -14. In addition, Law No. 242 -20 modified the composition of the 
management board of PROINDUSTRIA.  
134 The eligible capital goods are li sted in Article 24 of Law No. 557 -05, while the eligible raw materials 
and inputs  are those listed in the Seventh Edition of the Tariff Codes with a 0 % tariff.  
135 The selective consumption taxes on telecommunications, insurance and fuels are refunded, as is  the 
tax on cheques.  
136 Under this regime, local manufacturers may process raw materials, inputs  and/or intermediate or 
end goods covered by a special regime, provided that the processed goods re -enter the special regime within a 
maximum non-renewable period of six months (Law No. 542 -14). According to the authorities, the aim of this 
regime is to strengthen ties between local industry and industries in free zones.  
137 This regime covers the provinces of Pedernales, Independencia, Elías Piña, Dajabón, Mon tecristi, 
Santiago Rodríguez and Bahoruco (Law No. 12 -21 and Decree No. 766 -21). 
138 Council for the Coordination of the Special Border Development Zone . Viewed  at: 
https://ccdf.gob.do/phocadownload/SobreNosotros/MarcoLegal/Beneficios/Beneficios%20Ley%2012 -21.pdf . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 115 - 
  4.99.   In 2021, the tax foregone as a result of the benefits granted to companies in free zones 
amounted to DOP  28,308  million, which is equivalent to 0.6 % of GDP. In that same year, the cost 
of the benefits stood at DOP  1,661  million for companies under the border development regime and 
DOP 6.2 million for companies under the PROINDUSTRIA regime.  
4.4  Services  
4.4.1   Financial services  
4.100.   Financial intermediation services in the Dominican Republic accounted for 3.9% of GDP in 
2021. The Dominican Republic is a net importer of financial services. Financial intermediation 
services in the Republic are provided by: (1) incorporated entities, which may be full -service banks 
or either of two types of credit institutions: savings and credit banks, or credit corporations; 
and (2) non-joint-stock entities, which may be savings and loan associations or savings and credit 
cooperatives.139 The savings and loan associations are mutual entities that the Monetary Board may 
authorize to be converted into full -service banks or credit institutions.140 
4.101.   During the review period, the financial system performed well, despite the negative 
economic effects of the COVID -19 pandemic, thanks in no small part to the monetary, financial and 
exchange policies implemented from March 2020 and the channelling  of resources towards the 
domestic productive sectors and households. During this review, the authorities noted that financial 
system regulations have fostered financial stability domestically by creating the right conditions for 
the financing of th e productive sectors and by strengthening the operating framework for financial 
intermediaries and foreign exchange intermediaries during the COVID -19 pandemic. The main 
regulatory measures include the freeing up of legal reserves and the use of repurchase  agreement 
transactions and the quick liquidity facility window. In total, these policies provided a monetary 
stimulus of more than DOP  215 billion, or more than 5.0% of GDP, to revive economic activity and 
employment.141 In addition, the Central Bank activ ely participated in the foreign  exchange market 
by placing more than USD 6.9 billion to inject foreign currency liquidity into financial entities to meet 
demand for foreign currency.  
4.102.   In addition to the above, the monetary authorities adopted measures to pr event the potential 
deterioration of the loan portfolio due to the uncertainty created by the impact of the pandemic on 
the economy. In this regard, in its Second Resolution of 17 March 2020, the Monetary Board (the 
highest monetary authority – see below) authorized the implementation of a transitional regulatory 
approach for financial intermediaries, allowing them to freeze the ratings and provisions of their 
respective debtors at pre -pandemic levels until 31 March 2021, at which point entities would have 
to rectify their ratings to bring them in line with the Asset Valuation Regulations (REA). Similarly, in 
considering what financial impact the end of this transitional approach might have on financial 
institutions, the Monetary Board, in its Fourth Resolut ion of 15 December 2020, stipulated that the 
provisions that were exempted under the regulatory approach could be built up gradually, on a 
voluntary basis, over the course of 24 months. It also stipulated that, until deferred provisions were 
in place, inst itutions would not be permitted to pay out dividends other than for their capitalization. 
At a later stage, the Monetary Board, in its Second Resolution of 18 March 2021, extended the period 
for gradual provisioning from 24 to 33  months, ending on 31 Decem ber 2023, and allowed gradual 
provisioning for new loans, the impairment of pre -existing loans and the loss of value of eligible 
guarantees. The Monetary Board also authorized forward -looking provisioning – to be recorded in 
the profit and loss statement f or 2021 – to cover up to 2% of risk -weighted assets and contingency 
transactions.  
4.103.   Within the context of the WTO, the Dominican Republic has ratified the Fifth Protocol to the 
General Agreement on Trade in Services, but has made few commitments. The country 's legislation 
allows foreign ownership of up to 60% of equity in domestic banking service institutions, although 
 
139 Article 34 of the Monetary and Financial Law (Law No.  183-02). 
140 Article 75 of the Monetary and Financial Law (Law No.  183-02) and A rticles 37 -39 of the Regulation 
on the Opening and Operation of Financial Intermediation Entities and Representative Offices of 11  May 2004.  
141 The Monetary Board introduced quick liquidity facilities (FLR) in its Fourth Resolution of 22  July 2020, 
its Seco nd Resolution of 8 October 2020, and its Fourth Resolution of 25 February 2021. The Monetary Board 
also approved the provision of resources in national currency through its First Resolution of 17  March  2020, its 
Second Resolution of 24 March 2020 and its T hird Resolution of 16  April 2020.   WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 116 - 
  such ownership is usually 49%. Moreover, for some deposit services the establishment of financial 
entities is subject to evidence of economic necessity.142 
4.4.1.1   Banking  
4.4.1.1.1   General features and prudential indicators  
4.104.   According to the Monetary and Financial Law (Law No. 183 -02), financial intermediaries may 
be either private or public entities. Those that are private may be either incorporated entities or 
non-joint-stock entities. Incorporated entities consist of full -service banks and two types of credit 
institutions: savings and credit banks, and credit corporations. The non -joint-stock entities engaged 
in financial intermediation can be either savings and  loan associations or savings and credit 
cooperatives.143 
4.105.   To operate as a financial intermediary, prior authorization must be obtained from the 
Monetary Board, which may only refuse authorization on legal grounds, not for reasons of 
expediency. The Board's authorization expires if the entity does not commence operations within 
six months of it being granted. Prior authorization from the Monetary Board is also required for 
mergers, takeovers, changes of form, split -offs, divisions, sales of shares of other en tities 
representing at least 30% of the paid -up capital and transfers of all or a substantial part of an 
entity's assets and liabilities, as well as the opening of branches and agencies of domestic banks 
abroad and the opening of representative offices of foreign financial entities in the national territory. 
In each case, the prior opinion of the Banking Supervisory Authority is required. The opening of 
branches and agencies in the national territory, as well as their transfer and closure, requires prior 
authorization from the Banking Supervisory Authority.  
4.106.   Although the Law does not actually limit the activities of financial entities within their 
respective categories, the Monetary Board has the authority to establish operational limitations on 
newly created  entities in terms of the opening of branches, maximum organization costs, dividends 
and other measures to ensure that their initial expansion is carried out prudently. The Law also 
stipulates, however, that such limitations may not apply beyond five years  after authorization is 
granted. No limitations may apply to interest rates, commissions and surcharges, which are 
determined freely, as agreed, with no additional limitations other than those deriving from general 
procurement rules and from consumer trans parency and protection rules provided for in the Law.  
4.107.   Savings and loan associations are mutual entities that are governed by the Monetary and 
Financial Law; the Monetary Board may authorize them to be converted into full -service banks or 
credit institution s.144 Savings and credit cooperatives are governed by Law No.  127-64 on 
Cooperative Associations of 27  January 1964 and are excluded from the scope of Law No.  183-02.145 
4.108.   As of December 2021, there were 49 financial intermediaries operating under the supervision 
of the Banking Supervisory Authority: 17 full -service banks, 14 savings and credit banks, 6 credit 
corporations, 10 savings and loan associations, the Export and Development Bank (BANDEX) and 
the Agricultural Bank of the Dominican Republic (BAG RÍCOLA).146 Of these, 46 were private -equity 
institutions and three – the Reserve Bank, BANDEX and BAGRÍCOLA – were public corporations.147 
As of the same month, authorizations had been granted for the establishment of eight representative 
offices of foreign  banks in the country, which were already operating.148 
4.109.   The Dominican banking system performed well during the review period, despite the 
negative effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. Assets totalled DOP  2,696.2 million in December  2021 
 
142 Integrated Trade Intelligence Portal for services (I -TIP Services) of the WTO and the World Bank. 
Viewed at: http://i -tip.wto.org/services/default.aspx . 
143 Article 34 of Law No.  183-02. 
144 Article 75 of Law No. 183 -02 and Articles 37 -39 of the Regulation on the Opening and Operation of 
Financial Intermediation Entities and Representative Offices of 11  May 2004.  
145 Article 76 of Law No.  183-02.  
146 Information from th e Banking Supervisory Authority. Viewed at: https://www.sb.gob.do/entidades -
autorizadas -sib/entidades . 
147 Law No. 122 -21 allows potential private shareholders to own equity in BANDEX.  
148 Information from the Banking Supervisory Authority. Viewed at: https://www.sb.gob.do/entidades -
autorizadas -sib/oficinas_representacion/9 . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 117 - 
  (USD  47,500 million), c ompared with DOP  1,359.6 million (USD  30,213 million) in 2015.149 In 
December 2021, 88.0% (USD  41.8 billion) of total assets were controlled by full -service banks, 9.7% 
by savings and loan associations, 1.9% by savings and credit banks, 0.3% by BANDEX and 0 .1% by 
credit corporations.150 
4.110.   As indicated in the report for the previous review, the Dominican banking system continues 
to display a high degree of concentration. In December 2021, the three leading institutions held 
70% of total assets, up from 67.3% indicated for December 2014 in the previous report. The 
10 largest institutions held 89.0% of total assets.151 The 15 largest institutions held 94.7% of total 
assets. The expansion of total assets was driven by the dynamism of the loan portfolio, whic h 
recorded a substantial increase. Some 10.3% of financial system assets are in the hands of foreign 
banks; this percentage rises to 26.5% if Dominican banking with foreign capital participation is taken 
into account .152 Some 89% of local bank capital is ow ned by local shareholders, while 11% is owned 
by foreign shareholders. The latter own shares in 11 financial intermediaries.  
4.111.   Following the trend indicated in the previous report, the increase in the level of financial 
intermediation continued to gather str ength during the review period. This pushed the value of the 
total assets of the financial system to 50.6% of GDP in  2021, compared with 42.4% in 2015. 
Financial system deposits increased from 33.4% of GDP in 2015 to 39.3% in December  2021, while 
the loan portfolio remained at around 26% of GDP (Table  4.10).  
Table 4.10 Banking system indicators, 2015 -21  
 
December  
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a  
(DOP billion)  
Total financial assets  1,359.6  1,518.7  1,650.6  1,782.2  1,909.1  2,375.2  2,757.9  
% of GDP (at current prices)  42.4 43.5 43.4 42.1 41.8 53.3 50.6 
Financial system deposits  1,069.9  1,183.3  1,299.4  1,403.1  1,559.7  1,825.5  2,094.7  
Deposits (% of GDP)  33.4 33.9 34.2 33.1 34.2 41.0 39.3 
Assets by type of institution                
Full-service banks  1,175.9  1,316.7  1,427.6  1,542.4  1,732.6  2,085.9  2,427.3  
Credit institutions                
Savings and credit banks  26.5  30.6  35.3  36.1  40.7  45.8  51.6  
Credit corporations  4.1  3.6  4.0  3.8  3.5  3.6  4.0  
Savings and loan associations  145.2  161.5  178.4  191.8  206.9  232.5  266.7  
Export and Development Bank  7.9  6.3  5.5  8.1  8.2  7.4  8.2  
By composition, of which                
Loan portfolio  844.5  923.5  999.6  1,109.9  1,208.9  1,256.0  1,389.9  
Commercial loans  503.8  537.7  568.8  635.8  688.7  703.6  775.9  
Private sector  767.7  853  932  1.037  1.140  1.216  1.348  
Public sector  76.8 70  67  72  69  40  42  
Consumer loans  201.4  232.9  260.6  287.9  310.8  329.8  362.4  
Mortgage loans  139.3  153.0  170.2  186.2  209.5  222.6  251.6  
Loan portfolio (% of GDP)  26.3 26.5 26.3 26.2 26.5 28.2 26.1 
Lending rate of full -service banks  
Commercial loans  14.3 14.4 13.0 11.6 11.4 10.2 8.6 
Consumer loans  19.1 18.7 18.3 17.6 18.1 15.5 15.3 
 
149 Institutional statistic s from the Banking Supervisory Authority. Viewed at: 
http://sb.gov.do/transparencia/estadisticas -institucionaes . 
150 The Banking Supervisory Authority does not include the Agricultural Bank in the statistical 
information, so the information would be based on 48 financial intermediaries.  
151 In December 2021, the concentration of total assets was distributed as follows: Re serve Bank of the 
Dominican Republic, 32.58%; Banco Popular, 21.98%; Banco BHD -León, 15.19%; Scotiabank, 5.26%; 
Asociación Popular de Ahorros y Préstamos, 4.31%; Banco Santa Cruz, 3.74%; Asociación CIBAO de Ahorros y 
Préstamos, 2.52%; PROMERICA, 1.75%; BAN ESCO Banco Múltiple, 1.68%; others, 11.0%. Banking 
Supervisory Authority. Online information. Viewed at: 
https://sb.gob.d o/sites/default/files/nuevosdocumentos/estadisticas/seriestiempo/A -Total-de-Activos -por-
Entidad_1.xlsx . 
152 As of December  2021, there were eight foreign -owned banks: Scotiabank (Canada, with 5.26% of 
financial system assets); PROMERICA (Nicaragua, 1.75%); B ANESCO (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 
1.68%); Citibank (United States, 0.82%); LAFISE (Panama, 0.60%); Bancamérica (Bolivarian Republic of 
Venezuela, 0.13%); Bellbank (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 0.05%); and Empire (United States, 0.01%). 
The Dom inican banks with foreign participation include: Banco Múltiple BHD -León, 15.19% of assets with 
foreign capital participation of 19.18% (Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, 15.83%; International Finance 
Corporation (IFC), 3.35%); Banco Múltiple Ademi (0.66%), wi th foreign participation of 10.43% (European 
Investment Bank (EIB)); Banco de Ahorro y Crédito Adopem (0.33%), with foreign participation of 71.4% 
(Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA (Spain), 55.6%, IFC 10% and EIB 5.77%).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 118 - 
   
December  
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021a 
Mortgage loans  11.6 12.2 11.2 11.6 11.1 10.9 9.1 
Microprudential  indicators for full -service banks  
Solvency ratio  16.0 17.2 18.3 17.1 16.6 21.1 19.1 
Average return on equity (ROE)  20.1 19.0 16.7 20.0 19.5 15.6 21.0 
Average return on assets (ROA)  2.3 2.2 1.9 2.4 2.3 1.8 2.3 
Financial intermediation margin 
(MIF)/earning assets  8.9 8.6 8.5 8.5 7.9 7.8 7.5 
% of earning assets  74.2 74.4 77.0 76.3 79.4 76.4 80.1 
Efficiencyb               
Liquidity ratioc 23.4 23.6 20.1 21.6 18.3 23.6 18.7 
% past -due portfolio  1.7 1.7 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.3 
Provisions/past -due portfolio  152.4  156.3  149.3  157.1  162.1  203.9  335.7  
a Latest information published by the Banking Supervisory Authority.  
b Measured as the costs -to-income ratio.  
c Measured as the liquid assets -to-total deposits ratio.  
Source:  Institutional statistics of the Banking Supervisory Authority. Viewed at: 
http://sb.gov.do/transparencia/estadisticas -institucionaes . 
4.112.   During the period under review, the microprudential indicators of the Dominican financial 
system remained at appropriate l evels, with good liquidity and capitalization conditions, despite the 
negative impact of the pandemic on economic activity. The solvency ratio remained well above the 
internationally recommended level of 8% and the national regulatory minimum of 10%, 
reach ing 19.1% in December 2021 for the financial system and 16.8% for full -service banks. As of 
the same month, the average return on equity (ROE) of the banks was 21.0% and the return on 
assets (ROA) indicator 2.3%. The past -due portfolio ratio remained low, at 1.4% in December 2021. 
As was already the case in the previous report, there were ample provisions to meet this past -due 
portfolio, with an index of 313.53% in December 2021, indicating that full -service banks were 
solvent and low risk. As was the case at the outbreak of the global financial crisis, the nature of the 
Dominican financial system, with most funding coming from domestic sources, has largely insulated 
it from external shocks. The Dominican Republic therefore withstood the impact of the pandem ic 
satisfactorily, despite a temporary fall in remittances and tourism revenue. In this regard, the 
authorities observed that profitability indicators were similar to their pre -pandemic levels thanks to 
monetary and financial easing implemented to mitigate  the coronavirus health crisis.  
4.113.   Given its ability to attract resources domestically, the Dominican financial system – as 
indicated in the previous review – has not shown a trend towards becoming dollarized. As of the end 
of May  2022, 71.5% of financial sys tem assets other than shares were in the national currency and 
28.5% in foreign currency, while 81.9% of loans were in the national currency, making the system's 
exposure to currency risk quite small.153 
4.4.1.1.2   Regulatory framework  
4.114.   Since the previous review in 201 5, the only substantial changes to legislation in the financial 
sector in the Dominican Republic have been new laws on money laundering, security interests and 
the securities market. The banking system's regulatory legal framework currently consists of the  
Constitution;154 the Monetary and Financial Law (Law No. 183 -02); Law No. 92 -04 on Systemic Risk; 
Law No. 189 -11 on the Development of the Mortgage Market and Trusts; Law No.  155-17 on 
Money  Laundering  and the Financing of Terrorism; and the financial regu lations issued by the 
Monetary  Board.155 Amendments to the legal regime governing the banking sector require the 
approval of two  thirds of the combined membership of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, 
with the exception of amendments presented by the E xecutive and proposed by the Monetary Board, 
which must be approved in each chamber by two thirds of those members who are present.156 
4.115.   The Monetary Board, through its Second Resolution of 23  November  2017, approved the 
Regulation Governing the Monetary Programme and Monetary Policy Instruments, which defines the 
 
153 WTO Secretariat calculations based on  information from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. 
Viewed at: https://www.bancentral.gov.do/a/d/2536 -sector -monetario -y-financiero . 
154 Articles 223 -232 of the Mo netary and Financial Law.  
155 Article 1 of Law No.  183-02. For the legal framework, see: http://www.sb.gob.do/marco -legal or 
http://www.bancentral. gov.do/normativa/leyes .  
156 Article 232 of the Constitution and Article 9(i) of Law No.  183-02. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 119 - 
  mechanisms for achieving the targets of the Monetary Programme and monetary p olicy. During the 
period under review, the Monetary Board amended and updated certain regulations and 
implemented circulars issued by the Central Bank and the Banking Supervisory Authority. In 2015, 
for example, it amended the Regulation on Risk Concentrat ions and the Regulation on the Protection 
of Users in Financial Products and Services. In 2016, it amended certain aspects of the Rules on the 
Dissolution and Liquidation of Financial Intermediation Entities, including their scope of application, 
and it ap proved the final text of the Regulation on Repurchase Agreements, which is intended to 
regulate repurchase agreements in national or foreign currency entered into by financial 
intermediaries, whether with another intermediary, with the Central Bank or with  other institutional 
investors.  
4.116.   Under Article 19 of the Monetary and Financial Law, the Banking Supervisory Authority is 
the institution responsible for supervising financial intermediaries and has full operational autonomy. 
The Authority has the power to require financial intermediaries to book provisions relating to risks; 
to require them to rectify any breaches of laws and regulations in force; and to impose sanctions, 
except those applied by the Central Bank.157 The Banking Supervisory Authority supervis es the 
operations of all financial intermediaries regulated by the monetary and financial administration, 
with the exception of savings and credit cooperatives (see below). The Supervisory Authority, the 
Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance are members  of the Monetary Board, which is the highest 
body in the monetary and financial administration. The Monetary Board is responsible for formulating 
financial, monetary and exchange policy, which is then implemented by the Central Bank, and for 
proposing amen dments to the monetary and financial system to the Executive. The Board is 
responsible for authorizing the operations of financial intermediaries. The Central Bank has exclusive 
responsibility for administering the payments and securities settlement system .158 
4.117.   The Supervisory Authority is also responsible for proposing authorizations or revocations of 
financial institutions. Its proposals are then evaluated by the Monetary Board, which can either 
approve or reject the proposals. Likewise, in areas within its  remit, the Supervisory Authority may 
propose draft regulations to the Monetary Board, which has the power to approve or reject them. 
The Supervisory Authority may also issue instructions within its remit. In this regard, it has internal 
regulatory authori ty on a self -organized basis, subject to the approval of the Monetary Board, as 
well as subordinate regulatory authority to develop, through instructions, the provisions of 
regulations concerning areas within its remit.  
4.118.   The regulatory framework for the Dom inican financial system does not require necessity 
tests or establish any other special conditions on the establishment of financial intermediaries, 
whether domestic or foreign, nor does it impose any definitive restrictions on the activities that may 
be undertaken. However, the Monetary Board may impose operational limitations on the newly 
formed entity for up to five years, if doing so is deemed essential to ensure compliance with 
prudential rules. To commence (or cease) local financial intermediation act ivities, domestic and 
foreign investors must submit an application for authorization to the Monetary Board, after first 
having the application assessed by the Banking Supervisory Authority.159 
4.119.   Foreign investors may, subject to authorization by the Monetary Board: (a) buy shares in 
full-service banks and credit institutions established in the Dominican Republic; (b) establish 
joint-stock financial intermediaries; (c) establish subsidiaries; and (d) open branches of banks 
established abroad.160 As of June 2022, there were five financial institutions controlled by foreign 
capital: four  subsidiaries and one branch of foreign banks. Foreign investors must comply with the 
requirements of the Monetary and Financial Law and its implementing regulation s. As indicated 
above, to commence, merge or cease local financial intermediation activities, domestic and foreign 
investors must be authorized to do so by the Monetary Board, after first having their application 
assessed by the Banking Supervisory Authori ty.161 The Banking Supervisory Authority forms its 
opinion on the basis of the documentation submitted by the applicant entity. In doing so, the 
Authority shall verify the following: (a) the consolidated equity of the applicant shareholders is 
greater than or equal to the minimum capital required to establish the institution; (b) the founding 
 
157 Information from the Banking Supervisory Authority. Viewed at: https://www.sb.gob.do/acerca -de-
la-sb. 
158 Article 227 of the Constitution and Articles 5, 9(a), 15 and 19 of Law No.  183-02. 
159 Article 34 of Law No.  183-02. 
160 Article 39 of Law No.  183-02 and Article 24 of the Regulation.  
161 Article 34 of Law No.  183-02 and Articles 5 and 20 -22 of the Regulation.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 120 - 
  partners have proven prior experience in financial matters;162 (c) the articles of association and 
constitutional documents required do not contain any pacts or provisio ns that are illegal or unfair, 
or that severely harm the rights of minority shareholders, or that excessively limit control over 
decisions; and (d) the requirements established by law and the Monetary Board regulations have 
been met.  
4.120.   The establishment of f oreign -bank subsidiaries and branches are both permitted. To 
establish a branch, the parent company must be located in a country with which it is possible to sign 
a coordination and information exchange agreement and must be subject to consolidated 
supervi sion. For the purpose of ensuring compliance with the prudential rules, the Monetary Board 
may impose operational limitations. Institutions located abroad may offer technical, economic and 
financial advisory services for the purpose of linking domestic ban king and financial activities with 
foreign entities through the establishment of representative offices that have been authorized by 
the Monetary Board. As of December 2021, there were eight representative offices of foreign 
financial entities established in the Dominican Republic.  
4.121.   Under Dominican legislation, full -service banks are institutions that can take instant -access, 
demand or current -account deposits from the public and carry out all types of operations included 
in the general catalogue of activiti es established in the Law. Credit institutions are institutions that 
collect their deposits in the form of savings deposits and time deposits, subject to the provisions of 
the Monetary Board and the terms agreed between the parties. Such entities are not p ermitted to 
take demand deposits or current -account deposits. Credit institutions fall into two categories: 
savings and credit banks, and credit corporations. The Monetary Board is authorized to establish 
certain regulatory differences between the two type s of credit institutions, provided that the 
difference in the minimum paid -up capital required for each type of institution is linked to the number 
and type of authorizable operations and the permissible risks. Such a distinction must not create 
prudential  requirements that are less stringent than those that apply to full -service banks.  
4.122.   Full-service banks and credit institutions must be legally constituted in the form of joint -stock 
companies whose sole corporate purpose is to engage in financial intermedia tion. Such institutions 
and their articles of association are registered with the Banking Supervisory Authority. The corporate 
names of the institutions must not include any term that may suggest that the institution benefits 
from state or public guarantee . The minimum paid -up capital for full -service banks and credit 
institutions is determined by the Monetary Board, in accordance with the relevant regulations, and 
must be no less than DOP  90 million for full -service banks, DOP  18 million for savings and cr edit 
banks and DOP  5 million for credit corporations, adjusted for inflation each year. The minimum 
paid-up capital is the same for all entities of the same type and is represented by registered common 
shares. The Monetary Board may allow preferred shares as part of the paid -up capital of these 
entities. Under no circumstances may preferred shareholders be given greater voting rights than 
common shareholders, or the right to receive early dividend payouts, or the right to receive dividends 
that are not tied  to annual results. The Banking Supervisory Authority must be notified when shares 
representing more than 3% of paid -up capital are acquired and when transactions are carried out 
that directly or indirectly determine control of more than 3% of the paid -up capital of a full -service 
bank or credit institution.  
4.123.   The board of directors shall be composed of at least five natural persons. At least 40% of 
board members must be professionals with experience in finance or persons with proven experience 
in economics, finance or business. The Banking Supervisory Authority keeps a register of the board 
members and senior managers of these institutions.  
4.124.   Foreign ownership through the purchase of shares in existing full -service banks and credit 
institutions by banks, financ ial institutions and natural persons must be authorized by the Monetary 
Board if the value of the purchase is greater than 30% of the paid -up capital of the institution in 
question. Authorization from the Monetary Board is also required for foreign investm ent through a 
subsidiary, or for foreign investment through the establishment of branches of banks that were 
 
162 To meet this requirement, it is in all cases necessary to form a team of managers and officials who 
are experienced in managing different areas of a financial institution. During the first three years that the 
institution is operating, it must therefore submit the curricula vitae of all executive and managerial staff to the 
Banking Supervisory Authority every six months. After the first three years, the curricula vitae of  new 
execu tive and managerial staff must be submitted every time a change occurs.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 121 - 
  created under the laws of another country. Foreign banks not domiciled in the Dominican territory 
may open representative offices, which may not en gage in financial intermediation.  
4.125.   Full-service banks may engage in the following:(a) receiving demand deposits in national 
currency and savings and time deposits in national and foreign currency; (b) issuing securities; 
(c) receiving loans from financial i nstitutions; (d) issuing bills, payment orders, and drafts against 
their own offices or agents; collecting and making payments; and making fund transfers; 
(e) granting loans in national and foreign currency, with or without real guarantees, and granting 
credit lines; (f) discounting bills of exchange, payment orders, promissory notes and other 
commercial documents representing methods of payment. Full -service banks may invest up to 20% 
of their paid -up capital in support and related services entities. Suppo rt entities are defined as 
entities engaged exclusively in collection, invoice discounting, leasing, ATM operations, credit card 
sign-up and processing, foreign exchange, electronic data processing, credit information centres and 
other, similar services. R elated services entities consist of mutual fund managers and stock 
exchange offices. Such entities must not be financed in any way through the collection of deposits 
from the public. The Banking Supervisory Authority keeps a register of support and related  services 
entities. Full -service banks may invest up to 10% of their paid -up capital in the capital of 
non-financial companies, provided that the investment does not constitute ownership of more than 
10% of the paid -up capital of each non -financial company  in which the investment is made. They 
may also invest up to 20% of their paid -up capital in opening branches, agencies or representative 
offices abroad, and may invest in shares of foreign financial institutions.  
4.126.   All savings and time deposits collected an d loans issued by savings and credit banks must 
be in national currency. These banks may take on debt obligations abroad and issue loans in foreign 
currency only if authorized to do so by the Monetary Board. Credit corporations may also receive 
time deposi ts and issue loans in national currency.  
4.127.   Full-service banks as well as savings and credit banks must obtain prior authorization from 
the Monetary Board before they engage in the following operations: (a) selling credit portfolio and 
goods with a value exce eding 20% of the paid -up capital of the bank; (b) participating in 
securitization as an originator, securitizer or manager, or acquiring securities through the 
securitization of its portfolio or assets; (c) owning equity in support and related services ent ities and 
in financial institutions abroad and, in the case of full -service banks, opening representative offices 
abroad.163 
4.128.   Law No. 45 -20 on Secured Transactions, established the legal framework for the secured 
transactions regime, the Electronic System fo r Secured Transactions, the enforcement processes 
related to security interests, and the unitary legal regime governing the creation of security interests, 
their effectiveness, their publicity, their prioritization, their enforcement, and all matters relat ing to 
such transactions. The Law allows security interests to be created through a security contract, 
through an agreement within a contract, through legal provisions, or by court order. A security 
interest may be created for: (1) one or several movable p roperty; (2) generic categories of property; 
(3) movable real rights; (4) contractual rights; and (5) present or future property, whether already 
determined or to be determined, and whether tangible or intangible, or all of the secured debtor's 
movable pro perty. Security interests may also be established for economic rights derived from 
intellectual property, the right to the payment of money by virtue of deposits, lines of credit and 
shareholder rights for stocks, shares and equity or part -ownership of the  capital of partnerships or 
corporations. Debt obligations may be secured irrespective of whether they are present or future. 
Transactions may be secured with or without possession of the good.164 
4.129.   Foreign -owned financial institutions may offer the same serv ices as their domestic 
counterparts and must observe the same operating regulations and prudential rules.165 The 
minimum paid -up capital is DOP  275 million (USD  4.8 million) to establish a full -service bank, 
DOP 55 million (USD  1 million) for a savings and credit bank, DOP  15 million (USD  262,000) for a 
credit corporation and DOP  17 million (USD  297,000) for a savings and loan association.166 
 
163 For more information, see Articles 41 and 44 of Law No.  183-02. 
164 Law No.  45-20 on Secured Transactions. Viewed at: 
https://www.sb.gob.do/sites/default/files/nuevosdocumentos/Ley -45-20-sobre -Garantias -Mobiliarias.pdf . 
165 Articles 38 and 40 -50 of Law No.  183-02 and Articles 23 -29 of the Regulation.  
166 The minimum paid -up capital was increased in 2014 to help stabilize the financial system 
(Fifth  Resolution of the Monetary Board of 10 April 2014).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 122 - 
  Moreover, under Monetary and Financial Law No.  183-02, full -service banks may invest up to 20% 
of their paid -up capita l in support and related services entities and up to 10% in non -financial 
enterprises. Under the prudential rules, full -service banks and credit institutions must maintain a 
solvency ratio of no less than 10% and are subject to the legal reserve requiremen ts established by 
the Monetary Board.167 
4.130.   Bank deposits in the Dominican Republic are guaranteed from the Contingency Fund for up 
to DOP 1.86  million per depositor, provided that the total amount used from the Fund does not 
exceed 30% of the preferred debt o bligations of the financial intermediary being dissolved.168 If this 
percentage is reached, the amount to be paid per depositor could be lower.  
4.131.   To manage the risks to which financial intermediaries are exposed, criteria and basic 
guidelines were drawn up for maintaining adequate comprehensive risk management based on the 
nature, size, complexity, profile and systemic significance of the risk.169 In addition, to promote 
policies that channel credit to all economic sectors and to promote financial inclusion, the Monetary 
Board approved the comprehensive amendment to the Asset Valuation Regulations (REA) on 
28 September 2017. The amendment broadened the scope of category -D debt risks, introduced a 
mandatory minimum coverage ratio of 100% and established new per centages for the mitigation of 
provisions for eligible securities, among other measures. On 18 November 2021, Articles  63 and 66 
were also amended to make the shares of listed companies eligible as securities. Finally, the 
Dominican Republic approved the c omprehensive amendment to the Microcredit Regulation, the 
purpose of which was to update the regulatory framework for granting, assessing and managing 
microcredits in accordance with the provisions of the REA.170 
4.132.   To preserve financial and foreign exchange s tability, the Foreign Exchange Regulation was 
amended to establish new macroprudential limits in terms of the net foreign currency position of 
financial and foreign exchange intermediaries. The following were established: a daily limit of 40% 
of the paid -up capital and legal reserves for the short position, and a daily limit of 50% of the paid -up 
capital and legal reserves for the long position. It was also stipulated that intermediaries must not 
have daily increases in their position that, averaged over fi ve consecutive working days, exceed 
USD 10 million or 25% of the paid -up capital or legal reserves, whichever is the lesser. In addition, 
provisions were established stipulating the role of the Central Bank and the Banking Supervisory 
Authority on the Elec tronic Currency Trading Platform. These regulatory changes are intended to 
create a more competitive foreign exchange market by making foreign exchange transactions more 
transparent and more efficient.171 
4.133.   Measures were also adopted to promote the financing of the mortgage sector. A procedure 
was established for financial intermediaries that decide to sell a portion of their mortgage portfolios, 
to manage credit portfolios or to acquire securities generated through the securitization of mortgage 
portfolios. I ntermediaries that submit sale applications must be authorized by the Monetary Board, 
the mortgage loans must be A -rated or B -rated and the loans must be equivalent to at least 80% of 
the mortgage guarantee.172 In addition, a process was created for full -service banks, savings and 
credit banks, and savings and loan associations to issue mortgage securities and instruments, known 
as letras hipotecarias .173 
4.134.   Among other improvements, the regulatory framework for external audit firms was updated 
to improve the pr ocesses, requirements and duties that these institutions must fulfil to register with 
 
167 The level of reserves that must be maintained in the Central B ank is established in the Monetary 
Board Instructions of 24 March 2020.  
168 In 2020, the nominal amount stipulated in Article  64 of Law No. 183 -02 was amended by virtue of 
the provisions of Article 79 of the Monetary and Financial Law (First Resolution of th e Monetary Board of 
15 December  2020).  
169 In accordance with the Regulation on Guidelines for Integrated Risk Management approved through 
the Third Resolution of the Monetary Board of 16 March 2017.  
170 Approved through the First Resolution of the Monetary Bo ard of 17  May 2018.  
171 See the Foreign Exchange Regulation approved through the Fourth Resolution of the Monetary Board 
of 8 August 2019.  
172 Regulation on the Procedure for Authorizing the Purchase and Sale of the Mortgage Loan Portfolios of 
Financial Interm ediation Entities for Securitization and the Acquisition of Securities, approved through the 
Seventh Resolution of the Monetary Board of 27 April 2017.  
173 Unified Regulation on Mortgage Securities and Instruments, approved through the Third Resolution of 
the Monetary Board of 23 November 2017.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 123 - 
  the Banking Supervisory Authority and to be hired by financial and foreign exchange 
intermediaries.174 A mechanism was also established to liquidate entities that voluntar ily decide to 
exit the financial system, the purpose of which was to reduce the costs associated with an disorderly 
market exit.175 
4.135.   To make transactions more secure, the Monetary Board approved the Cyber - and 
Information Security Regulations on 1 November 2018. The Regulations set out new guidelines on 
managing cyber risk and preventing financial services from being interrupted by cyberattacks and 
cybercrime. The Regulations are intended to make financial infrastructure feel safe and trustworthy 
for its users. The procedures applicable to the System of Payments and Settlement of Securities of 
the Dominican Republic (SIPARD) have also been strengthened, largely thanks to the emergence of 
new market players, in line with the global trend regarding pay ment systems.176 
4.136.   Law No. 122 -21 of 22 June 2021, which repealed Law No. 126 -15 of the National Export 
Bank (BANDEX), stipulated that, in addition to financing the export sector, BANDEX can channel 
resources to the production sectors and can operate as a fir st- and-second tier bank. The Bank is 
currently 100% public -owned, but ownership is also open to private investors. Similarly, the 
Reserve  Bank, which was established by Law No. 586 of 24 October 1941 and amendments thereto, 
is an autonomous state entity, vested with legal personality and authorized to enter into contracts 
and sue on its own behalf and in its own right. As of the end of December 2021 it ranked first among 
Dominican full -service banks, concentrating 32.6% of total financial system assets. Th e Reserve 
Bank is authorized to engage in all activities permitted for full -service banks, subject to the 
regulatory framework established for the financial system, and thus provides services similar to 
those provided by private full -service banks. Moreove r, the Reserve Bank receives all the deposits 
of public -sector institutions and pays all cheques and other payment orders issued by the 
Government.  
4.4.1.1.3   International financial zone regime  
4.137.   Law No.  480-08 of 11  December 2008 created the legal regime for the esta blishment of 
international financial zones (ZFI) throughout Dominican territory. The Law was subsequently 
repealed by Law No. 155 -17 of 1 June 2017 on money laundering and the financing of terrorism, 
which aims to define: the actions that constitute money laundering and the financing of terrorism; 
offences and applicable criminal penalties and precautionary measures;  the regime for preventing 
and detecting such actions and for preventing and detecting the financing of the proliferation of 
weapons of mass de struction; the institutional framework to prevent the national economic system 
being used in the aforementioned offences; and special research techniques, international 
cooperation mechanisms and international legal assistance mechanisms in the area of mon ey 
laundering and the financing of terrorism. Law No. 155 -17 defines the scope of criminal offences. It 
also includes provisions on the following, which apply to financial and non -financial obligated 
persons: special investigation techniques for money laun dering and the financing of terrorism; 
international cooperation; precautionary measures on goods; the seizure of goods and their purpose; 
and matters concerning third persons acting in good faith.177 
4.138.   Law No. 155 -17 abolished ZFIs, which required the author ization of the Executive and were 
subject to a favourable report by the National Financial Zones Council. Operators and users of ZFIs 
needed to hold a licence issued by the Council. The operator had to be a legal person with authorized 
domicile in the Domi nican  Republic and at least DOP  100,000 in equity capital. ZFI users were 
required to provide services only to customers not established in the Dominican Republic and were 
prohibited from providing services other than financial services and other related a ctivities or 
supporting services. ZFI operators and users benefited from: (a)  a total exemption, for  a period of 
 
174 External Audit Regulation approved through the Third Resolution of 24 January  2019.  
175 In accordance with the provisions of Article 65 of the Monetary and Financial Law; Regulation on the 
Voluntary Liquidation of Fin ancial Intermediaries, approved through the Second Resolution of 27  April 2017.  
176 The Second Resolution of 29 January 2021 introduced a comprehensive amendment to the Payment 
Systems Regulation.  
177 Article  31 of Law No. 155 -17 defines financial obligated p ersons as financial intermediaries; securities 
intermediaries; intermediaries involved in the trade, exchange and remittance of foreign currency; the 
Central  Bank of the Dominican Republic; legal persons authorized or licensed to act as a fiduciary company ; 
savings and credit cooperatives; insurance and reinsurance companies and insurance brokers; investment -fund 
management companies; securitization companies; stockbrokerages; the centralized securities depository; and 
issuers of public offerings that reser ve the initial offering.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 124 - 
  30 years, from various taxes, such as the telecommunications development tax and the Selective 
Consumption Tax (ISC) on telecommunications, (b)  an exemption from additional levies or taxes on 
prices of energy and contracted power, (c) the tax -free purchase of fuel, and (d) the possibility of 
repatriating their capital and the profits derived from their operations free of taxes and charges and 
in freely convertible currency.  
4.4.1.2   Insurance  
4.139.   In December  2020 the insurance market consisted mainly of 33  companies, of which 
23 were Dominican and 10 foreign -owned. There were also two reinsurance companies. The sector 
is still highly concentrated, with the top  six insurers controlling 80% of the assets and premiums 
paid. Between 2015 and 2020 the combined assets of the insurance companies rose by 
DOP 44.2 billion, to DOP  91.1 billion, equivalent to nominal growth of 94.1% (Table  4.11), while net 
premiums grew b y DOP 36.6  billion, a nominal growth rate of over 100%. As a result insurance 
companies ' share in the economy rose to more than 1.6% of GDP. The average share of net 
premiums accounted for by general insurance premiums between 2015 and 2020 remained steady  
at around 84%.  
Table 4.11 Insurance and reinsurance market indicators, 2015 -20 
(DOP billion, unless otherwise indicated)  
(Billion)  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  
Assets  46.9 52.2 59.1 72 77.9 91.1 
Net premiums paid  35.6 40.8 49.4 59.6 69.2 72.2 
As a % of GDP  1.2 1.2 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.6 
Life insurance  6.3 7.5 8.5 9.5 10.8 10.6 
General insurance  29.3 33.1 40.9 50.0 58.5 61.6 
Ceded reinsurance premiums  15.9 16 19.4 22.1 .. .. 
.. Not available.  
Source:  Institutional statistics of the Insurance Supervisory Authority, viewed at : 
https://www.superseguros.gob.do/index.php/consultas/reportes -estadisticos , and da ta provided by 
the authorities.  
4.140.   The regulatory body for insurance market operators is the Insurance Supervisory Authority, 
an entity attached to the Ministry of Finance and created by Law No.  400 of 9  January  1969. The 
legal regime governing the insurance industry is set out in Law No.  146-02 on Insurance and Bonds 
of 9 September 2002 and in the resolutions issued by the Insurance Supervisory Authority. No 
amendments have been made to the Law to date; however, a number of resolutions have been 
issued bolste ring the insurance sector's regulatory framework.  
4.141.   In that connection, in November 2017 the Rules on the Prevention of Money Laundering and 
the Financing of Terrorism for the Insurance Sector were approved. The purpose of the Rules is to 
implement processes  and mechanisms that aim to prevent and identify irregularities in transactions 
performed by insurers described in the Law on Money Laundering and the Law on Terrorism 
establishing the National Anti -Terrorist Committee and the National Anti -Terrorist Direc torate. 
Moreover, following the enactment of Law No.  249-17 that repealed and replaced Law No.  19-00 on 
the Securities Market (see below ), authorizing investment funds to operate on the stock market, the 
Insurance Supervisory Authority issued its Fifth Res olution of 30  May 2018 authorizing insurers to 
invest reserves in: (1)  open- and closed -ended investment funds; (2) shares in publicly offered 
trusts authorized by the Securities Market Supervisory Authority (SIMV); and (3)  transactions to 
purchase securit ies with repurchase agreements (repos) traded through brokerage firms authorized 
by the SIMV.  
4.142.   In order to improve skills across the insurance sector generally, Resolution  02-2020 created 
the Insurance Supervisory Authority Training School (ESFOSIS). The Cl ient Service Centre of the 
Insurance Supervisory Authority was created in a similar vein to optimize and digitize the services 
of the Insurance Supervisory Authority by providing the Authority 's services and any information it 
imparts in a centralized, spe cialist fashion.  
4.143.   Access to the market in insurance and reinsurance services for foreign companies is granted 
on the basis of the principle of reciprocity. To operate in the Dominican  Republic an insurer or 
reinsurer must apply to the Insurance Supervisory Authority  for authorization. The requirements WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 125 - 
  and the documents that need to be submitted depend on the company's nationality. In addition to 
meeting the requirements imposed on Dominican companies, foreign firms must be set up as limited 
companies. The co mpany must be registered in accordance with Dominican law and must establish 
a guarantee fund in the Dominican  Republic of DOP  8.5 million from its authorized capital. Foreign 
persons must hold registered shares amounting to 51% of the company's capital, h ave offices in the 
Dominican Republic, have more than five years' experience operating in the insurance sector in their 
country of origin, be located and maintain the minimum capital required in the Dominican Republic 
and provide, in Spanish, a certificate  from the regulatory body in their country of origin showing that 
they are authorized to engage in the branches of insurance indicated in their application for 
authorization. They must also provide a certificate from their country of origin showing that th ey are 
authorized to operate in the Dominican  Republic.178 
4.144.   Although foreign insurance companies may not establish branches in the country, within the 
framework of the CAFTA -DR the Dominican  Republic undertook to permit all foreign 
insurance/reinsurance comp anies to do so. The authorities pointed out that although this 
commitment has been implemented, foreign insurance and reinsurance companies have not 
established branches, preferring instead to set themselves up as local, foreign -capital companies. 
Agents,  brokers and experts must be licensed by the Insurance Supervisory Authority. There is an 
exception for insurance companies, which may act as intermediaries without the need for a licence. 
Where natural persons are concerned, foreigners who want to act as i ntermediaries must be 
permanent residents and have lived in the Dominican  Republic on a permanent basis, after obtaining 
permanent residence, for the six years preceding the licence application. At October 2021 there were 
980 active insurance brokers. Ther e are no restrictions on the activities that may be undertaken by 
companies that provide services in the insurance sector. For example, the same company may 
operate in both the general and personal branches. An insurance company wishing to offer new 
produc ts must apply to the Insurance Supervisory Authority  for authorization to do so. The Authority 
has 30  days to decide on the application.  
4.145.   Some insurance contracts are subject to a local procurement obligation and  must be 
concluded in the Dominican Republic with the prior approval of the Insurance Supervisory Authority 
to provide coverage there. This obligation includes insurance concerning (a) life and health; 
(b) property situated in the country and Dominican interests abroad; (c) ships' hulls, aircraft and  
motor vehicles licensed in the Dominican Republic or temporarily entering the country; and 
(d) import cargo transport. The law permits suspension of the local procurement obligation where 
signed regional trade agreements contain provisions to that end or where excess line insurance is 
concerned.179 The local procurement obligation does not apply to reinsurance operations. Foreign 
reinsurance companies authorized by the Insurance Supervisory Authority may carry out their 
activities without being established in the Dominican  Republic. In 2021, there w ere 121  foreign 
reinsurers that were not established in the Dominican  Republic and 89  brokers in the same position.  
4.146.    Insurers are free to set the tariffs for their premiums but they must be submitted to the 
Supervisory Authority for assessment and approval . The tariffs may not be amended without the 
Supervisory Authority 's approval. Model policies must also be submitted for the Supervisory 
Authority's approval. Mergers of insurers and reinsurers are authorized by the Law on Insurance and 
Bonds subject to th e prior approval of the Insurance Supervisory Authority.  
4.147.   The Dominican  Republic continues to work with international agencies in the field of 
insurance sector oversight, such as the Latin American Association of Insurance Supervisors (ASSAL) 
and the Inter national Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). In 2019, the Dominican  Republic, 
in the form of the Insurance Supervisory Authority, was approved as a permanent member of the 
ASSAL Disciplinary Panel. Also in that year, the Insurance Supervisory Auth ority contributed to the 
report by the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD) on global insurance 
market trends.  
4.148.   Premiums paid are subject to selective consumption tax (ISC, 16%). Agricultural policies are 
exempt from payment of the tax.180 The provision of insurance services is exempt from payment of 
 
178 Articles 12 -35 of Law No. 146 -02. 
179 Article  6 of Law No.  146-02. 
180 Article 383 of the Tax Code (as of 19  February  2014). The Tax Code can be viewed at: 
http://www.dgii.gov.do/legislacion/codigoTributario/Paginas/codigoTributario.aspx .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 126 - 
  the tax on the transfer of industrialized goods and services (ITBIS).181 In accordance with the figures 
set out in the Dominican insurance market report of 2020 by the Dominican Chamber of Insurers 
and Reinsurers, per capita expenditure on insurance is USD  125.70.  
4.149.   The Dominican Republic has made few multilateral commitments in  the area of insurance 
services, and current practice is considerably more liberal than the bindings under the GATS. In 
accordance with the commitments assumed under that Agreement, foreign ownership of up to 49% 
of equity in domestic insurance and reinsur ance companies is permitted.182  
4.4.1.3   Securities market  
4.150.   The activities of the securities market in the Dominican Republic are regulated and overseen 
by the Securities Market Supervisory Authority (SIMV), an autonomous, decentralized state body 
established under Law No.  19-00 on the Securities Market, as subsequently amended by Law 
No. 249-17. The SIMV has legal personality, its own assets and administrative, financial and 
technical autonomy. Its role is to promote, regulate and supervise the securities market. Du ring the 
review period, the Executive enacted Law No.  249-17 of 19  December 2017 repealing and replacing 
Law No.  19-00 on the Securities Market of 8  May 2000. The new Law on the Securities Market 
empowers the National Securities Market Council (CNMV), in i ts capacity as the top -level body of 
the SIMV, to approve the various regulations implementing the Law. The scope of the Law extends 
to the public offering of securities, in both national and foreign currency, their  issuers, centralized 
trading mechanism m anagers, securities intermediaries and other securities market participants. 
The purpose of the Law is to regulate, supervise, develop and promote an ordered, efficient, 
transparent securities market in order to protect the rights and interests of the inve sting public, 
minimize systemic risk, foster healthy competition and maintain confidence in the securities market 
for the benefit of the country 's social and economic development. The Law incorporates the 
objectives and principles of the International Orga nization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) that 
apply to the regulation of securities markets in the OECD.  
4.151.   Securities market operators must be entered on the Securities Market Register (RMV) held 
by the SIMV. At end -2021, the following were enrolled in th e RMV: 26  external auditors, 
10 investment fund management companies, 1 stock exchange, 1  commodity exchange, 3  rating 
agencies, 182  securities dealers, 1  centralized securities depository, 41  securities issuers, 
17 brokerage firms, 25  investment developer s (3 legal persons), 1  price vendor, 4  public offering 
trust companies and 1  securitization company.  
4.152.   During the review period, the Dominican securities market has developed in positive fashion. 
The authorities indicated that the emergence of new instrument s led to new guidelines being 
incorporated into the regulatory framework. In that regard, the CNMV approved a series of 
regulations that seek to develop and bolster the securities market, including: (a)  amendments to 
the Regulation on Management Companies and Investment Funds (2021); (b) the Regulation on 
Supervision, Change of Control, Merger, Administrative Intervention, Suspension and Striking Off of 
Issuers and Publicly Offered Securities (2021); (c) the Regulation in respect of Comprehensive Risk 
Manag ement for Securities Intermediaries (2020); (d) the Regulation on Management Companies 
and Investment Funds (2019); (e) the Regulation on Public Offerings (2019); (f) the Regulation on 
Securities Intermediaries (2019); (g) the Regulation on Centralized Sec urities Depositories and 
Securities Clearance and Settlement Systems (2019); (h)  the Regulation to provide for and operate 
Centralized Trading Mechanisms (2019); (i)  the Regulation to provide for and operate on the 
OTC Market and Registration Systems for S ecurities Transactions (2019); (j)  the Regulation on 
Corporate Governance (2019); (k)  the Regulation governing the Prevention of Money Laundering, 
Financing of Terrorism and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Dominican 
Securities Marke t (2018); and (l) the Regulation on Regulatory Fees and Fees for Services provided 
by the Securities Market Supervisory Authority (2018).  
4.153.   Additionally, in 2022 the CNMV approved (a) the Regulation on Rating Agencies; (b)  the 
Regulation on the Administrativ e Penalties Procedure; and (c) the Regulation on Privileged 
Information, Relevant Facts and Market Manipulation.  
 
181 Article 344 of the Tax Code (as of 19  February  2014).  
182 WTO/World Bank I -TIP Services database. Viewed at: http://i -tip.wto.org/services/default.aspx .  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 127 - 
  4.154.   Law No.  249-17 on  the Securities Market and its implementing regulations provide that the 
application for approval of a public offering of secu rities must be accompanied by a prospectus that 
includes economic and financial information covering, for share offerings, at least the three years of 
the company 's operations prior to the application, or for debt securities, at least two years, as well 
as the characteristics of the securities offered and a report by a registered entity of the risks 
associated with them. Companies that do not meet the operating period set out above must submit 
financial statements for the period that they have been in opera tion. The financial statements must 
be in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  
4.155.   Law No.  249-17 on the Securities Market, the associated Regulations on Public Offering and 
Corporate Governance, and recent Law No.  163-21 Promoting the Placement and Trading of Publicly 
Offered Securities on the Securities Market of the Dominican  Republic established a regulatory 
framework that made it possible for listed companies to emerge onto the market. The Single 
Resolution of the Securi ties Market Supervisory Authority (R -SIMV-2022-12-EV) of 4  April 2022 
approved the first public share offering in the Dominican  Republic.  
4.4.1.4   Payment systems and cybersecurity  
4.156.   In accordance with Law No. 183 -02, the Central Bank is responsible for supervising and 
settling payment systems. The Law also provides that the key purposes of the regulations issued by 
the Monetary Board governing the organization and operation of the clearance and settlement 
system are to ensure that payments are made immediately and s uccessfully. To that end, in its Sixth 
Resolution of 19  April 2007, the Monetary Board approved the Payment Systems Regulations, which 
determine the legal regime and procedures applicable to the System of Payments and Settlement of 
Securities  of the Domini can Republic (SIPARD). The rules have undergone several modifications to 
strengthen the regulation, oversight and management of the various payment systems that 
constitute SIPARD, most recently under the Second Resolution of the Monetary Board of 
29 Januar y 2021.183 
4.157.   In order to ensure that the SIPARD infrastructure remains protected in the face of 
technological progress, the Second Resolution of the Monetary Board of 1  November 2018  approved 
the Cyber - and Information Security Regulations, establishing the p rinciples and guidelines that will 
act as a foundation for financial intermediaries, payment system administrators and other 
participants in SIPARD, and for institutions providing support and related services that are networked 
to financial intermediaries and SIPARD, to maintain the integrity, availability and confidentiality of 
information while securing optimal functioning of information systems and the technological 
infrastructure.  
4.158.   SIPARD underwent several changes during the review period, including (a)  the 
implementation of an instant payment service managed by the Central Bank of the 
Dominican  Republic (BCRD), where bank clients use their banks ' websites and mobile apps to 
transfer funds electronically in Dominican pesos and US dollars, 365 days a year ; (b) compulsory 
adoption of the EMV (Europay Mastercard Visa) standard for issuing bank cards in order to make 
them more secure; and (c)  the incorporation into the regulatory and supervisory framework of 
non-bank payment service providers such as (i)   electronic payment entities – companies that 
provide, subject to regulations, payment services using financial technology; (ii)   acquiring 
companies that process payments made using electronic payment instruments, on behalf of affiliated 
establishments and/or  payment aggregators; (iii)  payment aggregators – companies that enable 
their affiliates to accept electronic payment instruments pursuant to agreements with other payment 
service providers; and (iv)  administrators of automatic teller machine networks.  
4.159.   In order to strengthen cybersecurity and provide greater protection for information, the 
BCRD has implemented strategies for the financial sector, for example by setting up the Sectoral 
Council for Financial Sector Cybersecurity Incident Response and the Fina ncial Sector Cybersecurity 
Incident Response Centre (SPRICS); by making an automated self -assessment tool available to all 
participants in the financial and payments systems in order to encourage implementation and 
management of the controls provided for i n the Cyber - and Information Security Regulations; and 
 
183 This Regulation has given rise to several implementing instructions such as those concerning cheque 
processing specifications; payments and securities s ettlement system administrators, companies or acquirers 
and other suppliers of payment services; the real -time gross settlement system; the digitization, truncation 
and clearance of cheques; and electronic payment entities and electronic payment accounts.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 128 - 
  by building capacity as regards monitoring, the generation of intelligence on threats to cybersecurity, 
and integration into analytical engines of intelligence on new sources of international data for the 
transmission of periodic alerts to the participants in the financial and payments system.  
4.160.   Electronic transfers of funds rose significantly during the review period, a fact that the 
authorities attribute to the initiatives referred to above. For example , the number of transactions 
processed daily through the real -time gross settlement (RTGS) system rose from 3,173 in 2015 to 
50,558 in 2021. RTGS services are also used to process transactions performed using the payment 
systems managed by private payment system administrators. In 2021, there were eight systems 
using these services, compared to five in 2015. Similarly, a sum amounting to USD  13,077.3  million 
was settled in 2021, 35.4% more than the amount for 2015. At December 2021, 5.4  million users 
had si gned up to Internet banking services provided by financial intermediaries, an increase of 
164.8% compared to December 2015. Electronic commerce has grown significantly owing to the 
greater availability of bank cards and the diversity of suppliers of goods and services that operate 
using electronic solutions.  
4.161.   The BCRD also manages a cross -border payment system – 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), namely 
Guatemala, Costa  Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El  Salvador and the Dominican  Republic. The system, 
which processes intra -regional payments, allows payments between these countries to be settled in 
real time . The authorities indicated that during the review period the sum processed in transactions 
conducted using the system was USD  798.8  million.  
4.4.2   Telecommunications  
4.162.   As is the case in other countries, telecommunications and related technologies have become 
a major cross -cutting force for social and economic development in the Dominican Republic. The 
transformation of the sector, which has partly been accelerated by the pandemic, is evident in the 
falling demand from landline telephony traffic and the rising dema nd for broadband. However, this 
dynamism within the sector stands in contrast with its performance in terms of share of GDP and 
value added. Its contribution to Dominican GDP fell 0.2 percentage points between 2015 and 2021, 
and was just 0.8% in 2021. Even  though the sector's growth was positive (+31%) during the review 
period, the sector's value added has not increased significantly and has hovered around 
USD 750 million per year, only rising above USD 800 million in 2018.184 
4.163.   The landline and mobile telepho ny segment experienced low growth (+6% between 2015 
and 2021) compared to the growth in Internet services, where the number of users almost doubled 
(+90%) (Table 4.12). Landline telephony is showing signs of contraction as, even though the number 
of users has remained stable at around 1.2 million ( -0.1 million users since 2015), due to population 
growth, its penetration rate was only slightly over 10% in 2021.185 During the review period, the 
number of mobile telephony users grew by 8%, meaning that 9 out of  10 Dominican residents have 
access to this service. The total number of Internet accounts in the country increased by 4.6  million, 
of which 93% are mobile broadband accounts. The teledensity of these services has been rising 
steadily since 2015, meaning t hat two thirds of the population (67.1%) had Internet access through 
this type of service in 2021.186 
 
184 The authorities have stated that the statistics for the sector produced by the Central Bank do not 
include activities or sales in free zones. Telecommunications activity is highly dependent on developments in 
Internet and mobile services: the growth and decline in these services account for up to 70% of the general 
development of the sector.  
185 Within this segment, there was a shift away from access via traditional networks to Voice over 
Internet Protocol (VoIP) offerings. In 2021, 45% of the landlines con tracted were VoIP, compared to 12% 
in 2015.  
186 In 2021, the minimum standard broadband speed changed from 512 kilobytes per second (KBps) to 
4 megabytes  per second (MBps). As a result of this change, there is an inconsistency in the fixed and mobile 
broadba nd data, as well as in their respective teledensity data (Resolution No. 026 -21 of the 
Dominican  Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) Board of Directors).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 129 - 
  Table 4.12 Telecommunications indicators, 2015 -21 
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Communications share of GDP (at 
current prices) (%)  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.8 
Communications GDP growth rate 
(%) 5.8 5.9 3.9 12.5 -7.2 2.7 4.0 
Communications sector value added 
(USD million)  744.8  757.3  766.7  819.4  747.3  712.2  543.0  
Investment (USD million)  
% of total FDI  335.9  
15.2 -263.9  
-10.3 67.1 
1.9 -240.1  
-9.4 312.4  
10.3 -123.0  
-4.7 84.3 
2.7 
Telecommunications services  (Million, unless otherwise indicated)  
Total number of lines  
Number of landlines  
Number of mobile lines  10.1 
1.3 
8.8 10.0 
1.3 
8.7 10.1 
1.3 
8.8 10.2 
1.3 
8.9 10.1 
1.2 
8.9 10.1 
1.1 
9.0 10.7 
1.2 
9.5 
Number of Internet accounts  
Fixed broadband (%)a 
Mobile broadband (%)a 
Other (%)a 4.9 
12.4 
74.2 
13.4 6.1 
10.9 
75.5 
13.5 7.0 
10.9 
84.6 
4.5 7.7 
10.4 
88.5 
1.1 8.2 
11.2 
88.3 
0.5 8.8 
11.7 
87.7 
0.6 9.5 
10.1b 
76.4b 
13.5b 
Teledensity  (%) 
Total lines  
Landlines  
Mobile lines  101.2  
13.1 
88.1 99.8 
13.4 
86.4 99.3 
13.1 
86.2 99.5 
12.4 
87.1 98.1 
11.7 
86.4 97.1 
11.1 
86.0 101.1  
11.0 
90.1 
Internet  
Mobile broadband (%)  49.2 
36.5 60.2 
45.4 68.8 
58.2 74.6 
66.0 78.9 
69.7 83.9 
73.6 87.9b 
67.1b 
Tariffs  (DOP per minute)  
Landline telephony  1.50 1.24 1.47 1.36 1.51 1.43 1.63 
Mobile telephony (postpaid)  3.48 3.46 4.11 3.18 3.10 3.05 2.75 
Mobile telephony (prepaid)  6.74 6.05 5.74 6.11 6.08 6.09 6.09 
a Estimated data for 2015 and 2016.  
b In 2021, the minimum standard broadband speed was changed from 512 kilobytes per second 
(KBps) to 4 megabytes per second (MBps), which has created an inconsistency in the fixed and 
mobile broa dband data, as well as in their respective teledensity data (Resolution No.  026-21 of the 
INDOTEL Board of Directors).  
Source:  Data provided by the Central Bank, Dominican Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) and the 
National Statistics Office. Viewed at : http://www.bancentral.gov.do , http://www.indotel.gob.do  and 
http://www.one.gob.do . 
4.164.   The Dominican telecommunications sector c ontinued receiving foreign direct investment 
(FDI) during the review period, but the FDI amounts have fluctuated considerably from one year to 
another and the balance for the period (USD  171.8  million) is eight times lower than the flows during 
the previou s TPR.187 In 2016 and 2018, there were two major disinvestments in the sector 
(of approximately USD  250 million each), and there was also a negative flow of approximately 
USD 120 million in 2020. The 2016 divestment was due to national investors purchasing the 
company Trilogy (Viva). The 2018 disinvestment was linked to profits being paid out abroad, while 
that of 2020 was due to telecommunications companies with foreign investment lending to their 
parent companies. The largest investors are from Mexico, Den mark and the United States. The FDI 
during the review period was intended for infrastructure, in particular, for developing mobile phone 
services (expanding and improving 4G networks), expanding landline telephony services (transition 
to fibre optic networ ks and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services) and the roll -out of new 
Internet access technologies (introduction of 5G technology).  
4.165.   The authorities have stated that the infrastructure for the mobile telephony network has 
been rolled out across almos t the entire territory and the vast majority of municipalities have 
4G coverage (97.6% of the population). The tendering process for 4G bands was undertaken in 
2014; however, 4G technology only arrived on the market in 2017.  
4.166.   A total of 22 companies are lic ensed to provide public telephony services, of which 10 
currently do so, with 8 also providing Internet services. Another 42 companies provide Internet and 
television subscription services.188 Only private sector companies operate on the public 
telecommunications service market. The Compañía Dominicana de Teléfonos (Claro) is the largest 
provider on the market, accounting for 72% of the landline telephony market, 63% of the mobile 
telephony mar ket and 59% of the Internet services market. Claro increased its share in the two 
 
187 Between 2008 and 2014, it is estimated that FDI inflows stood at approximately USD  1,350  million.  
188 Online information from INDOTEL. Viewed at: https://transparencia.indotel.gob.do/publicaciones -
oficiales/estad%C3%ADsticas -telecomunicaciones/indicadores -estadisticos -trimestrales . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 130 - 
  telephony sectors between 2015 and 2021. Altice Dominicana, a group which came into operation 
in 2014 following its acquisition of Orange Dominicana and Tricom, with the merg er approved in 
2018189, is the second largest provider in all segments: landline telephony (24%), mobile telephony 
(32%) and Internet services (36%). There is practically a duopoly on the telephony services market, 
resulting in low competition, which is cle ar from the stable prices for the services provided 
(Table  4.12). Trilogy Dominicana (Viva) is the third largest operator in all segments, but its share in 
each of them is less than 5%. The other operators hold a tiny share of the different market segments . 
4.167.   Public telecommunications services are governed by the General Law on Telecommunications 
(LGT)190 and regulations issued through resolutions of the Board of Directors  of the 
Dominican  Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL).191 The LGT  governs the installation, 
maintenance and operation of the telecommunications network, as well as the provision of services 
and telecommunications equipment. It stipulates that the interest of the State is to guarantee an 
efficient, modern and affordable telecommunications service for all its inhabitants, under a system 
of fair, genuine and sustainable competition. During the review period, no amendments were made 
to the LGT, but there were a series of technical changes which amended some regulations and 
standards (Table 4.13). A public consultation is currently under way with a view to preparing a draft 
information technology and communications law, which would replace the LGT.192 
Table 4.13 Main regulations an d standards approved, 2015 -22 (June)  
Regulation or standard  Reference  
General Regulations on Number Portability  Resolutions No. 015 -15 
and No. 037 -15 
Telephony Service and Internet Access Quality Standard  Resolution No. 016 -15 
Regulations on the Contribution to Telecommunications Development (CDT)  Resolution No. 061 -17 
Regulations on the Rights and Obligations of Users and Providers of Public 
Telecommunications Services  Resolution No. 062 -17 
Standard setting out the measures for activating and billing mobile data services; 
international mobile roaming services (data roaming and voice roaming); and premium 
short message services (SMS) by public telecommunications services providers.  Resolution No. 069 -17  
Administrative Sanctionin g Regulations  Resolution No. 081 -17 
General Regulations on Sharing Passive Infrastructure and Related Telecommunications 
Facilities  Resolution No. 089 -17 
Amendment of Regulations on Sharing Passive Infrastructure and Related 
Telecommunications Facilities  Resolution No. 005 -19 
Regulations on Authorizations for Telecommunications Services  Resolution No. 036 -19 
Telecommunications Development Fund (FDT) Regulations  Resolution No. 063 -19 
Standard governing the contracting and activation of public telecommunications services  Resolution No. 070 -19 
Establishment of a Single Pricing Area for the Landline Telephony Service  Resolution No. 078 -19 
National Frequency Allocation Plan (PNAF)  Resolution No. 011 -20 
and Decree No. 91 -20 
General Regulations for Internet Access Services  Resolution No. 033 -20 
General Regulations on the Use of the Radio Spectrum  Resolution No. 034 -20 
Regulations on the Settlement of Disputes between Users and Providers of Public 
Telecommunications Services  Resolution No. 091 -20 
International Public Tender for 5G, INDOTEL/LPI -001-2021  Resolution No. 005 -21 
Regulations on Statistical Indicators  Resolution No. 026 -21 
Master Plan on the Use of the Radio Spectrum  Resolution No. 071 -21 
Regulations on the Digital Terrestrial Television Service  Resolution No. 121 -21 
Digital Terrestrial Television Switchover Plan  Resolution No. 122 -21 
Regulations on Cybersecurity  Resolution No. 126 -21 
New regulations for holding consultations and public hearings for drawing up INDOTEL 
standards and regulations  Resolution No. 022 -22 
Source:  Information provided by INDOTEL.  
 
189 In 2014, Tricom was the second largest landline provider (23%), while Orange Dominicana was the 
second largest mobile service (37%) and Internet services (31%) provider. Res olution No.  056-17 of the 
INDOTEL Board of Directors ordered corrective measures for the merger of these operators, which included 
reintegrating some bands assigned to the operators and reducing the interconnection access charges.  
190 Law No.  153-98. 
191 Before being approved through a Resolution, INDOTEL Regulations must be put to a public 
consultation (Article  93 of the LGT). The Regulations can be viewed at: 
https://transparencia.indotel.gob.do/base -legal-de-la-institucion/resoluciones . 
192 Online information about this public consultation. Viewed at: 
https://transparencia.indotel.gob.do/media/214592/bid -documento -consulta -pu-blica-cl-plus-jec-final.pdf ; and 
comments already made: https://indotel.gob.do/enlaces/convocatoria -publica. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 131 - 
  4.168.   The LGT created and established INDOTEL, which, as the telecommunications regulatory 
body, is responsible for regulating and supervising the telecommunications market. It is a 
decentralized public entity with functional, jurisdictional and financial autonomy. It is mandated to 
ensure universal service, free an d fair competition, the protection of customer rights and the efficient 
use of the radio spectrum.193 INDOTEL also implements priority measures for the development of 
public telecommunications services, including the priority measures set out in the various  Multi-Year 
Public Sector Plan s. 
4.169.   The State holds no ownership stake in companies providing public telephony and Internet 
services, serving only as the regulator for this market. In 2018, the Dominican Power Transmission 
Company (ETED), a state -owned enterp rise, obtained a concession to provide (wholesale) carrier 
services, with the aim of creating a national fibre optic network for the national transportation of 
telecommunications services. With the exception of public broadcasting  services, where control 
(more than 50%) must be in the hands of a Dominican national, foreign capital may hold an 
ownership stake in all areas of the telecommunications sector.  
4.170.   Public telecommunications service providers require authorization from INDOTEL in order to 
offer the dif ferent types of services: a concession (public telecommunications service) or registration 
in the relevant Special Register (value added services; aeronautical or maritime mobile services; 
private radiocommunications services; satellite carrier, passive in frastructure and related facility 
services; and resale of public telecommunications services) is needed. In addition, when the 
provision of the service involves the use of the radio spectrum, a licen ce to use it must be obtain ed. 
Any concession to provide a public telecommunications service that requires using the radio 
spectrum is awarded through a public tender, in accordance with the availability of frequencies to 
be allocated and the National Frequency Allocation Plan in force. Only businesses incorpora ted in the 
Dominican Republic can obtain a concession. Licences are valid for the same length of time as their 
related concession (5 to 20  years) or registration in the Special Register (up to 10  years). Companies 
registered in the Special Register may be incorporated abroad, but must be domiciled in the 
Dominican Republic should the registration application be for services that are going to be provided 
directly by the registration -holder to end users. In 2019, the number of requirements for obtaining 
a título habilitante  authorization from INDOTEL was reduced (from 37 to 17), as was the time period 
for obtaining a concession (from 185 days to 140 days); the mechanism for expanding the services 
under the concession was established; and the maximum period for  registrations in the 
Special  Registers was extended, among other developments.194 
4.171.   Under the LGT, which entered into force in 1998, all concessions, licences, permits or other 
authorizations granted before that year had to be aligned with the provisions of this Law within one 
year. However, this process is still not complete. The alignment process for the three largest 
concession holders for public telecommunications services was completed in 2021: the concessions 
previously awarded to these operators were a mended, with the validity period for their concessions 
set at 20 years (up to 2041). Between 2015 and 2021, 49 concessions were awarded for the 
provision of public telecommunications services, including 2 for landline telephony, 16 for Internet 
access, 6 f or cable broadcasting, 2 for satellite carrier services, 5 for sound broadcasting, 1 for 
satellite television broadcasting and 17 for multiple services. In 2021, the operating rights for 
broadband frequencies were awarded through an international public te nder195 as part of the process 
of developing the 5G network in the Dominican Republic.196 The rights were awarded to Claro and 
Altice, the only bidders in this tender, which also included the 700MHz band, which was not 
awarded.197 
4.172.   The LGT defines anti -competi tive practices and prohibits operators from applying different 
conditions to equivalent services that place some competitors at a relative disadvantage to others. 
Operators are required to provide INDOTEL with accounting records for each service under 
 
193 Article 76 of the LGT, Regulations on Free and Fair Competition for the Telecommunications Sector 
(Resolution No.  022-05) and General Telephone Service Regulations (Resolution No.  105-07 and amendments 
thereto).  
194 Resolution No. 036 -19. 
195 INDOTEL/ LPI-001-2021 International Public Tender, launched by Resolution No.  005-21. 
196 The General Regulations on the Use of the Radio Spectrum (Resolution No.  034-20) and the 
Master  Plan on the Use of the Radio Spectrum (Resolution No.  071-21) outline how use of the spectrum will 
develop over the next five years.  
197 The tender established spectrum ownership caps for bidders, as well as a national roaming obligation 
for the winning service provider.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 132 - 
  concession in order to prevent cross subsidies or any other practice that could impact competition. 
During the review period, such information led to the initiation of an investigation, which was 
subsequently closed with no sanction given.  
4.173.   Consumer prices are set independently, while operators agree the interconnection charges198 
and accounting rates among themselves.199 INDOTEL  may intervene if it is of the opinion that these 
amounts will not ensure effective and sustainable competition on the market. Interconnection 
agreements must be submitted to INDOTEL, which may raise objections to them and even has the 
power to set interco nnection charges should operators fail to reach agreement. The authorities have 
stated that, during the review period, INDOTEL has not intervened on consumer prices and 
accounting rates, but has rejected interconnection charges submitted by operators on fi ve occasions 
since 2015. In 2021, INDOTEL launched a process for setting interconnection charges. As long as 
INDOTEL does not set these amounts, the charges agreed by operators shall apply, even if they 
have not been approved by INDOTEL. During the review period, no clear trend emerged for landline 
telephone charges, while mobile telephone charges fell 10% -20% depending on the contract type 
(Table 4.12). The relative cost of prepaid plans compared to postpaid plans is increasing and the 
rate per equivalent minute paid by consumers on prepaid plans was more than double that paid by 
consumers on postpaid plans in 2021.  
4.174.   Telecommunications services are subject to two taxes and one levy, the contribution to 
telecommunications development (CDT). The CDT is intende d to finance the Telecommunications 
Development Fund (FDT) and INDOTEL, and is set at a 2% rate, levied on the gross amount of end 
customers ' bills and on operators ' net earnings from international traffic.200 End users have also paid 
the selective consumpt ion tax (ISC) applied to telecommunications (10%) and the ITBIS (18%) 
since 2013. I nternational incoming call traffic from landlines and mobiles is exempt from the ITBIS 
and the ISC.  Similarly, the ITBIS is not levied on foreign customers' mobile roaming t raffic. Under 
the tax incentive schemes (sections 2.4 and 3.3) in place, the Dominican Republic offers ISC refunds 
to manufacturing exporters on telecommunications, and to companies in the Special Comprehensive 
Border Development Zone. No estimates are ava ilable of the tax revenue foregone as a result of 
these exemptions and refunds.  
4.175.   Within the framework of the National Development Strategy 2030 (Law No.  1-12), 
the Dominican  Republic is seeking to "[a]chieve universal access and the productive use of 
inform ation and communication technologies". It is looking to expand connectivity and widen 
broadband access at affordable prices for customers, and to narrow the knowledge and opportunities 
gaps in order to drive the digital transformation forward.201 This objec tive involves a number of 
actions designed to achieve specified outcomes. Through its Social Policy on Universal Service202, 
INDOTEL manages the FDT, which finances projects in unserved rural areas or in areas where there 
are low levels of Internet penetrat ion (areas below the poverty line), so that they can access and 
connect to high -quality broadband.203 The FDT is financed with proceeds from the CDT and other 
financial contributions. The 2021 -22 Biennial Plan provides for the implementation of a 
comprehens ive project to connect the unconnected, which is built around three pillars (access and 
infrastructure, an Internet usage subsidy for 200,000 women, and skills development) and has a 
budget of DOP 150 million.204 Under another measure in this area, when ame nding their concessions, 
operators were required to expand their mobile service operations to 40 new localities in provinces 
 
198 General Interconnection Regulations (Resolution No.  038-11). 
199 The accounting rate is the tariff charged by the company operating a country's telephone network for 
calls from another country. INDOTEL does not intervene in setting accounting rates, but it does review 
agreements between operators.  
200 Regulations on the Collection of the CDT (Resolution No. 061 -17). The distribution of this collected 
revenue between the FDT and INDOTEL varies based on the approved INDOTEL budget for each fiscal year 
(Resolution No.  150-04). 
201 Multi-Year Public Sector P lan 2021-24. 
202 Resolution No.  024-10. 
203 LGT; Biennial Project Plan 2021 -22; and FDT Regulations (Resolution No.  063-19). The changes 
made to the Regulations include allocating a minimum of 3% of the CDT budget to the FDT, using trusts for 
managing FDT proj ects, aligning FDT objectives with the 2030 National Development Strategy and greater 
involvement by the general population in identifying projects, among other changes.  
204 The execution of the activities is awarded to the private sector through public tend ers, in accordance 
with the Law on Government Procurement. Companies that fail to meet its requirements will not be able to 
participate in future tender proceedings.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 133 - 
  with the lowest levels of penetration and their home fibre optic service to more than 15  new 
municipalities.  
4.176.   INDOTEL is responsible  for settling disputes between providers, and between customers and 
operators. In the event of a disputes, decisions may be appealed in the first instance to INDOTEL 
itself, in the second instance before the Administrative Court, and in the third instance before the 
Supreme Court of Justice.205 In 2020, INDOTEL published new regulations206 for settling these 
disputes, which reduced the response times for user complaints, streamlined and simplified 
decision -making through arbitral rulings, and established stat utes of limitations for complaints, 
among other aspects. According to the data provided by the authorities, between 16,000 and 
25,000  complaints were processed annually between 2015 and 2021.  
4.177.   The process of introducing number portability in the Dominican  Republic began in 2006, with 
the approval of the initial Regulations on Number Portability207. Following a preparation period, this 
service subsequently came into effect in 2009. After a public consultation which began in  2013, 
INDOTEL introduced new Regulat ions on Number Portability in 2015, which aim to streamline the 
process.208 The changes made include abolishing grounds for rejecting portability requests and 
reducing the time period for porting a number to 24 hours for mobile telephony and 7 days for 
landline telephony. Currently, customers can port a number within the same service (mobile 
or landline), as, since 2019, there have been no geographic restrictions for landline telephony.209 
Operators bear the technical and administrative costs for porting a number and, since 2015, have 
not been able to recoup them from customers using this service. During the review period, the total 
number of numbers ported was approximately 700,000, which means fewer than 
100,000 -number -porting requests were completed per year or, in other words, less than 1% of users 
request this service each year. The authorities have stated that long -term postpaid contracts 
(22%  of the active lines), easy access to prepa id plans and the limited number of options available 
to users has reduced the incentive to port numbers.  
4.178.   During the review period, other measures adopted to promote the development of the 
telecommunications market included: adopting regulations allowing pa ssive infrastructure to be 
shared between operators210; adopting new quality standards for the different services; rolling out 
home fibre optic networks in all municipalities in urban areas (in accordance with the National 
Broadband Plan)211; setting up digi tal terrestrial television; and adopting Cybersecurity  Regulations 
for providing Internet services (Table 4.13).  
4.4.3   Transport  
4.4.3.1   Air transport  
4.179.   Air transport is vitally important for the Dominican Republic and, in particular, for the tourism 
sector, as more than 86% of tourists arrive in the country by air.212 Up until the global downturn in 
air transport caused by the COVID -19 pandemic, air traffic at the eight Dominican international 
airports had been increasing during the review period (Table 4.14), boosted by t he air transport 
policy.213 Even though air traffic has now returned to its 2015 levels, the number of passengers 
 
205 Article 79 of the LGT, Regulations on the Settlement of Disputes between Users and Provi ders of 
Public Telecommunications Services; and Regulations on the Settlement of Disputes between Service 
Providers.  
206 Regulations on the Settlement of Disputes between Users and Providers of Public 
Telecommunications Services (Resolution No. 091 -20). 
207 Resolution No. 156 -06 and amendments thereto. Number portability was rolled out pursuant to 
commitment made by the Dominican Republic under the CAFTA -DR Agreement, among other reasons.  
208 Resolutions No.  015-15 and No.  037-15. 
209 Resolution No.  078-19. 
210 These  agreements are managed directly between providers and INDOTEL only intervenes in the 
event of a complaint. No complaints have been made up to June 2022.  
211 This National Broadband Plan and other recent initiatives have been introduced as a result of 
object ives set by Decree No. 539 -20. 
212 According to data published by the Central Bank, between 2015 and 2022 (June), more than 
40.3 million non -resident passengers entered the country.  
213 The Dominican Republic 's eight international airports are Cibao (Santiago province); 
Gregorio  Luperón (Puerto Plata); La  Isabela Joaquín Balaguer (Santo  Domingo); Las Américas José Francisco 
Peña Gómez (Santo Domingo); Casa de Campo La Romana (La  Romana); María Montéz (Barahona) ; 
El Catey  Presidente Juan Bosch (Samaná); and Punta Cana.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 134 - 
  in 2021 was still far below 2015 figures. The Dominican Republic's air connections included more 
than 320 daily flights, 381  scheduled routes a nd 584  charter routes in 2021.  
Table 4.14 Air traffic, 2015 -21 
 
2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Aircraft  (units)  98,648  102,875  102,874  107,383  116,788  52,998  95,155  
Scheduled  85,495  87,156  87,167  90,106  98,324  43,809  77,804  
Charter  13,153  15,719  15,707  17,277  18,464  9,189  17,351  
Passengers  (millions)  12.3 13.1 13.8 14.5 14.4 5.5 10.8 
Embarked  6.2 6.6 6.9 7.3 7.2 2.7 5.4 
Scheduled  5.6 5.8 6.1 6.5 6.6 2.6 5.0 
Charter  0.6 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.4 
Disembarked  6.1 6.6 6.8 7.2 7.2 2.7 5.4 
Scheduled  5.5 5.7 6.1 6.5 6.6 2.6 5.0 
Charter  0.6 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.2 0.4 
Cargo  (thousands of tonnes)  105.4  112.2  117.7  126.6  119.6  79.9 97.2 
Imports  39.5 41.5 40.9 43.3  36.5 27.0 32.0 
Exports  65.9 71.7 76.8 83.3 83.1 52.9 65.2 
Source:  Informe Estadístico del Transporte Aéreo de la República Dominicana 2021 ; Reporte Histórico de la 
Junta de Aviación Civil , National Statistics Office of the Civil Aviation Board (JAC); and information 
provided by IDAC.  
4.180.   In 2021, the country 's main airports were Punta Cana and Las Américas (Santo  Domingo), 
which handled 40% and 35% of passenger arrivals, respectively, followed  by Cibao (province 
of Santiago) (17%), while the other five airports handled less than 8% of passenger arrivals.214 
Air cargo is handled mainly by Santo  Domingo (Las Américas), Cibao, Puerto  Plata and 
Punta  Cana Airports. Cibao  Airport serves as a collection centre for exporting goods to the 
United  States, while Punta Cana Airport is used for exporting goods to non -traditional destinations, 
due to the large number of charter flights travelling to and from there.215 
4.181.   Five out of th e eight international airports are operated and managed under concession by 
the foreign company Aeropuertos Dominicanos Siglo XXI (AERODOM).216 The other three airports, 
including two high -traffic airports (Punta Cana and Cibao), are operated by Dominican c ompanies.  
4.182.   The institutional framework for the sector is made up of the Dominican Civil Aviation Institute 
(IDAC), an autonomous public body, and the Civil Aviation Board (JAC), an agency of the executive 
branch.217 IDAC acts as the regulatory body and ensur es air safety by providing, among other things, 
navigation services. The JAC is also an autonomous public body made up of a number of government 
entities and private -sector representatives. It is responsible for drawing up commercial air transport 
policy, regulating the economic aspects of air transport, negotiating agreements on air services and 
advising the President on all matters relating to commercial aviation.  
4.183.   The Dominican Republic Air Transport Policy was adopted in 2010, but remained in force 
during the review period, as it is an open skies policy designed to develop tourism. For example, 
traffic rights are granted up to the Sixth Freedom of the air for passenger, cargo, and combined 
flights, and up to the Seventh Freedom for cargo -only flights.218 The policy also allows cooperation 
between airlines, free determination of capacity, freedom to set fares and multiple carrier 
designations for routes. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates that, by 
implementing this policy, there h as been an increase in the number of routes and of passengers, 
and in tourist spending, which has had a positive impact on Dominican GDP.219 However, despite 
this policy, the authorities reserve the right to limit the number of operators on specific routes.  In 
 
214 Informe Estadístico del Transporte Aerocomercial en la República Dominicana 2021 . 
215 Both airports are currently moving ahead with expansion projects which will also increase their cargo 
logistic s capacity.  
216 The Dominican Republic does not apply restrictions on foreign ownership stakes in public airports or 
in their operations, or in ground handling service operators. The concession contract was awarded for 30  years 
in 1999, and covers Arroyo Bar ril Aerodrome (Samaná), in addition to the five international public airports. The 
airports operated under concessions are Gregorio Luperón; La  Isabela Joaquín Balaguer; Las Américas José 
Francisco Peña Gómez; María  Montéz; and El Catey Presidente Juan Bos ch. 
217 Chapters II and XI of Law No.  491-06, as amended by Laws No.  67-18 and No.  29-18. See also: 
http://www.idac.gob.do  and https://jac.gob.do . 
218 Resolution No.  180-2010 of the JAC.  
219 The Impact of Aviation Reforms in t he Dominican Republic: A model of Socioeconomic Growth and 
Development, ICAO, August 2018.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 135 - 
  addition, the domestic market is restricted to Dominican carriers and foreign carriers cannot provide 
cabotage services.  
4.184.   Air transport is regulated by the Civil Aviation Law (LAC) and amendments thereto.220 
In 2018, an amendment was made to an article o f the LAC relating to the restrictions on flight times 
for pilots and crews set out in a 1964 Law.221 During the review period, implementing regulations 
(Decree No. 376 -16) were issued for the Law on Airport and Civil Aviation Security (Law No.  188-11). 
IDAC Resolutions, particularly resolutions relating to Dominican Aeronautical Regulations (RAD), are 
a major component of civil aviation regulatory policy in the Dominican Republic.  
4.185.   The LAC stipulates that, in order to be considered a Dominican airline, airlines must be 
companies incorporated under Dominican law and have the three following characteristics:  (i) 35% 
of the capital or substantial ownership is in the hands of Dominicans and the board of directors is 
composed of Dominicans in the same proportion; ( ii) half plus one of the other executives are 
Dominicans; and ( iii) the principal place of business  is in the Dominican Republic. Airlines 
incorporated in the country with 100% foreign capital are also considered as Dominican airlines, 
provided that the investment has been authorized by the executive branch and has been made by 
an airline of internation al repute.222 In 2021, the executive branch granted this exception for the 
first time to an airline with 100% foreign capital and has recognized it as a Dominican airline since 
then. 
4.186.   There is currently no flag carrier airline in the Dominican Republic. In  2022, there were 
16 medium -capacity national airlines.223 National airline operators need an economic authorization 
certificate (CAE) from the JAC and an airline operator certificate (AOC) from the IDAC. The CAE is 
issued for a specified route, for a renewab le period of 10 years, and is conditional upon the approval 
of the executive branch.224 During the review period, the CAEs of 10 national airlines were cancelled 
due to a failure to comply with the requirements stipulated in the LAC. All JAC decisions may b e 
appealed within 10 days and, in 2022, the JAC issued the administrative procedure it applies as soon 
as it is determined that there has been a violation or breach of the LAC.225 The IDAC also suspends 
and revokes AOCs, but statistics in this regard were not available.  
4.187.   International flights are operated in accordance with the air -service agreements and, in the 
absence of an agreement, under the principle of reciprocity. The JAC issues operating permits for 
foreign carriers operating scheduled flights and special licences for charter flights. Operating permits 
are valid for up to 10 years, non -transferable and issued for a specific route, and must be approved 
by the executive branch. In order to add a new route, the operating permit must be amended and 
the legal, economic and financial requirements must be met.226 Airlines applying for an operating 
permit must appoint a legal and/or business representative in the country. A total of 
59 foreign  airlines held an operating licence in 2022. During the review period, two operating 
licences held by foreign airlines were cancelled.  
4.188.   Applications for special licences for charter flights are made through a company incorporated 
in the Dominican Republic and licensed by the JAC as a cosignee agent for aircrafts of for eign 
operators operating non -scheduled flights.227 A Dominican airline may act as a consignee agent, with 
the exception of a 100% foreign -owned airline. In 2022, just one company obtained a cosignee 
agent licence and 18 companies currently have this licence . There are no limitations on foreign 
ownership stakes in companies that provide cosignee agency services for non -scheduled (charter) 
flights.  
4.189.   Domestic and cabotage flights are reserved to Dominican -owned airlines. However, 
code-sharing agreements with for eign airlines on domestic flights are permitted.228 Airlines operating 
 
220 Law No.  491-06, as amended by Laws No.  67-13 and No. 29 -18.  
221 These aspects are currently regulated through IDAC Resolutions; for example, the most recent 
ordinan ce on this matter is IDAC Resolution No. 3 -16. 
222 Articles 237 -238 of the LAC.  
223 JAC. Viewed at: https://jac.gob.do/index.php/publicacion/lineas -aereas -y-consignatarios . 
224 Articles 130 -132 and 216 -239 of the LAC; and Manual de Requisitos JAC -001, version 7.0.  
225 JAC Resolution No. 033 -22. This administrative procedure also applies to foreign airlines with 
operating permits in the Dominican Republic.  
226 Manual de Requisitos  JAC-001, version 7.0.  
227 Decree No. 232 -14 regulating the process for issuing these licences for cosignee agents.  
228 Authorities indicate that there are no code -sharing agreements for domestic flights currently in force.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 136 - 
  internal and cabotage flights must satisfy stricter substantial ownership and effective control criteria: 
(i) belong to Dominicans (51% of the capital); (ii) be under the control of Domi nican executives 
(two thirds); and (iii) maintain effective control over their fleet.229 Cabotage is also reserved to 
Dominican -registered aircraft.230 Of the 16 national airlines (excluding the sole 100% foreign -owned 
airline), 14 fulfil the requirements fo r making cabotage flights.  
4.190.   Foreign airlines may hire foreign aviation staff, while airlines under substantial Dominican 
ownership may only hire Dominican staff. In the event of a shortage of qualified staff, they may 
temporarily hire foreign aviation staff , provided that conditions of reciprocity are in force.231 
Dominican -registered aircraft may be maintained in workshops abroad which have a certificate 
issued by the civil aviation authority of an ICAO member State or which are covered by an 
Article  83 bis agreement under the Chicago Convention, and when this certificate is recognized or 
authenticated by IDAC.232 
4.191.   Foreign airlines with an operating licence may freely sell their services in the  country. 
Similarly, there are no restrictions on the activities of providers of computerized booking systems; 
not in terms of the number of travel agencies to which they may provide their services, nor in terms 
of requirements to be established in the country.  
4.192.   Both when entering and leaving the Dominican Republic, passeng ers must pay airport and 
aviation taxes233; however, passengers travelling on to cruises do not have to pay these taxes.234 
The IDAC collects the aviation tax of  USD 14, which is included in the price of an air ticket, and 
distributes the revenue among vario us entities.235 The airport tax of USD 1.3 is fully collected by the 
airports. For airports operated under concession, these taxes form part of the profits earned by the 
concession holders. Between 2014 and 2022 (July), exemptions were granted to the conces sion 
holders for these airports on various taxes (including the ITBIS, the ISC and lien) set out in the 
Concession Contract236, in the amount of DOP 755.8 million.  
4.193.   In 2021, IDAC  approved the requirements for granting licences to build airports, 
aerodromes, runways and heliports.237 The authorities have stated that this approval procedure will 
be useful in developing public -private partnerships in this area.  
4.194.   During the review perio d, 27 bilateral agreements on air transport were negotiated, either 
Air Service Agreements (ASA) or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), giving a total of 70 bilateral 
agreements in force (Table 4.15). The Dominican Republic has also signed two plurilateral 
agreements.238 Under a Memorandum of Understanding, the Dominican Republic and other member 
States of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission reached a reciprocal agreement on exercising 
seventh -freedom traffic rights for cargo flights between 2020 and  2021. In general, the scope of the 
agreements reached by the Dominican Republic reflect the open skies commercial aviation policy 
adopted in 2010.  
Table 4.15 Air service agreement modalities: bilateral agreements  
Partner  Year signed  Freedoma Clause  
Fifth Seventh  Eighth 
(cabotage)  Tariff 
settingb Capacityc 
Antigua and Barbuda  2019*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
Argentina (MoU)  2021 Yes No No .. PD 
Aruba (MoU)  2014 Yes No No FP FD 
Austria  2007 Yes No No FP FD 
 
229 Articles 183 and 239 of the LAC.  
230 The registration of aircraft in the Dominican Republic is regulated by the Civil Aviation Law 
(Articles  79-89) and by the Dominican Aeronautical Regulations (RAD47).  
231 Articles 120 -123 of the LAC.  
232 The requirements that these workshops must meet are set out in the RAD 145 issued by the IDAC.  
233 Decree No.  655-08, as amended by Decrees No.  876-09, No. 99 -14 and No. 327 -17. 
234 Decree No.  375-10, as amended by Decree No.  269-14. 
235 These entities are the Ministry of Tourism, the IDAC, the Specialized Body for A irport Security, the 
Dominican  Air Force and the JAC, in descending order of the amount transferred  
236 Executive Resolution No. 121 -99. 
237 IDAC Resolution No. 030 -21. 
238 The Multilateral Open -Skies Agreement for the Member States of the Latin American Civil Aviation 
Commission and the Air Transport Agreement of the Association of Caribbean States 
(WTO  document  WT/TPR/S/319/Rev.1 of 13 November 2015).  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 137 - 
  Partner  Year signed  Freedoma Clause  
Fifth Seventh  Eighth 
(cabotage)  Tariff 
settingb Capacityc 
Bahamas  2018 Yes No No PD FD 
Belgium  1998 Yes No No DA PD 
Bolivia (MoU)  2018 Yes Cargo  No .. PD 
Brazil  2018*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Canada (ASA/MoU)  2008 Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
Chile 2009 Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
China  2018 Yes No No PD PD 
Colombia  2011/2013*  Yes No No CO PD 
Costa Rica  2022*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Cuba 2005 Yes No No CO PD 
Czech Republic  2016*  Yes No No PD PD 
Denmark (SA/MoU)  2016*  Yes No No FP FD  
Ecuador  2022*  Yes Cargo  No FP PD 
El Salvador (Minutes)  1998 Yes No No FP FD  
Finland  2016 Yes No No FP FD  
France  
(ASA/MoU)  1969 
2011/2013  Yes No No FP FD 
Germany  1992 Yes No No FP FD 
Guatemala  2022*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Guyana (ASA/MoU)  2016 Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
Haiti (MoU)  2017 Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Hungary (Agreement 
Minutes)  2003 Yes No No FP FD 
India (ASA/MoU)  2011 Yes No No FP  FD  
Iceland (ASA/MoU)  2009 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Israel  2019*  Yes No No FP FD 
Italy (ASA/MoU)  1971/2000  Yes No No FP FD 
Jamaica (ASA/MoU)  2018*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
Jordan (ASA/MoU)  2019*  Yes No No FP FD 
Kenya (ASA/MOU)  2018*  Yes No No PD PD 
Kuwait, State of  2019 Yes No No FP FD 
Latvia (ASA/MoU)  2021*  Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Luxembourg (ASA/MoU)  2015*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD  
Malaysia (ASA/MoU)  2019*  Yes No No PD PD 
Morocco  2018 Yes No No FP FD  
Mexico (ASA/MoU)  1994/2007*  Yes No No FP FD  
Nicaragua (ASA/MoU)  2016*  Yes No No PD PD 
Norway (ASA/MoU)  2016*  Yes No No PD PD 
New Zealand (ASA/MoU)  2016*  Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Oman (ASA/MoU)  2019*  Yes No No PD PD 
The Netherlands  
 Curaçao  
 Sint Maarten  2019 
2019 
2019*  Yes 
Yes 
Yes No 
No 
Cargo  No 
No 
No FP 
FP 
FP FD 
FD 
FD 
Panama  2008*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Paraguay 
(ASA/Consultation Minutes)  2010*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Peru 2019 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Poland (ASA/MoU)  2019*  Yes No No .. FD 
Portugal  2019 Yes No No FP PD 
Qatar  2017 Yes No No FP FD 
Russian Federation 
(ASA/MoU)  2009 Yes No No FP FD 
Rwanda  2019 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
Serbia  2015 Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Seychelles  2015 Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Singapore  2016 Yes Cargo  No PD PD 
Spain (ASA/Technical 
agreement)  2022*  Yes No No FP PD 
Sri Lanka  2017 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
South Africa (MoU)  2017 Cargo  No No FP FD 
Sweden (MoU)  2016 Yes No No FP FD 
Switzerland (ASA/MoU)  2000/2021  Yes No No PD PD 
Trinidad and Tobago 
(Final  Minutes)  1992 Yes No No PD PD 
Turkey  2014 Yes No No FP FD 
United Arab Emirates  
 Dubai (MoU)  2014/2021*  
2007 Yes 
Yes Cargo  
No No 
No FP 
FP FD 
FD 
United Kingdom  2006 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
United States  1949 Yes No No FP FD 
Uruguay  2018*  Yes Cargo  No FP FD WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 138 - 
  Partner  Year signed  Freedoma Clause  
Fifth Seventh  Eighth 
(cabotage)  Tariff 
settingb Capacityc 
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  1970 Yes Cargo  No FP FD 
.. Not available.  
* Service agreement (ASA) or memorandum of understanding (MoU) awaiting ratification.  
a Yes = Rights, even limited ones, are granted.  
b DA = Double approval; FP = Freedom to set prices; CO = Country of origin.  
c FD = Freely determined; PD = Predetermined.  
Source:  WTO Secretariat, based on online data from the JAC, " Cuadros de A SA y MOU – Repu. Dom.  con 
Otros Estados", viewed at: https://jac.gob.do/index.php/publicacion/cuadro -de-acuerdos ; and 
information provided by the authorities . 
4.4.3.2   Maritime transport and port activities  
4.4.3.2.1   Maritime transport  
4.195.   Maritime transport is essential to Dominican foreign trade, as 96% of trade flows passed 
through its ports in 2021. In 2022, 17 shipping lines provided services from Dominican ports. There 
are no Dominican shipping lines.  
4.196.   The Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM) and the Dominican Navy are responsible 
for formulating maritime transport policy.239 The Directorate -General of Customs and the 
Dominican  Port Authority (APORDOM) are also involved in this process.  
4.197.   International maritime conventions are signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with support 
and advice from state institutions, depending on the area in question.  
4.198.   In order to obtain a licence to operate in the Dominican Republic, shipping lines must flag 
their vessel s through the following process: (i) register as a company; (ii) pay the appropriate taxes 
for each vessel; (iii) obtain a seaworthiness certificate following inspection by the Dominican Navy; 
and (iv) obtain a Dominican registration number for the vessel.  With the registration number, the 
boat is flagged to the Dominican Republic, while the seaworthiness certificate confirms that the 
vessel complies with all national safety requirements and other aspects in order to sail.240 Once a 
vessel has been flagged, the shipping line must apply for a permit as a shipping cosignee agent, 
which is approved by the APORDOM management board.  
4.199.   In order to be able to operate in the Dominican Republic, non -Dominican -based shipping 
lines must be represented by a shipping agent accredited by the Ministry of Finance and by 
APORDOM or, failing that, must become a consignee agent. Shipping agents must also have a licence 
to act as a consignee agent or a representative for domestic and international shipping lines.241 
4.200.   Shipping lines are free to set the rates for their maritime transport services. These rates do 
not have to be approved by any Dominican authority.  
4.201.   The Dominican Republic has no regulations on liner conferences and the authorities have 
stated that there are no liner  conferences in the country.  
4.202.   The Dominican Republic does not have a national merchant fleet. There are no limits on 
foreign ownership stakes in Dominican -flag vessels. However, owners of these vessels must be 
 
239 Decree No. 309 -10 names the Dominican Navy as the maritime authority responsible for maritime 
transit and traffic safety and security in Dominican waters.  
240 The authorities have stated that the patent has not yet been issued for the vessels and that this 
document was abolish ed following an administrative decision.  
241 Resolution No. 47 -96 of the Ministry of Finance. See online information: 
https://www.hac ienda.gob.do/servicio/solicitud -de-licencias -para-operar -como -agente -consignatario -de-
buques . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 139 - 
  residents of the Dominican Republic or, alterna tively, incorporate a company with a commercial 
presence under Dominican laws.  
4.203.   Cabotage services are restricted to Dominican -flag vessels.242 As Dominican -flag vessels are 
not widely available, Dominican ownership operators are allowed to lease temporarily a foreign 
vessel to provide the service, although this arrangement is not covered by the law. This temporary 
permit is issued by the Dominican Navy, following an inspection.  
4.4.3.2.2   Ports  
4.204.   The volume of cargo handled in Dominican ports has grown steadily during the  review period, 
totalling 35 million tonnes in 2021, which is a 30.3% increase from 2015 (Table  4.16). In 2021, 
almost a fifth (18.6%) of port activity concerned goods transiting to and from other Caribbean ports. 
These activities have declined compared to  the figures seen in 2018, as a result of the COVID -19 
pandemic. Almost a quarter (23.7%) of the total cargo handled in 2021 was containerized.  
Table 4.16 Port operations, 2015 -22 (June)  
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
 (million tonnes)  
Total cargo  25.3 24.9 27.3 28.9 29.6 29.1 35.0 17.8 
Foreign trade  21.9 21.1 20.6 21.7 23.5 23.5 28.4 14.2 
Imports  16.8 17.6 17.4 18.3 20.2 20.3 23.7 11.3 
Exports  5.1 3.5 3.2 3.5 3.3 3.2 4.7 2.9 
By type of cargo   
Loose  2.4 2.5 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.2 3.1 1.9 
Containerized  5.7 6.3 6.1 6.8 7.0 6.6 8.3 4.5 
Solid bulk  6.9 4.9 5.1 5.3 6.3 7.2 7.3 3.1 
Liquid bulk  2.4 2.5 1.8 7.6 8.2 7.5 9.7 4.5 
 (million tonnes)  
Cargo in transit  3.3 3.8 6.6 7.2 6.0 5.6 6.5 3.7 
Entering  1.6 1.9 3.3 3.6 3.1 2.8 3.4 1.7 
Leaving  1.6 1.9 3.3 3.5 3.0 2.8 3.2 2.0 
 (thousand TEUs)  
Containers  1,208.4  1,486.2  1,842.5  1,898.0  1,822.8  1,781.9  2,184.8  1,146.1  
Foreign trade  852.6  1,090.0  1,113.5  1,184.6  1,241.0  1,172.5  1,420.7  698.3  
Imports  525.1  556.5  572.6  601.5  635.5  603.8  717.5  362.2  
Exports  490.7  533.5  540.8  583.0  605.5  568.8  703.2  336.1  
Transit  355.8  396.0  792.0  713.5  581.8  609.4  764.0  447.8  
Entering  177.7  198.1  365.3  357.6  291.3  330.0  387.0  222.5  
Leaving  178.0  197.9  363.7  355.8  290.6  279.4  377.0  225.3  
Other 
information   
No. of vesselsa 4,983  5,205  5,258  4,917  5,025  4,337  4,837  2,805  
No. of 
passengersb 528.9  809.2  1,493.3  982.3  1,103.9  344.9  363.3  652.4  
a Freighters, bulk carriers, tankers and passenger ships.  
b Thousands of passengers.  
Source:  APORDOM statistics, viewed at: https://portuaria.gob.do/transparencia/estadisticas -institucionales ; 
and data provided by the Dominican  authorities.  
4.205.   There were no changes to the legislation regulating port activities or to the institutions 
implementing it during the review period. Law No. 70 -70 is still in force and governs port activities.243 
This Law establishes APORDOM, which is the regulatory body for the port system. In addition, the 
Law on Port and Coastal Policing (Law No. 3003 -51) stipulates that Port Commanders shall act under 
the authority of the Dominican Navy; provides for the payment of specific services, such as port 
entry and clearance; and regulates in -port inspections and shipb uilding in Dominican territory. Law 
No. 70 -70 gives APORDOM the power to grant concessions for port structures. Up until the Law on 
Public -Private Partnerships (PPPs) was enacted in 2020, concessions were regulated by Law 
No. 340-06 and amendments thereto.  The authorities have stated that they expect this new 
legislation to have a positive impact on port development in the coming years.  
 
242 Law No. 3003 of 1951.  
243 Law No.  70-70, as amended by Law No.  169-75. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 140 - 
  4.206.   The Dominican Republic has 16 ports, including 10 state -owned ports. The private ports are 
Amber Cove (a cruise ship port) , La Romana and the Multimodal Caucedo Port. APORDOM operates 
and manages seven state -owned ports244, while the other three are operated and managed by 
private sector operators under concession.245 APORDOM grants concessions and supervises the 
operation of t he ports under concession. Concessions are granted on a 10 -year renewable basis and 
the maximum term for the concession is determined as a percentage of the port infrastructure 's 
service life.246 Any concession must be put out to public tender and current c oncessions were 
generally granted more than 20 years ago. There are no limitations on foreign ownership stakes in 
ports under concession.  
4.207.   Most cargo traffic continues to come through the Multimodal Caucedo Port (privately owned) 
and Río Haina (operated by private entities). Río Haina handles half of imports, while two thirds of 
exports go through Caucedo and Río Haina. The remaining imports and exports mainly move through 
Puerto Plata, San Pedro de Marcorís and Santo Domingo. Caucedo handles the bulk of tra nsit cargo 
and two thirds of container traffic. The remaining containerized cargo mainly comes through 
Río Haina. Caucedo is the only port equipped for berthing post -Panamax vessels.  
4.208.   The construction of the Amber Cove tourist terminal in the Maimón Bay (P uerto Plata 
province), which is solely used for cruise ship berthing, has resulted in growth in this type of tourism. 
In the first six months of 2022,  a total of 337 ships from 9 cruise lines carrying 554,000  passengers 
arrived in the Dominican Republic. I n 2019, 1.1 million passengers and cruise ship tourists travelling 
on 366 cruise ships arrived in the Dominican Republic (Table 4.16).247 Of these passengers, 60% 
docked at the new Amber Cover terminal, which can accommodate two ships simultaneously and 
4,000 passengers. La Romana port also handles cruise ship arrivals and welcomed 26.5% of 
registered visitors in 2019. The other passenger t erminals with lower traffic levels are 
Santo  Domingo and Samaná.  
4.209.   In 2016, the Cap Cana anchorage was put out on concession under an agreement 
arrangement used in the eastern  region of the island. During the review period, the eastern part of 
the state -owne d port (Puerto Plata province) was put out on concession under the regulatory 
framework set out in Law No. 340 -06. After enacting the Law on Public -Private Partnerships, it was 
declared that developing a cruise ship terminal in Arroyo Barril Port (Samaná p rovince) was in the 
public interest. In July 2022, construction of this terminal began, which will be equipped to welcome 
10,000 tourists per day and has received USD 22 million of private investment.  
4.210.   Port services may usually be put out on concession. Ste vedoring, buoyage and towing 
services are currently operated under this system. However, towing services can only be provided 
by Dominican vessels (with a Dominican registration number). The service providers must be 
incorporated in the Dominican Republic and must have a licence issued by APORDOM.248 
4.211.   The executive branch sets port charges in US dollars through a decree and there have been 
no changes to them since 2005.249 However, port charges in Dominican pesos are updated every 
week by APORDOM. Dominican -flag vessels and passenger boats do not pay berthing charges, but 
do pay for pilotage services, as well as inspection charges and a set amount per passenger. If they 
are performing loading or unloading operations, Dominican -flag vessels may receive a 50% dis count 
on the port -stay charge; if they are not performing these operations, they do not have to pay the 
port-stay charge.  
 
244 Arroyo Barril (Samaná province), Azua , Barahona, Boca Chica (Santo Domingo province), 
Manzanillo  (Monte Cristi province), Puerto Plata and San Pedro de Macorís.  
245 Cabo Rojo (Pedernales province), Río Haina (Santo Domingo province) and Santo  Domingo.  
246 Laws No. 70 -70 and No. 340 -06. 
247 This a ctivity was hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemic and tourist levels were three times lower 
during 2020 -21. 
248 The requirements, which include a USD 500,000 insurance policy, are set out in Decree No. 612 -05, 
and the licences are approved by the APORDOM managem ent board. See also the online information: 
https://portuaria.gob.do/blog/servicios/licencias -de-remolcadores . 
249 Decree No.  572-99, as amended by Decrees No.  519-02, No. 534 -04 and No. 612 -05 set out the 
charges.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 141 - 
  4.4.4   Tourism  
4.212.   Tourism is still making a vital contribution to the Dominican economy. Tourism is the 
fourth  largest employer in the economy, accounting for 7.3% of jobs during the review period on 
average. In 2015, it contributed 12.7% to the Dominican GDP, but, due to the pandemic, this 
contribution has fallen considerably and was just 5.6% in 2022 (Table 4.17).250 Up until the outbreak 
of the pandemic, the sector had been performing well: income had increased 22% between 2015 
and 2019, tax income had been up almost 44% and FDI was around USD 1 billion.251 In addition, 
2018 saw a record 6.6 million visitors and the number of hotels available grew  to 900 in 2020. The 
closure of airports in the country and the travel restrictions put in place internationally to fight the 
pandemic hit the sector hard, with income falling by almost 65% between 2019 and 2020. In late 
2021 and early 2022, the sector sho wed signs of recovery and, during the fourth quarter of 2021 
and the first two quarters of 2022, the largest number of tourists in the country's history was 
recorded in each of these quarters.  
Table 4.17 Tourism indicators, 2015 -22 (June)  
 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  2022  
Contribution to GDPa (%)  7.8 7.8 7.8 7.6 7.4 4.1 5.3 5.6 
Contribution to services 
GDPa (%)  12.7 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.3 7.0 9.5 10.2 
Employment (%)  7.9 7.5 7.6 7.1 7.4 6.5 6.8 7.4 
Incomeb 6,115.9  6,719.6  7,184.1  7,547.7  7,471.5  2,674.8  5,686.5  .. 
FDIb 671.9  790.0  704.0  854.2  994.2  954.0  961.8  .. 
% of the total FDI  30.5 32.8 19.7 33.7 32.9 37.3 31.0 .. 
Tax incomec 7,631.3  8,029.4  8,500.8  9,803.9  10,986.
5 5,015.6  9,577.4  .. 
Tourist arrivalsd 5.6 6.0 6.2 6.6 6.4 2.4 5.0 .. 
Dominican  0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.7 1.3 .. 
Foreign  4.8 5.1 5.4 5.6 5.4 1.7 3.7 .. 
Average spende 129.6  130.7  133.5  136.5  136.2  129.6  129.5  .. 
Stay (nights)  8.3 8.5 8.6 8.4 8.5 9.1 9.6 .. 
Hotels  724 751 762 876 887 905 894 .. 
Rooms  72,192  73,578  77,947  80,703  83,041  35,036  78,136  .. 
Occupancy rate (%)  76 78 77 78 72 41 n.a. .. 
.. Not available.  
a At current prices.  
b USD million.  
c  Includes the foreign passenger exit tax and the tourist card fee. DOP million.  
d Non-resident arrivals by air, in millions.  
e Data for non -resident foreigners, in USD.  
Source:  Economic statistics for the tourism subsector and the external sector compiled b y the Central Bank 
and tourism statistics from the National Statistics Office, viewed at: http://www.bancentral.gov.do ; 
http://www.one.gob.do ; and data provided by the authorities.  
4.213.   The Tourism Law continued to regulate the tourism sector during the review period.252 By 
virtue of this law, the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) regulates tourism activities and implements 
tourism policy.  
4.214.   According to the authorities, tourist secto r development in the Dominican Republic is highly 
dependent on the "sun and beach" sector (approximately 70% of the accommodation offering) and 
a separation from local economies and communities, due to the use of the "all -inclusive" model.253 
The constructi on of the Amber Cove terminal for cruise ships has boosted the sector. However, it 
has not led to a diversification of the development model or a movement away from tourist enclaves.  
 
250 The Central Bank estimates the contribution of tourism to GDP, employment and income based on 
data on the hotel, bar and restaurant subsectors, which do not reflect the entire impact of tourism on 
Dominican economi c activity.  
251 The tourism sector attracts large amounts of FDI to the country and, with the exception of 2017, a 
third of the national annual FDI flows went to this sector.  
252 Law No.  541-69, as amended by Law No.  84-79. 
253 Multi-Year Public Sector Plan  2021-24, aligned with the National Development Strategy 2030 
(Law No. 1 -12). WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 142 - 
  4.215.   In addition to the lack of diversity in its tourism offering, the sector is facing other obstacles, 
such as the need to improve transport infrastructure and the lack of productive linkages with national 
industry. To mitigate these difficulties, the Government is proposing to promote health and wellness 
tourism; provide technica l assistance to air transport; improve airport infrastructure; and attract 
tourism to protected areas in order to promote sustainable and socially inclusive tourism. There are 
also 26 tourism clusters, which are business clusters that seek to pursue initia tives that diversify the 
country 's tourism offering.254 
4.216.   The digitalization of MITUR  services has helped to bring more foreign investment into the 
country. There are no limitations on foreign investment in the tourism sector in the 
Dominican  Republic. The largest foreign investors are from the United States, Canada, Spain, 
Mexico, Italy a nd Austria, in descending order of investment. The State does not own any stakes in 
tourism service companies.  
4.217.   Tourism service providers must have a licence issued by MITUR in order to operate.255 The 
Tourism Law and a number of regulations classify the dif ferent tourism services and stipulate the 
procedures for providing them.256 Licences are only granted to Dominican nationals or residents. 
However, under exceptional circumstances, temporary licences are granted to non -residents to 
provide tourism services.  To operate in the Dominican Republic, travel agencies and tour operators 
based abroad must appoint a local representative. Foreign guides may only operate in the country 
under exceptional circumstances, such as when there is no local guide to provide the service.257 
Providers of tourist guide, accommodation and transport services may not charge higher prices than 
those set by MITUR.258 
4.218.   The Dominican Republic offers tax and tariff incentives for developing tourism projects 
throughout Dominican territory to al l natural or legal persons domiciled in the country 
(Table  4.18).259 The incentives are granted once the Technical Board of the Council for Tourism 
Development (CONFOTUR), a MITUR agency, approves the Final Classification of  the tourism project 
recognizing it as eligible, and the Ministry of Finance has performed a cost -benefit analysis of the 
project.260 Hotel facilities, resorts or hotel complexes that were built more  than 5 or 15 years ago 
can also apply for incentives for modernizing and refurbishing the ir facilities. For facilities built more 
than 15 years ago, all the benefits earmarked for new projects may be granted on the condition that 
the refurbishment work covers more than 50% of the hotel's infrastructure. An application for a 
Provisional Classif ication, which is valid for a year and may be renewed once, may be made should 
the project have not obtained all of the permits required for the Final Classification; in this instance, 
only some of the incentives are provided (Article 15 of Decree  No. 372-14).261 
Table 4.18 Tax incentives for tourism projects or tourism activities  
Project type  Incentives  
New projectsa – Exemption from income tax for 15 years from the conclusion of construction 
and fitting -out work for the project.  
– Exemption from national and municipal taxes for incorporating companies; for 
capital increases in companies that have already been incorporated; and for 
sales, exchanges or transfers of property rights.  
 
254 National Competition Council. Online information. Viewed at: 
http://www.competitividad.org.do/clusteres/turi smo. 
255 Article 4 of Law No.  541-69, as amended by Law No.  84-79. Requirements for obtaining and 
renewing authorizations, available online: https://servicios.mitur.gob.do/app/listOfServices /3. 
256 Decrees No.  813-03 (gift shops classification and standards), No.  814-03 (car rentals), No.  815-03 
(travel agencies and tour operators classification and standards), No.  816-03 (restaurant classification and 
standards), No.  817-03 (tourist land passe nger transport) and No.  818-03 (hotel operations).  
257 Articles 18 and 23 of Law No.  541-69, as amended by Law No.  84-79. 
258 Articles 4, 25 and 44 of Law No.  541-69, as amended by Law No.  84-79. Regulations No.  2.119 -84 
(tourism transport tariff in Santo Domi ngo), No.  2.120 -84 (tourism transport tariff in Puerto Plata) and 
No. 2.121 -84 (guide tariff in Santo Domingo).  
259 Law No.  158-01, as amended by Laws No.  184-02, No. 318 -04 and No. 195 -13, and its 
implementing regulations (Decree No. 372 -14).  
260 Projects ar e submitted in accordance with a guide prepared by CONFOTUR (Resolution No. 109 -15 of 
the CONFOTUR). Online information. Viewed at: https://confotur.mitur.gob.do/wp -
content/uploads/2021/11/Guia -para-acceder -incentivos -Beneficios -Ley-No158 -01.pdf .  
261 The requirements for obtaining the different classifications are available to view online at: 
https://confotur.mitur.gob.do/index.php/requisitos -clasificacion -provisional/  and the application can be made 
through the MITUR online services platform: https://servicios.mitur.gob.do/app/listOfServices/2 . WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 143 - 
  Project type  Incentives  
– Exemption from the ITBIS, the ISC and the levy on machinery, equipment, 
materials and movable property required for fitting out the tourism facility for 
the first time and starting up its operations.  
Hotel facilities, resorts or 
hotel complexes built more 
than 5 years a go – Exemption from the ITBIS, the ISC and the levy on local purchases and imports 
of machinery, equipment, materials and movable property required for 
modernizing, enhancing and renovating these facilities.  
Hotel facilities, resorts or 
hotel complexes b uilt more 
than 15 years agob – Exemption from income tax for 15 years from the conclusion of refurbishment 
work.  
– Exemption from national and municipal taxes for incorporating companies; for 
capital increases in companies that have already been incorporated; and for 
sales, exchanges or transfers of property rights.  
– Exemption from the ITBIS, the ISC and the levy on machinery, equipment, 
materials and movable property required for renovating them.  
a Hotel facilities, resorts and/or hotel complex es; convention, exhibition and congress centres; 
ecological, theme or amusement parks; and port and maritime infrastructure for tourism, among 
others, are eligible for these incentives (Article 3 of Law No. 158 -01). 
b In order to qualify for all of these b enefits, the renovation work must cover more than 50% of the 
hotel facilities.  
Source:  Guía para la presentación de Proyectos Turísticos para acceder a los Incentivos y Beneficios de la 
Ley Nº 158 -01. Online information. Viewed at: https://confotur.mitur.gob.do/wp -
content/uploads/2021/11/Guia -para-acceder -incentivos -Beneficios -Ley-No158 -01.pdf . 
4.219.   The continuous and uninterrupted op eration of an approved project must begin within 
three  years, while the tax exemption will last for 15 years in all instances.262 The exemption on 
tariffs applies only to the capital assets required to initiate the project and must be assessed and 
approved by the CONFOTUR, which will determine the assets (amounts, characteristics and 
components) that will be exempted based on the project investment and the cost -benefit analysis 
issued by the Ministry of Finance.263 
4.220.   During the first five years of the project, companies and investors may also deduct up to 
20% of their investments in tourism projects from their net taxable income. Tourism service 
companies located in border provinces may apply for the incentives outlined in Law No. 158 -01 or 
in Law No. 1 2-21 on Special Comprehensive Border Development Zone (Sections 2.4 and 3.3). 
However, tourism in the Border Development Zone is still rather limited.  
4.221.   In 2021, more than 60 companies benefited from the incentive scheme for tourism 
development, and obtained  incentives and exemptions worth USD 336.9 million the same year. Of 
this amount, 23.7% corresponds to tariff exemptions.  
4.222.   The Official Tourism Promotion Fund, administered by MITUR in partnership with the private 
sector, is responsible for promoting the Do minican Republic as a tourism destination. This Fund is 
financed through proceeds from Tourism Card payments (USD 10 per passenger)264 and aviation 
taxes (USD 3.25 per passenger upon entry and exit).265 As a result, in 2022, DOP 6.5 billion was 
allocated to MITUR.266 A combined strategy (the "Tourism in Every Corner" campaign) was launched, 
setting out to broaden the reach of tourism activities and strengthening the image of the country as 
a tourism destination in the main countries of origin for tourists to t he Dominican Republic. MITUR 
has a network of more than 50 Tourism Promotion Offices, including 22 located abroad.  
 
 
262 Online information. Viewed at: https://confotur.mitur.gob.do/wp -content/uploads/2021/11/Guia -
para-acceder -incentivos -Beneficios -Ley-No158 -01.pdf . 
263 Decree No. 372-14. CONFOTUR Resolution No. 28 -2018 sets out the materials not approved, as well 
as how the lists of exemptions should be presented for assessment.  
264 Visa-exempt tourists (Law No. 199 -67) have to pay for the Tourist Card. Since 2018, this fee has 
been included in the price of airline tickets. There are some payment exceptions depending on the agreements 
which the Dominican Republic may have. Online information. Viewed at: 
https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Paginas/default.aspx . 
265 Law No. 158 -01 and amendments thereto; and Decree No. 99 -14. 
266 Law No. 345 -21. WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 144 - 
  5  APPENDIX TABLES  
Table  A1.1 Exports of consumer goods and re -exports by HS section and main 
HS chapter , 2015 -21 
(USD million and %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total exports  (USD million ) 9,389 9,785 10,225 10,758 11,287 9,853 11,832 
 consumer goods , re-exports  (% of total 
exports ) 42.5 45.0 43.4 42.9 43.7 40.9 39.6 
 free zones  (% of total exports ) 57.5 55.0 56.6 57.1 56.3 59.1 60.4 
 (USD  million ) 
Exports of consumer goods and re -exports  3,995 4,399 4,442 4,610 4,935 4,025 4,688 
 (% of exports of consumer goods and re -exports ) 
1 – Live animals; animal products  1.5 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.4 0.6 0.4 
 03. Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and 
other aquatic invertebrates  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.2 
 04. Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural 
honey; edible products of animal origin  0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 
 02. Meat and edible meat offal  0.4 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.1 
2 – Vegetable products   12.9 13.8 10.5 10.6 11.1 10.7 9.2 
 08. Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit 
or melons  8.7 10.1 7.4 7.2 7.5 7.8 6.3 
 11. Products of the milling industry; malt; 
starches; inulin; wheat gluten  2.1 1.6 1.2 1.3 2.0 1.3 1.3 
 07. Edible vegetables and certain roots and 
tubers  1.1 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.2 
3 – Animal or vegetable fats and oils  1.2 1.3 1.1 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.4 
4 - Prepared foodstuffs;  
beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco  and 
manufactured tobacco substitutes  16.1 14.9 12.5 13.5 13.0 12.7 12.5 
 17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  2.9 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.2 3.3 3.0 
 22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  3.5 3.3 3.0 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.5 
 18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  3.2 2.9 1.5 2.2 1.9 2.4 2.3 
 21. Miscellaneous edible preparations  3.2 2.8 2.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.6 
 19. Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or 
milk 0.9 0.8 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.5 
 20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts 
or other parts of plants  1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.0 1.0 1.1 
5 – Mineral products  14.6 11.8 14.0 15.1 12.5 2.9 7.1 
 27. Mineral fuels; bituminous substances; 
mineral waxe s 10.3 8.5 10.8 11.8 9.9 0.7 4.1 
 25. Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; 
plastering materials, lime and cement  2.5 1.8 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 
 26. Ores, slag and ash  1.7 1.4 1.4 1.4 0.8 0.5 1.2 
6 - Products of the chemical or allied 
industries  3.2 2.8 3.2 5.3 4.3 3.8 3.6 
 33. Essential oils; perfumery  or cosmetic 
preparations  0.7 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 
 34. Soap, organic surface -active agents, 
washing preparations  and lubricating 
preparations  0.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 
 31. Fertilisers  0.6 0.6 0.6 2.6 2.0 0.6 0.6 
 29. Organic chemicals  0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.5 
 30. Pharmaceutical products  0.2 0.1 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.6 0.5 
7 - Plastics and articles thereof  6.2 5.5 5.1 4.4 4.4 5.8 6.5 
 39. Plastics and articles thereof  6.0 5.3 5.0 4.3 4.3 5.7 6.4 
8 - Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins 
and articles  thereof; saddlery and harness  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
9 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
10 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous 
cellulosic material;  paper and paperboard 
and articles thereof  1.6 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.1 1.6 1.6 
 48. Paper and paperboard; articles of 
paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard  1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.9 1.3 1.2 
11 - Textiles and textile articles  0.6 0.7 4.3 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.5 
12 - Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun 
umbrellas,  walking -sticks, seat -sticks, whips, 
riding -crops and  parts thereof; prepared 
feathers and articles made  therewith  0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 
13 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, 
asbestos, mica  or similar materials; ceramic 
products;  glass and glassware  0.6 0.7 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.7 0.8 
 69. Ceramic products  0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 145 - 
  Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
14 - Natural or cultured pearls, precious or 
semi-precious  stones, precious metals  32.0 37.2 34.6 31.3 32.8 43.8 38.1 
 7108. Gold (including gold plated with 
platinum) unwrought or in 
semi-manufactured forms, or in powder 
form 31.6 36.7 34.5 31.2 32.7 43.7 38.0 
 7113. Articles of jewellery and parts 
thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad 
with precious metal  0.1 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 
15 - Base metals and articles of base metal  4.4 5.1 7.5 9.9 11.3 12.6 14.9 
 72. Iron and steel  3.3 4.1 6.5 8.4 9.9 11.0 13.2 
 73. Articles of iron or steel  0.8 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 
 76. Aluminium and articles thereof  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 
16 - Machinery and mechanical appliances;  
electrical equipment; parts thereof  2.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 3.7 1.6 1.6 
 85. Electrical machinery and equipment 
and parts thereof; sound recorders and 
reproducers, television image and sound 
recorders and reproducers, and parts and 
accessories of such articles  0.9 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.7 0.8 1.0 
17 - Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated  
transport equipment  0.6 0.3 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 
18 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, 
measuring,  checking  or precision  instruments  
and apparatus , etc. 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 
19 - Arms and ammunition; parts and 
accessories thereof  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
20 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles  0.8 0.6 0.6 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.6 
21 - Works of art, collectors' pieces and 
antiques  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Other 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Sourc e: WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX.  
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 146 - 
  Table  A1.2 Export s from free zones by HS section and main HS chapter , 2015 -21 
(USD million and %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD million) 
Export s from free zones  5,394 5,386 5,709 6,035 6,249 5,828 7,143 
 (% of exports from free zones ) 
1 - Live animals; animal products  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
2 - Vegetable products  1.3 1.5 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.6 1.8 
 08. Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or 
melons  0.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.0 
 07. Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers  0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 
 06. Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the 
like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 13. Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and 
extracts  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
3 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
4 - Prepared foodstuffs ; beverages, spirits and vinegar; 
tobacco  and manufactured tobacco substitutes  17.3 17.9 18.0 18.3 18.3 19.3 20.6 
 24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes  13.0 13.8 14.2 14.2 14.5 15.9 17.2 
 18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  2.5 2.1 1.4 2.0 1.6 1.7 1.5 
 22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.0 
 20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other 
parts of plants  0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.7 
5 – Mineral products  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
6 - Products of the chemical or allied industries  8.0 8.3 9.5 9.9 9.8 9.9 8.3 
 30. Pharmaceutical products  5.8 6.0 7.4 8.0 7.9 7.6 6.1 
 33. Essential oils; perfumery or cosmetic 
preparations  1.2 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.1 
 34. Soap, organic surface -active agents, washing 
preparations and lubricating preparations  0.5 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.7 
7 - Plastics and articles thereof  2.5 2.4 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.9 3.5 
 39. Plastics and articles thereof  2.5 2.3 2.3 2.6 2.4 2.9 3.5 
8 - Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and articles 
thereof; saddlery and harness  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 
9 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
10 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; 
paper and paperboard and articles thereof  0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.8 0.9 1.2 
 48. Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of 
paper or of paperboard  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8 1.0 
11 - Textiles and textile articles  23.2 20.4 19.3 18.6 17.3 10.8 11.8 
 61. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, 
knitted or crocheted  10.3 10.0 9.9 10.4 9.8 5.3 6.2 
 52. Cotton  4.2 2.0 2.2 2.9 2.7 2.0 2.6 
 62. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not 
knitted or crocheted  6.2 5.8 5.0 3.3 2.9 1.2 1.3 
 63. Other made up textile articles; sets; worn 
clothing and worn textile articles; rags  1.6 1.9 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.7 1.2 
12 - Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, 
walking -sticks, seat -sticks, whips, riding -crops and parts 
thereof; prepared feathers and articles made therewith  8.3 6.9 6.9 5.1 4.6 3.6 2.9 
 64. Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such 
articles  8.2 6.8 6.8 5.1 4.6 3.5 2.8 
13 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or 
similar materials; ceramic products; glass and glassware  0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
14 - Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi -
precious stones, precious metals  7.3 7.4 7.5 8.1 8.4 7.5 10.8 
 7113. Articles of jewellery and parts thereof, of 
precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal  6.8 6.8 7.0 7.4 6.7 6.3 8.4 
 7112. Waste and scrap of precious metal or of metal 
clad with precious metal; other waste and scrap 
containing precious metal or precious metal 
compounds, of a kind used principally for the 
recovery of precious metal  0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.7 0.7 0.9 
 7108. Gold (including gold plated with platinum) 
unwrought or in semi -manufactured forms, or in 
powder form  0.2 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.7 
 7110. Platinum, unwrought or in semi-manufactured 
forms, or in powder form  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.6 0.4 0.6 
15 - Base metals and articles of base metal  1.6 1.8 1.5 2.0 2.3 2.3 2.8 
 76. Aluminium and articles thereof  0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.3 
 83. Miscellaneous articles of base metal  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.9 0.8 0.7 
 72. Iron and steel  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 
 73. Articles of iron or steel  0.2 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 
16 - Machinery and mechanical appliances;  electrical 
equipment; parts thereof  10.5 11.3 14.8 16.1 16.9 20.7 17.6 
 85. Electrical machinery and equipment; sound and 
image recorders and reproducers  9.9 10.8 14.0 15.6 16.1 19.5 16.0 
17 - Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated  
transport equipment  0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 147 - 
  Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
18 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, 
checking or precision instruments  and apparatus  18.3 20.3 16.9 15.5 15.6 18.5 16.5 
 90. Optical, photographic, cinematographic, 
measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical  
instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories 
thereof  18.3 20.3 16.9 15.5 15.6 18.5 16.5 
20 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles  0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.7 
 96. Miscellaneous manufactured articles  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.9 1.1 1.3 
21 - Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 148 - 
  Table  A1.3 Total imports (f.o.b. ) by HS section and main HS chapter , 2015 -21 
(USD million and %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total imports  (f.o.b., USD million) 17,102 17,816 18,120 20,356 20,415 17,118 24,487 
 consumer goods , other (% of total imports ) 78.5 79.0 78.2 80.3 79.8 78.2 80.3 
 free zones  (% of total imports ) 21.5 21.0 21.8 19.7 20.2 21.8 19.7 
 (% of total imports ) 
1 - Live animals; animal products  2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.9 3.4 3.3 
 02. Meat and edible meat offal  0.9 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 
 04. Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; 
edible products of animal origin  1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.2 
 03. Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other 
aquatic invertebrates  0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 
2 – Vegetable products   4.1 3.9 4.4 3.9 4.2 4.8 4.5 
 10. Cereals  2.1 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.4 
 12. Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; 
miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial 
or medicinal plants;  straw and fodder  0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 1.0 0.7 0.7 
 08. Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or 
melons  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 
 07. Edible vegetables and certain roots and 
tubers  0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.4 
 09. Coffee, tea, maté and spices  0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
 11. Products of the milling industry; malt; 
starches; inulin; wheat gluten  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 
3 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils  1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.5 
4 - Prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and 
vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  7.6 7.6 7.3 7.0 7.1 8.9 7.4 
 24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  1.6 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.9 2.4 1.8 
 22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  1.4 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.7 
 19. Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 
 21. Miscellaneous edible preparations  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.2 0.9 
 23. Residues and waste from the food industries; 
prepared animal fodder  0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.6 
 20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or 
other parts of plants  0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 
5 – Mineral products  15.7 13.9 16.6 19.2 18.4 12.5 16.9 
 27. Mineral fuels; bituminous substances; 
mineral waxe s 15.4 13.7 16.5 19.0 18.2 12.1 16.4 
 25. Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering 
materials, lime and cement  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 
6 - Products of the chemical or allied industries  9.1 9.0 9.1 8.5 8.7 10.1 10.3 
 30. Pharmaceutical products  3.2 3.4 3.3 2.9 3.2 3.9 5.0 
 33. Essential oils; perfumery or cosmetic 
preparations  1.3 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.1 
 38. Miscellaneous chemical products  1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.0 
 29. Organic chemicals  0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.9 0.8 
 31. Fertilisers  0.7 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 
 32. Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their 
derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring 
matter;  paints and varnishes; putty and other 
mastics; inks  0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 
7 - Plastics and articles thereof  8.3 8.4 8.4 7.8 7.7 8.8 8.7 
 39. Plastics and articles thereof  7.2 7.4 7.4 6.9 6.8 7.8 7.8 
 40. Rubber and articles thereof  1.1 1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 
8 - Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and 
articles thereof; saddlery and harness  0.9 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.4 
9 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 
 44. Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.8 1.0 
10 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic 
material; paper and paperboard and articles thereof  3.1 2.9 3.1 2.9 2.8 3.0 2.9 
 48. Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, 
of paper or of paperboard  2.7 2.5 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.8 2.6 
 49. Printed books, newspapers, pictures ; 
manuscripts  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
11 - Textiles and textile articles  7.4 6.2 6.2 5.4 5.1 5.5 4.6 
 52. Cotton  2.8 2.1 2.1 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.6 
 63. Other made up textile articles; sets; worn 
clothing and worn textile articles; rags  0.8 0.6 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.5 0.7 
 62. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, 
not knitted or crocheted  0.9 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 
 55. Man-made staple fibres  1.0 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.6 0.5 
12 - Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, 
walking -sticks, seat -sticks, whips, riding -crops and 
parts thereof; prepared feathers and articles made 
therewith  1.1 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 149 - 
  Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 64. Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such 
articles  1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 
13 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, 
mica or similar materials; ceramic products; glass 
and glassware  1.7 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.7 
 69. Ceramic products  0.7 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 
 70. Glass and glassware  0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 
14 - Natural or cultured pearls, precious or 
semi-precious  stones, precious metals  2.1 2.4 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.8 3.4 
15 - Base metals and articles of base metal  7.0 6.4 6.3 7.0 6.9 6.9 8.3 
 72. Iron and steel  3.0 2.1 2.5 3.2 2.8 2.7 3.9 
 73. Articles of iron or steel  2.2 2.6 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.3 
 76. Aluminium and articles thereof  0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.9 1.0 
 83. Miscellaneous articles of base metal  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 
16 - Machinery and mechanical appliances;  electrical 
equipment; parts thereof  16.1 18.5 16.4 16.7 16.5 17.5 14.5 
 84. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and 
mechanical appliances  8.1 10.1 7.8 8.2 8.2 9.2 7.9 
 85. Electrical machinery and equipment; sound 
and image recorders and reproducers  8.0 8.4 8.6 8.5 8.4 8.3 6.7 
17 - Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated  
transport equipment  7.0 8.2 7.2 7.0 7.6 7.1 7.1 
 87. Vehicles other than railway or tramway 
rolling -stock, and parts and accessories thereof  6.9 7.9 7.2 6.8 7.5 6.8 7.1 
18 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, 
measuring, checking or precision instruments and 
apparatus  1.8 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.9 1.7 1.2 
 90. Optical, photographic  or precision, medical or 
surgical  instruments and apparatus  1.7 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.8 1.7 1.1 
19 - Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories 
thereof  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
20 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles  2.2 2.4 2.2 2.1 2.3 1.9 1.6 
 94. Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress 
supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings  1.1 1.3 1.1 1.1 1.2 0.9 0.8 
 96. Miscellaneous manufactured articles  0.8 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 
21 - Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 150 - 
  Table  A1.4 Imports of consumer goods and reimports (f.o.b. ) by HS section and main 
HS chapter , 2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Total imports  (f.o.b. , USD  million ) 17,102 17,816 18,120 20,356 20,415 17,118 24,487 
Consumer goods, other (% of total imports)  78.5 79.0 78.2 80.3 79.8 78.2 80.3 
 free zones  (% of total imports ) 21.5 21.0 21.8 19.7 20.2 21.8 19.7 
 (USD  million ) 
 Import s of consumer goods and reimports  13,431 14,079 14,178 16,340 16,293 13,381 19,661 
 (% of national  imports and reimports ) 
1 - Live animals; animal products  3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.6 4.4 4.1 
 02. Meat and edible meat offal 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.7 
 04. Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; 
edible products of animal origin  1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 2.0 1.5 
 03. Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other 
aquatic invertebrates  0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.0 0.8 
2 – Vegetable products  5.2 4.9 5.1 4.7 5.1 5.9 5.5 
 10. Cereals  2.6 2.4 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.8 3.0 
 12. Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; 
miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial 
or medicinal plants ; straw and fodder  0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.2 0.9 0.9 
 08. Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or 
melons  0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.5 
 07. Edible vegetables and certain roots and 
tubers  0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.5 
 09. Coffee, tea, maté and spices  0.6 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 
3 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils  1.4 1.4 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.7 1.8 
4 - Prepared foodstuffs;  beverages, spirits and 
vinegar; tobacco  and manufactured tobacco 
substitutes  7.3 7.3 7.0 6.4 6.2 8.0 6.7 
 22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  1.5 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.7 
 19. Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk  1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.7 1.2 
 21. Miscellaneous edible preparations  1.2 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.2 
5 – Mineral products  19.9 17.5 21.1 23.8 23.0 15.9 20.9 
 27. Mineral fuels; bituminous substances; 
mineral waxes  19.6 17.3 20.9 23.6 22.7 15.4 20.4 
6 - Products of the chemical or allied industries  10.2 9.9 10.0 9.2 9.4 11.7 11.8 
 30. Pharmaceutical products  4.0 4.2 4.1 3.5 3.9 4.8 6.1 
 38. Miscellaneous chemical products  1.1 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.6 1.2 
 33. Essential oils; perfumery or cosmetic 
preparations  1.2 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.1 
7 - Plastics and articles thereof  5.8 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.3 5.7 6.0 
 39. Plastics and articles thereof  4.6 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.3 4.6 4.9 
 40. Rubber and articles thereof  1.2 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 
8 - Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and 
articles  thereof; saddlery and harness  0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
9 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.2 
10 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic 
material; paper and paperboard and articles thereof  2.7 2.5 2.8 2.5 2.3 2.4 2.2 
 48. Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, 
of paper or of paperboard  2.3 2.1 2.3 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 
 49. Printed books, newspapers, pictures; 
manuscripts  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 
11 – Textiles and textile articles  2.5 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.3 3.4 2.3 
 63. Other made up textile articles; sets; worn 
clothing and worn textile articles; rags  0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 1.6 0.6 
 62. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, 
not knitted or crocheted  0.7 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 
 61. Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, 
knitted or crocheted  0.6 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 
12 - Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, 
walking -sticks, seat -sticks, whips, riding -crops and 
parts thereof; prepared feathers and articles made 
therewith  0.9 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 
13 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, 
mica or similar materials; ceramic products; glass 
and glassware  2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.2 2.2 2.1 
 69. Ceramic products  0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 1.0 
14 - Natural or cultured pearls, precious or 
semi-precious  stones, precious metals  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
15 - Base metals and articles of base metal  7.9 7.0 6.8 7.6 7.3 7.3 8.6 
 72. Iron and steel  3.7 2.5 3.1 3.9 3.4 3.4 4.8 
 73. Articles of iron or steel  2.5 2.8 2.0 2.0 2.1 2.0 2.1 
 76. Aluminium and articles thereof  0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.8 
16 - Machinery and mechanical appliances;  
electrical equipment; parts thereof  16.3 18.9 15.7 16.0 15.9 16.5 14.1 
 84. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and 
mechanical appliances  8.9 11.4 8.3 8.8 8.6 9.6 8.3 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 151 - 
  Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 85. Electrical machinery and equipment; sound 
and image recorders and reproducers  7.4 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.4 6.9 5.8 
17 - Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated  
transport equipment  8.9 10.2 9.2 8.8 9.4 9.0 8.9 
 87. Vehicles other than railway or tramway 
rolling -stock  8.7 10.0 9.1 8.4 9.4 8.7 8.8 
18 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, 
measuring, checking or precision instruments and 
apparatus  1.6 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.2 
 90. Optical, photographic or precision, medical or 
surgical instruments and apparatus  1.5 1.7 1.6 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.2 
19 - Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories 
thereof  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
20 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles  2.5 2.7 2.6 2.4 2.7 2.2 1.8 
 94. Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress 
supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings  1.3 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.1 1.0 
21 - Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 152 - 
  Table  A1.5 Free zone i mport s (f.o.b. ) by HS section and main HS chapter , 2015 -21 
(USD m illion and %) 
Description  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
Free zone imports  (f.o.b. , USD million ) 3,670 3,736 3,941 4,016 4,122 3,737 4,826 
 (% of free zone imports ) 
1 - Live animals; animal products  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 
2 - Vegetable products  0.3 0.4 1.6 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.5 
 13. Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and 
extracts  0.2 0.2 1.5 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.4 
 08. Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
 07. Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 
3 - Animal or vegetable fats and oils  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
4 - Prepared foodstuffs;  beverages, spirits and vinegar; 
tobacco  and manufactured tobacco substitutes  8.5 8.7 8.3 9.4 10.6 11.9 10.4 
 24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes  7.3 7.2 6.9 8.0 9.1 10.8 8.8 
 22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar  0.7 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.8 1.4 
 17. Sugars and sugar confectionery  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 
 20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts 
of plants  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
 18. Cocoa and cocoa preparations  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 
 21. Miscellaneous edible preparations  0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 
5 - Mineral products  0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 
 27. Mineral fuels; bituminous substances; mineral waxes  0.4 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 
6 - Products of the chemical or allied industries  5.0 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.9 4.5 4.4 
 33. Essential oils; perfumery or cosmetic preparations  1.5 1.9 2.0 1.9 2.7 1.4 1.3 
 32. Tanning or dyeing extracts; dyes, pigments;  paints 
and varnishes  0.8 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 
 30. Pharmaceutical products  0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.6 
 38. Miscellaneous chemical products  0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 
 29. Organic chemicals  0.8 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.5 
7 - Plastics and articles thereof  17.4 19.0 18.5 17.1 17.3 19.8 19.7 
 39. Plastics and articles thereof  16.8 18.6 18.1 16.7 17.0 19.5 19.4 
 40. Rubber and articles thereof  0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
8 - Raw hides and skins, leather, furskins and articles 
thereof; saddlery and harness  3.3 2.6 2.1 2.0 1.5 0.9 1.2 
 41. Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and 
leather  2.9 2.2 1.7 1.7 1.2 0.8 1.0 
9 - Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  0.5 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
 44. Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal  0.5 0.6 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
10 - Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; 
paper and paperboard and articles thereof  4.4 4.2 4.5 4.6 4.4 5.2 5.6 
 48. Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of 
paper or of paperboard  4.2 4.0 4.3 4.4 4.3 5.0 5.4 
 49. Printed books, newspapers, pictures; manuscripts  0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 
11 - Textiles and textile articles  25.1 20.2 18.8 18.3 16.2 12.9 14.2 
 52. Cotton  12.4 9.4 9.0 9.1 8.2 6.1 7.9 
 55. Man-made staple fibres  3.7 4.0 3.7 3.8 2.7 1.9 1.6 
 63. Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing 
and worn textile articles; rags  1.9 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.1 
 54. Man-made filaments  0.9 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.8 
 56. Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, 
cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof  0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.7 
 58. Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; 
tapestries  1.1 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.7 
 60. Knitted or crocheted fabrics  1.2 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 
12 - Footwear, headgear, umbrellas, sun umbrellas, 
walking -sticks, seat -sticks, whips, riding -crops and parts 
thereof; prepared feathers and articles made therewith  1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 1.0 0.8 0.8 
 64. Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles  1.7 1.5 1.3 1.1 1.0 0.7 0.8 
13 - Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or 
similar materials; ceramic products; glass and glassware  0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 
 70. Glass and glassware  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 
14 - Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi -precious 
stones, precious metals  9.6 11.2 12.4 12.7 13.8 12.7 16.8 
 71. Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi -precious 
stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal 
and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin  9.6 11.2 12.4 12.7 13.8 12.7 16.8 
15 - Base metals and articles of base metal  4.0 4.4 4.3 4.8 5.1 5.6 6.8 
 73. Articles of iron or steel  1.4 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.5 3.0 3.2 
 76. Aluminium and articles thereof  0.8 0.9 0.6 1.0 0.9 1.2 1.8 
 83. Miscellaneous articles of base metal  0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.7 
 72. Iron and steel  0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 
16 - Machinery and mechanical appliances;  
electrical equipment; parts thereof  15.2 17.0 18.7 19.3 18.9 21.0 16.5 
 85. Electrical machinery and equipment; sound and 
image recorders and reproducers  10.0 11.9 12.9 13.4 12.2 13.0 10.5 
17 - Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated  transport 
equipment  0.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 153 - 
  Description  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
18 - Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, 
checking or precision instruments and apparatus  2.6 2.5 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.1 1.2 
 90. Optical, photographic or precision, medical or 
surgical instruments and apparatus  2.5 2.4 1.8 2.2 2.4 2.0 1.1 
19 - Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereo f 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
20 - Miscellaneous manufactured articles  1.0 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.8 
21 - Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 154 - 
  Table  A1.6 Expor ts of consumer goods and re -exports by trading partner , 2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD  million ) 
Exports of consumer goods and re -exports  3,995 4,399 4,442 4,610 4,935 4,025 4,688 
 (% of exports of consumer goods and re -exports ) 
America 61.8 55.4 58.8 56.0 48.9 48.2 44.1 
 United States  15.6 12.7 14.9 16.1 17.6 19.1 20.5 
 Other  America 46.1 42.6 44.0 39.9 31.3 29.1 23.6 
 Haiti 20.9 18.7 19.6 19.4 17.6 11.8 12.4 
 Jamaica  1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.6 2.3 
 Panam a 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.5 1.6 
 Trinidad and Tobago  0.6 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.7 0.7 
 Costa Rica  0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.6 
 Guyana  0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 
 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  1.1 0.1 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.5 
 Curaçao 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 
 Barbados  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
 Cuba 1.2 1.6 1.0 0.8 0.9 0.5 0.3 
 Saint Martin  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 
 Ecuador  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 
 Guatemala  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
 Turks and Caicos Islands  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
 Canad a 16.4 16.7 16.9 13.0 6.4 9.1 0.2 
Europ e 11.8 20.2 14.9 13.7 26.6 40.6 33.4 
 EU-27 6.4 8.0 6.9 8.3 8.8 9.8 11.6 
 Netherlands  0.9 1.1 1.2 3.0 3.3 5.0 4.8 
 Finland  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.2 
 Belgium  1.0 1.2 1.3 0.5 0.6 0.7 1.2 
 Italy 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 1.1 
 Sweden  0.9 1.6 1.0 0.4 0.9 1.1 1.0 
 EFTA 1.6 7.7 5.3 3.1 15.7 28.7 20.3 
 Switzerland  1.4 7.6 5.3 3.0 15.6 28.7 20.3 
 Other Europe  3.9 4.5 2.7 2.4 2.2 2.1 1.5 
 United Kingdom  3.8 4.5 2.6 2.3 2.2 2.1 1.3 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 
 Russian Federation  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 
Africa 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.0 0.2 
 Senegal  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
 Cabo Verde  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Middle East  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Asia 16.2 15.7 15.4 18.1 14.6 10.9 22.0 
 China  2.1 2.1 1.8 2.4 5.6 4.3 5.3 
 Japan 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
 Other  Asia 14.1 13.6 13.5 15.7 8.9 6.6 16.6 
 India 13.8 13.2 12.8 14.8 8.4 4.7 15.7 
 Malaysia 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 
 Thailand  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Korea, Rep ublic of 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 1.3 0.2 
 Viet Nam  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Other 10.0 8.2 10.4 11.4 9.6 0.0 0.0 
Memor andum:  
EU-28 10.2 12.5 9.5 10.6 10.9 11.9 12.9 
a Commonwealth of Independent States , including certain associate and former member States . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 155 - 
  Table  A1.7 Merchandise exports from free zones by trading partner , 2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD  million ) 
Free zone exports  5,394 5,386 5,709 6,035 6,249 5,828 7,143 
 (% of free zone exports ) 
America 89.2 88.4 88.3 89.2 90.0 88.1 88.7 
 United States  74.6 77.7 77.5 78.4 79.2 77.8 78.2 
 Other America  14.5 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.8 10.2 10.5 
 Haiti 9.6 6.0 5.8 5.9 5.6 4.8 5.3 
 Nicaragua  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.7 
 Colombia  0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.7 
 Honduras  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.7 
 Canad a 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 
 Costa Rica  0.4 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
 El Salvador  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 
 Mexico 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.2 
 Guatemala  0.4 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 
 Brazil 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 
 Ecuador  0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 
 Chile 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
 Jamaica  0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 
 Panam a 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.2 0.2 
Europ e 7.2 8.0 6.7 6.7 6.8 7.7 7.0 
 EU-27 6.7 7.4 6.2 6.3 6.3 7.1 6.5 
 Netherlands  2.9 3.1 2.4 2.4 2.9 3.3 2.7 
 Germany  1.4 1.4 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.1 
 Spain  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.7 
 Italy 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.6 
 Belgium  0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.6 
 EFTA 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
 Switzerland  0.3 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
 Other Europe 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 
 United Kingdom  0.3 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.3 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 
 Russian Federation  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 
Africa 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 
Middle East  0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.5 
 United Arab Emirates  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 
Asia 2.7 2.7 4.1 3.2 2.6 3.9 3.7 
 China  1.2 1.0 1.9 1.3 0.8 1.1 1.2 
 Japan 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.8 0.6 
 Other  Asia 1.2 1.4 2.0 1.7 1.5 2.0 1.8 
 Singap ore 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 
 Indonesia  0.0 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 
 Philippines  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 
 Korea, Republic of  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
 India 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Australia  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
Other 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 
Memor andum:  
EU-28 6.9 7.8 6.5 6.5 6.6 7.5 6.9 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data from COMEX . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 156 - 
  Table  A1.8 Total merchandise imports  (f.o.b. ) by trading partner , 2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD million) 
Import s (f.o.b. ) 17,102 17,816 18,120 20,356 20,415 17,118 24,487 
 (% of imports ) 
America 65.3 65.2 65.1 62.7 61.7 59.6 61.6 
 United States  41.4 42.4 44.0 43.6 42.9 40.8 43.7 
 Other America 23.9 22.8 21.0 19.0 18.8 18.8 17.9 
 Mexico 4.7 5.7 4.7 3.7 4.1 4.2 3.6 
 Brazil 3.3 4.4 3.4 3.7 3.5 2.9 3.2 
 Colombia  2.0 1.9 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.2 
 Argentina  0.7 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.7 1.5 
 Canad a 1.4 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.2 
 Costa Rica  1.4 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 
 Guatemala  1.0 0.9 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.9 0.8 
 Dominican  Republic  0.0 0.0 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.7 
 Honduras  0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 
 Peru 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 
 El Salvador  0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.5 
 Ecuador  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.5 
 Trinidad and Tobago 1.8 1.7 2.3 1.6 1.5 1.3 0.4 
 Panam a 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 
 Chile 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 
Europ e 12.2 13.5 12.4 13.6 14.6 15.5 15.2 
 EU-27 10.2 11.6 10.6 11.8 12.4 12.8 11.4 
 Spain  3.1 3.4 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.0 
 Italy 1.8 2.8 1.3 1.6 2.0 2.2 2.4 
 Germany  1.9 1.7 1.7 1.9 1.7 2.1 1.8 
 Netherlands  0.5 0.6 1.4 1.8 2.6 1.7 1.3 
 Franc e 1.0 1.0 1.1 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.9 
 EFTA 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 
 Switzerland  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 
 Norway 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 
 Other Europ e 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.6 2.0 3.2 
 Ukraine 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.2 
 United Kingdom  1.0 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.9 1.0 
 Türkiye  0.4 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.9 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.6 
 Russian Federation  1.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.6 
Africa 0.2 0.2 1.3 2.3 1.2 0.5 0.5 
 South Africa  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 Egypt 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
Middle East  0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 
 Saudi Arabia , Kingdom of  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Israel  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 
Asia 19.8 19.9 20.5 20.6 21.9 23.7 21.8 
 China  13.8 13.4 14.2 14.8 15.8 17.8 16.4 
 Japan 1.8 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.6 1.3 
 Other  Asia 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.1 
 India 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.3 
 Korea, Rep ublic of  1.5 1.6 1.5 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.2 
 Viet Nam  0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
 Thailand  0.5 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.3 
 Indonesia  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.3 
Other 1.3 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 
Memor andum:  
EU-28 11.2 12.6 11.4 12.5 13.4 13.6 12.5 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 157 - 
  Table  A1.9 Import s of consumer goods and reimports  (f.o.b. ) by trading partner , 
2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD  million ) 
Import s (f.o.b. ) 13,431 14,079 14,178 16,340 16,293 13,381 19,661 
 (% of imports ) 
America 61.4 60.8 60.3 58.4 58.4 56.4 59.3 
 United States  34.4 34.8 35.8 36.5 36.7 34.3 38.8 
 Other America 27.0 26.0 24.5 21.9 21.7 22.1 20.5 
 Mexico 5.3 6.7 5.5 4.2 4.5 5.0 4.1 
 Brazil 3.7 5.3 4.2 4.5 4.2 3.6 3.8 
 Colombia  2.4 2.2 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.7 2.7 
 Argentina  0.8 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 0.9 1.8 
 Canad a 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.4 
 Costa Rica  1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 
 Guatemala  1.2 1.1 1.1 1.0 0.9 1.1 0.9 
 Dominican Republic 0.0 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.8 
 Peru 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 
 El Salvador  0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.5 
 Honduras  0.5 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 
 Trinidad and Tobago 2.3 2.1 3.0 2.0 1.9 1.7 0.5 
Europ e 13.4 15.2 14.5 15.1 15.6 17.1 16.0 
 EU-27 11.1 13.2 12.3 13.1 13.3 13.9 11.7 
 Spain  3.8 4.2 4.1 4.3 4.1 4.0 3.6 
 Germany  2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.4 1.9 
 Netherlands  0.6 0.6 1.7 2.0 3.0 2.0 1.5 
 Italy 1.4 3.3 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.3 
 Franc e 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 
 EFTA 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.7 
 Switzerland  0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.4 
 Norway 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 
 Other Europe  1.6 1.3 1.5 1.3 1.6 2.2 3.6 
 Ukraine  0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 1.6 
 United Kingdom  1.1 0.9 0.9 0.7 0.9 0.8 1.0 
 Türkiye  0.5 0.3 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.8 1.0 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 1.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6 
 Russian Federation  1.3 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6 
Africa 0.2 0.2 1.6 2.8 1.4 0.5 0.6 
 South Africa  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Egypt 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 Ghana  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Middle East  0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.4 
 Saudi Arabia , Kingdom of  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Israel  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
Asia 22.4 22.5 22.8 22.8 24.0 25.3 23.1 
 China  15.7 15.1 15.9 16.4 17.3 19.0 17.6 
 Japan 2.1 2.7 2.3 2.1 2.3 1.9 1.5 
 Other  Asia 4.6 4.8 4.7 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.0 
 India 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.3 
 Korea, Rep ublic of  1.8 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.2 
 Viet Nam  0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 
 Thailand  0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.4 
 Malaysia 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 
Other 1.1 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Memor andum:  
EU-28 12.2 14.2 13.2 13.8 14.2 14.7 12.7 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 158 - 
  Table  A1.10 Merchandise imports into free zones  (f.o.b. ) by trading partner , 2015 -21 
(USD million and  %) 
Descrip tion 2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020  2021  
 (USD  million ) 
Free zone imports  (f.o.b. ) 3,670 3,736 3,941 4,016 4,122 3,737 4,826 
 (% of imports ) 
America 79.5 81.9 82.3 80.0 74.8 70.9 71.0 
 United States  66.8 71.2 73.8 72.6 67.6 64.2 63.8 
 Other  America 12.7 10.7 8.5 7.4 7.2 6.7 7.2 
 Mexico 2.3 1.8 1.9 1.9 2.4 1.3 1.4 
 Ecuador  0.9 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.3 
 Honduras  1.0 0.9 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.2 
 Brazil 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 
 Colombia  0.7 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.5 
 Nicaragua  0.5 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.5 
 Dominican  Republic  0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.4 
 Guatemala  0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 
 Argentina  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Costa Rica  1.0 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 
 Canad a 2.0 1.1 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
 El Salvador  0.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 
 Bolivia, Plurinational State of  0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 
 Peru 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 Haiti 1.3 1.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 Chile 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 
 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 
Europ e 7.6 7.0 5.1 7.4 10.6 10.1 11.7 
 EU-27 6.7 5.4 4.3 6.5 8.9 8.5 10.3 
 Italy 3.1 1.0 1.0 2.9 4.9 4.7 6.4 
 Germany  1.4 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.3 1.0 
 Franc e 0.6 0.8 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.8 0.8 
 Spain  0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.6 
 Netherlands  0.4 0.7 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.5 
 EFTA 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
 Switzerland  0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
 Other Europ e 0.8 1.5 0.6 0.7 1.6 1.4 1.3 
 United Kingdom  0.8 1.4 0.5 0.6 1.3 1.2 1.0 
 Türkiye  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)a 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 
 Russian Federation  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.3 
Africa 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 
 Malawi  0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
 South Africa  0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1 
Middle East  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 
 Israel  0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
Asia 10.5 10.2 12.0 12.0 13.7 18.0 16.5 
 China  6.9 6.8 8.5 8.3 9.7 13.4 11.7 
 Japan 0.9 1.1 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.4 
 Other  Asia 2.6 2.3 2.9 3.0 3.5 4.2 4.3 
 India 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.1 
 Korea, Rep ublic of  0.4 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.0 
 Indonesia  0.4 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.8 
 Philippines  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 1.2 0.5 
 Malaysia 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 
Other 1.9 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 
Memor andum  
EU-28 7.5 6.8 4.9 7.0 10.2 9.7 11.3 
a Commonwealth of Independent States, including certain associate and former member States . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data provided by the authorities . 
 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 159 - 
  Table  A2.1 Trade measures notified to the WTO , 1 January 2015 -31 August 2022  
 Type of measure notified  Frequency  WTO  document (most 
recent if submitted 
regularly ) 
Agreement on Agriculture  
Articles 10 and 18.2; ES :1 Export subsidies  On an annual basis  G/AG/N/DOM/47, 21/1/2022  
Article 18.2; DS :1 Domestic support  On an annual basis  G/AG/N/DOM/46, 23/7/2021  
Article 18.2; MA :2 Market access  - Volume of 
imports under tariff and other 
quota s On an annual basis  G/AG/N/DOM/48, 16/2/2022  
General Agreement on Trade in Services  
Article III:3 Change  in regulation affecting 
trade in scheduled sectors  Ad hoc  S/C/N/872, 3/2/2017  
Article III:4 and/or 
Article  IV:2 References of enquiry point  Ad hoc   S/ENQ/78/Rev.22, 10/2/2022  
Article V:7(a)  Conclusion of, or accession 
to, an Economic Integration 
Agreement  Once only  S/C/N/1060, 28/6/2021  
S/C/N/1017, 17/9/2020  
Enabling Clause - Regional trade agreements  
Paragraph  4(a) Regional trade agreement  Ad hoc  WT/COMTD/N/49, 21/3/2016  
GATT 1994  
Article XVII:4(a) and 
paragraph  1 of the  
Understanding on the 
Interpretation of 
Article  XVII State  trading activities  Every two years  G/STR/N/19/DOM, 9/8/2022  
Article XXVIII :5 Modification of schedules 
(reservation of the right to 
modify schedules during a 
three-year period)  Ad hoc  G/MA/388, 26/11/2020  
G/MA/339, 12/9/2017  
Article XXIV:7(a)  Formation of a free -trade 
area Ad hoc  WT/REG420/N/1, 5/5/2021  
Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the  GATT (anti -dumping)  
Article 16.4 – Ad hoc  
reports  Anti-dumping actions 
(preliminary and final)  Ad hoc  G/ADP/N/367, 15/3/2022 - 
G/ADP/N/282, 23/2/2016  
Article 16.4 – Semi-annual 
reports  Anti-dumping actions (taken 
within the preceding six 
months)  On a semi -annual 
basis G/ADP/N/370/DOM, 
24/8/2022  
Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT ( customs valuation ) 
Article 22.2 Changes in laws and 
regulatio ns Ad hoc  G/VAL/N/1/DOM/2, 
16/10/2019  
Checklist of issues  
(G/VAL/5)  Responses to the checklist of 
issues  Once only   G/VAL/N/2/DOM/1, 
20/12/2019  
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
Article 7.3 Replies to the annual 
questionnaire on import 
licensing procedures  On an annual basis  G/LIC/N/3/DOM/8, 2/2/2016  
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
Article 7, Annex B Sanitary/phytosanitary 
regulations  Ad hoc  G/SPS/N/DOM/72, 13/8/2019 
- G/SPS/N/DOM/59/Add.1, 
2/2/2015  
Agreement on Trade Facilitation   
Articles 15 and 16 Category designation   Once only  G/TFA/N/DOM/1, 16/2/2018  
Article 1.4 Publication of all procedures 
for importation, exportation 
and transit, including fees 
imposed  Once o nly G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1, 
5/6/2020  
Article 10.4.3  Single window  Once only  
Article 10.6.2  Customs brokers  Once only  
Article 12.2.2  Contact point for the 
exchange of information  Once only  
Article 22.3 Contact points  Once only  G/TFA/N/DOM/2, 29/7/2019  
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade  
Articles 2.10 and 5.7 Technical regulations (urgent) 
and conformity assessment 
procedures (urgent)  Ad hoc  G/TBT/N/DOM/232, 
31/5/2021  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 160 - 
   Type of measure notified  Frequency  WTO  document (most 
recent if submitted 
regularly ) 
Article 2.9 Technical regulations  Ad hoc  G/TBT/N/DOM/228, 3/4/2019  
G/TBT/N/DOM/225, 
9/10/2017  
G/TBT/N/DOM/224, 
3/10/2017  
G/TBT/N/DOM/223, 
11/1/2016  
G/TBT/N/DOM/222, 
23/3/2015  
G/TBT/N/DOM/221, 
23/3/2015  
Articles 2.9 and 5.6 Technical regulations  and 
conformity assessment 
procedures  Ad hoc  G/TBT/N/DOM/221/Rev.1, 
27/5/2021  
G/TBT/N/DOM/231, 3/9/2019  
G/TBT/N/DOM/230, 3/9/2019  
G/TBT/N/DOM/229, 3/4/2019  
G/TBT/N/DOM/227, 9/3/2018  
G/TBT/N/DOM/226, 
21/2/2018  
Agreement on Safeguards  
Article 12.6 Laws, regulations and 
administrative procedures 
relating to safeguard 
measures  Once only  G/SG/N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2, 
27/11/2015  
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  
Article 25.1; GATT 1994, 
Article  XVI:1 Any subsidy as defined in 
Article 1.1 of the SCM 
Agreement that is specific 
within the meaning of 
Article 2 of the SCM 
Agreement,  as well as any 
other subsidy that causes 
increased exports or 
decreased imports within the 
meaning of Article XVI:1  of 
the GATT 19 94 Every two years  G/SCM/N/343/DOM, 
12/7/2019  
Article 25.11 - 
Semi-annual reports  Countervailing duty actions 
(taken within the preceding 
six months)  On a semi -annual 
basis G/SCM/N/363/Add.1, 
17/9/2021  
Article 27.4, Part VIII - 
Developing country 
Members  Special and differential 
treatment for d eveloping 
country Members  Ad hoc  G/SCM/N7284/DOM; 
G/SCM/N/290/DOM, 
10/6/2016  
G/SCM/N/299/DOM, 
8/6/2016  
Article 32.6 Laws/regulations and changes 
thereto  Ad hoc  G/SCM /N/1/DOM/2/Suppl.2, 
27/11/2015  
Sourc e: WTO Secretariat . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 161 - 
  Table A3. 1 Customs procedures  
Definitive customs procedures  
Definitive importation  
Goods are brought into the customs territory for use or consumption.  
Outright exportation  
Domestic or imported goods leave the customs territory definitively for use or consumption abroad.  
Temporary duty -relief  arrangement  
Allows f oreign goods into the country, for a certain  period of time, without payment of duties, tax es or other levies.  
Temporary admission (importation) for inward processing  (Articles 248 -258)  
Allows into the customs territory, with relief from  the payment of import duties, goods from abroad or under other 
special customs procedures that are to be exported within a certain time frame, after having undergone processing, 
manufacture or repair . 
Temporary exit (exportation) for outward processing  (Articles 259 -262)  
Allows goods to be te mporarily exported from the customs territory for processing, manufactur ing or repair abroad , 
and then reimported . Duties are applied  for the goods and services incorporated into the domestic or imported 
goods abroad, together with any exemptions established by law.  
Temporary admission without transformation (procedure also known as "temporary admission without 
processing (temporary entry)", as indicated in Article 247(4) of Law No. 168 -21 (Customs Law)) 
(Artic les 263 –270)a 
Allows  certain goods for a specific purpose  to enter  the customs territory with total or partial relief from  import 
duties,  and to be subsequently reshipped , within the time frame authorized by the Directorate -General of Customs , 
without having undergone any change , except normal depreciation due to the use made of them . 
Temporary admission (temporary entry) under a lease agreement with the option to buy or replace  
Allows certain leased goods for a specific purpose to enter  the customs territory with total or partial relief from 
import duties and to be subsequent ly reship ped. 
Temporary exit (Articles 271 –274)  
Domestic and imported goods may temporarily leave the country (for a period of six months, extendable only 
once), without ceasing to qualify as such and without payment of  import duties and taxes upon their return. If the 
deadline for the return of the goods expires, they may be considered to have been exported outright . 
Warehousing procedure   
Allow s goods to enter certain warehouses, without payment of duties and taxes, for a specified period  of time.  
Duty repayment  procedures  
Allow for the total or partial repayment of customs taxes and duties actually paid upon the definitive importation of 
inputs, containers or packaging incorporated in products for export, provided that exportation takes place  within 
12 months of the importation  of these goods , and subject to the requirements and procedures set out in the law 
and its implementing regulations or any special laws.  
Duty -free replacement procedure (Articles 276 -279)  
Allows for the importation, with total or partial relief from import duties and taxes, of goods equivalent to those 
which, being in free circulation on the domestic market, have been used to produce previously exported goods.  
Drawback procedure  
Procedure which, when  goods are exported, provides for a repayment (total or partial) to be made in respect of the 
import duties and taxes charged on the goods, or on materials contained in them or consumed in their production . 
Duty exemption procedures  
Free zone procedure  
The procedure under which goods introduced into a part of the territory are regarded, insofar as import duties and 
taxes are concerned, as being outside the customs territory.  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 162 - 
  Duty -free shop or commercial free zone (Articles 288 and 289)  
A duty-free shop is an establishment located in the main area of a port or airport , authorized by the 
Directorate -General of Customs to sell foreign and domestic goods free of customs duties. The entry of goods into a 
commercial free zone shop is exempt from the payment of customs duties and taxes.  
a Article 265 lists the types of goods that are eligible for temporary admission without transformation.  
b The warehousing procedure has various components: bonded warehousing, re -exportation and 
logistics, which are governed by their own specific legislati on (Law No. 456 -73 on bonded 
warehouses; Decree No. 106 -96 establishing regulations on merchandise re -export warehouses; and 
Decree No. 262 -15 on logistics centres and logistics operator companies).  
Source:  Articles 244 -289 of Law No. 168 -21. 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 163 - 
  Table  A3.2 Summary analysis of the MFN tariff , 2021  
Product description  MFN 
Bound tariff rangea 
(%) Number of 
lines  Average  
(%) Range  
(%) Coefficient of 
variation (CV) 
Total  7,242 7.8 0 - 99 1.3 0 - 99 
HS 01-24 1,314 16.0 0 - 99 0.9 5 - 99 
HS 25-97 5,928 6.0 0 - 20 1.4 0 - 40 
By WTO category       
Agricultural products  1,116 14.5 0 - 99 1.1 5 - 99 
 - Animals and animal 
products  147 22.8 0 - 99 0.9 30 - 99 
 - Dairy products  31 25.9 0 - 56 0.6 40 - 56 
 - Fruit, vegetables and 
garden produce  337 18.3 0 - 99 0.7 20 - 99 
 - Coffee and tea  28 17.8 0 - 20 0.2 40 - 40 
 - Cereals and cereal 
preparations  122 12.9 0 - 99 1.4 5 - 99 
 - Oilseeds, fats and oils and 
their products  105 4.4 0 - 40 2.0 10 - 40 
 - Sugar and confectionery  32 24.2 0 - 85 1.1 30 - 85 
 - Beverages, alcohol and 
tobacco  94 17.6 8 - 20 0.2 30 - 40 
 - Cotton  5 0.0 0 - 0 .. 35 - 35 
 - Other agricultural 
products n.e.s.  215 4.0 0 - 20 1.9 10 - 40 
Non-agricultural products 
(including petroleum ) 6,126 6.6 0 - 20 1.3 0 - 40 
 - Non-agricultural products 
(excluding petroleum)  6,104 6.6 0 - 20 1.3 0 - 40 
 - - Fish and fish products  282 17.4 0 - 20 0.4 30 - 40 
 - - Mineral products and 
metals  1,103 6.3 0 - 20 1.3 10 - 40 
 - - Chemicals and 
photographic products  1,276 3.0 0 - 20 2.1 0 - 40 
 - - Wood, wood pulp, paper 
and furniture  385 6.5 0 - 20 1.3 10 - 40 
 - - Textiles  659 4.8 0 - 20 1.7 15 - 40 
 - - Clothing  238 19.8 3 - 20 0.1 40 - 40 
 - - Leather, rubber, 
footwear and travel 
articles  210 10.1 0 - 20 0.9 30 - 40 
 - - Non-electrical machinery  695 1.6 0 - 20 3.0 0 - 40 
 - - Electrical machinery  373 6.1 0 - 20 1.3 0 - 35 
 - - Transport equipment  301 9.5 0 - 20 0.8 30 - 40 
 - - Non-agricultural 
products n.e.s.  582 10.5 0 - 20 0.9 0 - 40 
 - Petroleum  22 6.6 0 - 14 1.0 40 - 40 
By HS section       
01. Live animals; animal 
products  438 18.6 0 - 99 0.8 20 - 99 
02. Vegetable products  450 13.6 0 - 99 1.2 5 - 99 
03. Fats and oils  67 6.6 0 - 40 1.5 10 - 40 
04. Prepared foodstuffs , etc. 359 17.5 0 - 85 0.6 10 - 85 
05. Mineral products  184 2.3 0 - 20 2.1 20 - 40 
06. Products of the chemical 
or allied industries  1,182 2.3 0 - 20 2.6 0 - 40 
07. Plastics and rubber  289 7.6 0 - 20 1.0 30 - 40 
08. Raw hides and skins, 
and leather  93 9.2 0 - 20 1.1 40 - 40 
09. Wood and articles of 
wood 154 4.8 0 - 20 1.6 40 - 40 
10. Pulp of wood, paper, 
etc. 197 5.9 0 - 20 1.4 10 - 40 
11. Textiles and textile 
articles  878 8.3 0 - 20 1.1 30 - 40 
12. Footwear and headgear  69 16.7 0 - 20 0.4 40 - 40 
13. Articles of stone  190 9.5 0 - 20 0.9 17.5 - 40 
14. Precious stones , etc. 62 18.1 8 - 20 0.2 40 - 40 
15. Base metals and articles 
of base metal  680 5.9 0 - 20 1.4 20 - 40 
16. Machinery and 
mechanical appliances  1,088 3.4 0 - 20 2.0 0 - 40 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 164 - 
  Product description  MFN 
Bound tariff rangea 
(%) Number of 
lines  Average  
(%) Range  
(%) Coefficient of 
variation (CV) 
17. Vehicles, aircraft, 
vessels and associated  
transport equipment  315 9.3 0 - 20 0.8 30 - 40 
18. Precision instruments  328 6.1 0 - 20 1.4 0 - 40 
19. Arms and ammunition  28 20.0 20 - 20 0.0 40 - 40 
20. Miscellaneous 
manufactured articles  184 16.8 0 - 20 0.4 35 - 40 
21. Works of art , etc. 7 20.0 20 - 20 0.0 40 - 40 
.. Not available . 
a The bindings are given in HS 20 02 and the applied tariffs in HS 2017; consequently, there may be 
differences in the number of lines included in the analysis . 
Source : WTO Secretariat estimates  based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 165 - 
  Table  A3.3 Tariff lines where the  applied MFN rate exceed s the bound rate , 2021  
HS code  
Subline 
Descri ption MFN tariff  Description bound tariff  Tariffa 
MFN Bound  
MFN (%) 
Bound  (%) 
Full line       
0207.13.00  0207.13.00   
Cuts and offal, fresh or chilled  Cuts and offal, fresh or chilled  99 40 
8470.10.00  8470.10.00   
Electronic calculators capable of 
operation without an external 
source of electric power and 
pocket -size data recording, 
reproducing and displaying 
machines with calculating 
functions  Electronic calculators capable of 
operation without an external 
source of electric power and 
pocket -size data recording, 
reproducing and displaying 
machines with calculating 
functions  14 0 
8470.21.00  8470.21.00   
Other electronic calculating 
machines : Incorporating a 
printing device  Other electronic calculating 
machines: Incorporating a 
printing device  3 0 
8470.29.00  8470.29.00   
Other electronic calculating 
machines   Other electronic calculating 
machines   3 0 
8470.30.00  8470.30.00   
Other calculating machines  Other calculating machines  3 0 
8470.50.00  8470.50.00   
Cash registers  Cash registers  3 0 
8470.90.10  8470.90.10   
Postage -franking machines  Postage -franking machines  3 0 
8470.90.20  8470.90.20   
Ticket -issuing machines  Ticket -issuing machines  3 0 
8470.90.90  8470.90.90   
Other  machines  Other machines  3 0 
8472.90.20  8472.90.20   
Automatic banknote dispensers  Automatic banknote dispensers 
(automatic teller machines ) 3 0 
8473.21.00  8473.21.00   
Of the electronic calculating 
machines of subheading 8470.10, 
8470.21 or 8470.29  Of the electronic calculating 
machines of subheading 8470.10, 
8470.21 or 8470.29  3 0 
8517.11.00  8517.11.00   
Line telephone sets with cordless 
handsets  Line telephone sets wit h cordless 
handsets  8 0 
8470.90.30  8470.90.90 
and 
8470.40.00   
Accounting machines  Other  (HS 84709090 ), 
Accounting machines  
(HS 84704000 ) 3 0 
9001.10.00  90011000   
Optical fibres, optical fibre 
bundles and cables  Optical fibres, optical fibre 
bundles and cables  3 0 
9026.20.91  90262091   
Pressure gauges for measuring 
pneumatic tyre pressure  Pressure gauges for measuring 
pneumatic tyre pressure  3 0 
Part of line       
3825.30.00  3825.30.00   
Clinical waste  Clinical waste    
 
3825.30.00  01  
- Wadding, gauze, bandages and 
similar articles (for example, 
dressings, adhesive plasters, 
poultices), impregnated or coated 
with pharmaceutical substances 
or put up in forms or packings for 
retail sale for medical, surgical, 
dental or veterinary purposes  20 15 
 
3825.30.00  02  
- Surgical gloves  20 40  
3825.30.00  03  
- Syringes, needles, catheters, 
cannulae and the like  20 40 
 
3825.30.00  04  
- Other  20 30 
8518.29.00  8518.29.00   
Other  Other    
 
8518.29.00  01  
- Loudspeakers, without housing, 
having a frequency range of 
300 Hz to 3 .4 KHz with a 
diameter of not exceeding 
50 mm, for telecommunication 
use 14 0 
 
8518.29.00  02  
- Other  14 35 
8518.30.00  8518.30.00   
Headphones and earphones, 
whether or not combined with a 
microphone, and sets consisting 
of a microphone and one or more 
loudspeakers  Headphones and earphones, 
whether or not combined with a 
microphone, and sets consisting 
of a microphone and one or more 
loudspeakers    
 
8518.30.00  01  
- Line telephone handsets  14 0  
8518.30.00  02  
- Other  14 35 
8529.10.10  8529.10.10   
Outdoor aerials for television and 
radio-broadcast receivers  Outdoor aerials for television and 
radio-broadcast receivers    
 
8529.10.10  01  
- Aerials or antennae of a kind 
used with apparatus for 
radio-telephony and 
radio-telegraphy  20 0 
 
8529.10.10  02  
- Other  20 35 WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 166 - 
  HS code  
Subline 
Descri ption MFN tariff  Description bound tariff  Tariffa 
MFN Bound  
MFN (%) 
Bound  (%) 
8529.10.20  8529.10.20   
Parabolic antennae for direct 
reception via satellite  Parabolic antennae for direct 
reception via satellite    
 
8529.10.20  01  
- Aerials or antennae of a kind 
used with apparatus for 
radio-telephony and radio -
telegraphy  20 0 
 
8529.10.20  02  
- Other  20 35 
8529.10.99  8529.10.99   
Other  Other    
 
8529.10.99  01  
- Aerials or antennae of a kind 
used with apparatus for 
radio-telephony and radio-
telegraphy  3 0 
 
8529.10.99  02  
- Other  3 35 
8529.90.90  8529.90.90   
Other  Other    
 
8529.90.90  01  
- Parts of: transmission 
apparatus other than apparatus 
for radio -broadcasting or 
television , transmission 
apparatus incorporating reception 
apparatus , digital still image 
video cameras, portable receivers 
for alerting or paging  14 0 
 
8529.90.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
8536.69.10  8536.69.10   
Plugs  Plugs    
 
8536.69.10  01  
- Plugs for co -axial cables and 
printed circuits  14 0 
 
8536.69.10  02  
- Other  14 35 
8536.69.20  8536.69.20   
Sockets  Sockets    
 
8536.69.20  01  
- For co-axial cables and printed 
circuits  14 0 
 
8536.69.20  02  
- Other  14 35 
8536.90.10  8536.90.10   
Junction boxes  Junction boxes    
 
8536.90.10  01  
- Connections and contact 
elements for wire and cables  14 0 
 
8536.90.10  02  
- Other  14 35 
8536.90.90  8536.90.90   
Other apparatus  Other apparatus    
 
8536.90.90  01  
- Connections and contact 
elements for wire and cables  14 0 
 
8536.90.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
8544.49.10  8544.49.10   
Insulated with plastic  Insulated with plastic    
 
8544.49.10  01  
- Other electric conductors, for a 
voltage not exceeding 80 V, not 
fitted with connectors, of a kind 
used for telecommunications  14 0 
 
8544.49.10  02  
- Other  14 35 
8544.49.20  8544.49.90   
Other insulated conductors, 
except those insulated with 
plastic, for a voltage not 
exceeding 80  V  Other    
 
8544.49.90  01  
- Other electric conductors, for a 
voltage not exceeding 80 V, not 
fitted with connectors, of a kind 
used for telecommunications  14 0 
 
8544.49.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
8544.49.30  8544.49.90   
Insulated with rubber, for a 
voltage exceeding 80 V but not 
exceeding 1,000 V  Other    
 
8544.49.90  01  
- Other electric conductors, for a 
voltage not exceeding 80 V, not 
fitted with connectors, of a kind 
used for telecommunications  14 0 
 
8544.49.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
8544.49.40  8544.49.90   
Insulated with plastic, for a 
voltage exceeding 80 V but not 
exceeding 1,000 V  Other    
 
8544.49.90  01  
- Other electric conductors, for a 
voltage not exceeding 80 V, not 
fitted with connectors, of a kind 
used for telecommunications  14 0 
 
8544.49.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
8544.49.90  8544.49.90   
Other  Other    WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 167 - 
  HS code  
Subline 
Descri ption MFN tariff  Description bound tariff  Tariffa 
MFN Bound  
MFN (%) 
Bound  (%) 
 
8544.49.90  01  
- Other electric conductors, for a 
voltage not exceeding 80 V, not 
fitted with connectors, of a kind 
used for telecommunications  14 0 
 
8544.49.90  02  
- Other  14 35 
a MFN tariff in HS  2017 nomenclature; bound tariff in HS 2002 nomenclature . 
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations  based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 168 - 
  Table  A3.4 MFN tariff quotas and import volume , 2021  
Description  
(HS code )  Applied MFN tariff 2021  Quota volume  
2021 ( tonnes ) In-quota import 
volume , 2021 
(tonnes) Quota usage  
2021 (%)  In-quota  (%) Out-of-
quota  (%) 
Chicken meat    
11,500 14,503 126 
0207.11.00  25 99    
0207.12.00  25 99    
0207.13.00  25 99    
0207.14.10  25 99    
0207.14.91  25 99    
0207.14.92  25 99    
Milk in powder    
32,000 1,773 6 
0402.10.10  20 56    
0402.10.90  20 56    
0402.21.10  20 56    
0402.21.90  20 56    
0402.29.10  20 56    
0402.29.90  20 56    
Onions    
3,750 13,897 371 
0703.10.00  25 97    
Garlic    
4,500 9,889 220 
0703.20.00  25 99    
Beans    
18,000 1,557 9 
0713.31.00  25 89    
0713.32.00  25 89    
0713.33.00  25 89    
0713.34.00  25 89    
0713.35.00  25 89    
Maize (corn)    
1,091,000 1,363,109 125 
1005.10.00  0 0    
1005.90.00  0 0    
Rice   
17,810 16,006 90 
1006.10.00  14 99    
1006.20.00  20 99    
1006.30.00  20 99    
1006.40.00  20 99    
Sugar    
30,000 50 0 
1701.12.00  20 85    
1701.13.00  14 85    
1701.14.00  14 85    
1701.91.00  20 85    
1701.99.00  20 85    
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 169 - 
  Table  A3.5 Preferential tariff quotas and import volume , 2021 -22 
Description  
(HS code ) Applied preferential tariff  
(%) Quota volume  
(tonnes) 
In-quota 
import 
volume , 
2021  Quota usage  
2021 (%)  In-quota 
2021 -22 
Out-of-quota 
2021  
Out-of-quota 
2022  2021  2022  
CAFTA -DR Costa Rica  
Chicken breasts   
2,070 2,070 0 0 
0207.13.00  12.5 47,52 35,64     
0207.14.91  12.5 47,52 35,64     
Milk in powder   
2,200 2,200 1,668 76 
0402.10.10  0 26.88 20.16     
0402.10.90  0 26.88 20.16     
0402.21.10  0 26.88 20.16     
0402.21.90  0 26.88 20.16     
0402.29.10  0 26.88 20.16     
0402.29.90  0 26.88 20.16     
CAFTA -DR Nicaragua  
Chicken breasts   
443 443 0 0 
0207.13.00  10 47.52 35.64     
0207.14.91  10 47.52 35.64     
Onions     
375 375 0 0 
0703.10.00  7.5 46.56 34.92     
Beans     
1,800 1,800 82 5 
0713.31.00  0 42.72 32.04     
0713.32.00  0 42.72 32.04     
0713.33.00  0 42.72 32.04     
CAFTA -DR US 
Chicken thighs   
1,300 1,350 1,244 96 
0207.14.92  0 47,52 35,64     
Milk in powder   
7,020 7,290 6,789 97 
0402.10.10  0 22.4 16.8     
0402.10.90  0 22.4 16.8     
0402.21.10  0 22.4 16.8     
0402.21.90  0 22.4 16.8     
0402.29.10  0 22.4 16.8     
0402.29.90  0 22.4 16.8     
Yogur t  
260 270 109 42 
0403.10.00  0 8.0 6.0     
Mozzarella  cheese   
325 338 235 72 
0406.10.10  0 9.6 7.2     
Husked (brown) rice   
4,240 4,380 0 0 
1006.20.00  0 47,52 35,64     
Semi -milled or 
wholly milled rice   
16,960 17,520 16,960 100 
1006.30.00  0 47.52 35.64     
EPA – European Union  
Milk in powder     22,400 22,400 555 2.48 
        
0402.10  11 and 5  6 0     
0402.21  11 and 5  6 0 22,400 22,400   
0402.29  11 and 5  6 0 22,400 22,400   
Source:  WTO Secretariat calculations based on data provided by the authorities . 
  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 170 - 
  Table  A3.6 Legislation on animal and plant health and food safety , 2022  
Animal health   
Law No. 4030-55 Law on Animal Health (declares the sanitary protection of livestock to be a matter of 
public interest )  
Law No. 62-74 Law regulating the export of bee's honey and wax , imports  and equipment  
Decre e No. 6775-50 Decree issuing measures to prevent the introduction of foot -and-mouth disease and 
rinderpest into the country  
Decre e No. 521-06 Regulations governing the registration of veterinary establishments and medicines  
Law No. 259-71 Law regulating the production, quality and marketing of animal feed  
Decre e No. 329-11 Regulations governing  the sanitary inspection of meat and meat products  for export  
Decre e No. 52-08 Regulations for the general implementation of basic rules concerning  good agricultural 
practices (GAP) and good animal husbandry practices (GAHP)  
Decre e No. 354-10 Resid ues of  veterinary drugs and similar products in food of animal origin  
Decre e No. 51-08 Establishes the National Livestock Committee  
Resolu tion No. 29-13 Establishes the Executive Commission for Avian Influenza Surveillance and Newcastle 
Disease Control  
Resolu tion No. 82-13 Establishes the National Livesto ck Traceability System of the Dominican Republic 
(SINAT -DO) 
Decre e No. 174-08 Strengthening of the prevention, control and eradication of exotic diseases in domestic 
animals  
Resolu tion No. 4-08 Cancel s registrations for the marketing and use in animals o f certain chemical 
substances  
Resolu tion No. 6-12 Cancel registrations for the marketing and use in animals of certain chemical 
substances  
Decre e No. 354-10 Maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs in foods  of animal origin  
Resolu tion No. 19-09 Animal health protection in the Dominican Republic  
Resolu tion No. 2019-30 All poultry production units operating in the Dominican Republic must be registered and 
certified by the Directorate -General of Livestock  
Resolu tion No. 2019-31 Protocol on tempora ry vaccination against avian influenza  H5N2 and additional health 
measures  
Resolu tion No. 2018-61 Policy to enhance animal and plant health  
Resolu tion No. 2018-16 Prohibits the movement of birds, table eggs, fertile eggs and bedding material  
Resolu tion No. 2017-18 Establishes the Official Commission for the Control of Avian Influenza  
 
Plant health  
Law No. 4990-58 Law on Plant Health (regulates the import ation of plants, fruit and seeds ) 
Law No. 311-68 Law on the Registration of Pesticides  
Decre e No. 322-88 Implementing regulations for  Law No. 311 
Regulation  No. 322-88 Ensures that private phytosanitary treatment application services operate effectively  in 
ports and airports  
Decre e No. 217-91 Decre e on the prohibition, import ation, preparation, formulation, marketing and use of 
agricultural chemicals  
Decre e No. 52-08 Regulations for the general implementation of basic rules concerning  good agricultural 
practices (GAP) and good animal husbandry practices (GAHP)  
Law No. 64-00 General Law on the Environment and Natural Resources  
Resolu tion No. 06-08 Establishes a close season for the cultivation of aubergines  (eggplants) , melons, 
waterm elons, cucumbers, okra, all types of chilli peppers, winter squash, cotton and 
other plants  
Resolu tion No. 39-08 Prohibits the movement of planting materials for yautia plants  
Resolu tion No. 47-08 Establishes a technical committee for the management of citrus greening disease 
(Huanglongbing)  
Resolu tion No. 50-09 Prohibits the marketing and use of certain pesticides  
Resolu tion No. 26-09 Adopts the Manual of Quarantine Procedures for Plants and Plant Products and 
By-products  
Regulation  No. 244-10 Maximum residue limits for pesticides in fruit, vegetables and related products  
Resolu tion No. 5-11 Eliminates the restricted use of the agrochemical paraquat  
Resolu tion No. 38-11 Establishes a close season for the cultivation of aubergines (eggplants), melons, 
watermelons, cucumbers and other plants proven to host whitefly and/or viruses  
Resolu tion No. 41-11 Establishes the Pest Risk Analysis Committee of the Department of Plant Health  
Resolu tion No. 61-11 Prohibits the marketin g of certain pesticides  
Resolu tion No. 8-12 Removes paraquat from the list of products that cannot be imported, manufactured, 
marketed or used in the Dominican Republic  
Resolu tion No. 31-13 Emergency phytosanitary plan to help control the increased popul ation of Caribbean 
fruit fly  
Resolu tion No. 45-13  Establishes the Phytosanitary Diagnostic Unit for National Samples  
Decre e No. 238-13 Regulations for the phytosanitary certification of citrus propagation material  
Resolu tion No. 83-13 Prohibits the importation of cocoa plants, fruit, seeds , etc. 
Resolu tion No. 71-13 Pest prevention and control , protection of plant resources  
Resolu tion No. 202-14 Plant health protection in the Dominican Republic  
Resolu tion No. 2020-17 Establishes the Quarantine Treatment Division , attached to the Plant Quarantine 
Sub-Directorate at the Department of Plant Health  
Resolu tion No. 2019-70 Establishes  phytosanitary control mechanisms for regulated items in international 
transit that are ent ering or circulating in national territory  WT/TPR/S/435 • Dominican Republic  
- 171 - 
  Plant health  
Resolu tion No. 2019-69 Implement s the Biosafety Protocol for preventing the entry into the country of banana 
wilt, which is caused by the fungus  Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4  
(Foc TR4) 
Resolu tion No. 2019-98 Declar es of national interest the e stablishment of areas of low pest prevalence and 
pest-free a reas for Caribbean fruit fly  
Resolu tion No. 2019-43 On increased inspection to prevent the entry of banana wilt  
Resolu tion No. 2019-39 On the classification of agricultural products  
Resolu tion No. 2019-41 Amends Article 3 of Resolution RES -MA-2019-039 
Resolu tion No. 2019-35 Establishes management practices for Caribbean fruit fly ( Anastrepha obliqua  and 
Anastrepha  spp.) 
Resolu tion No. 2019-28 Prohibits new registrations, and the manufacture, importation and fractionation, of the 
active substances carbofuran, carbosulfan and dimethoate and their formulated 
products  
Resolu tion No. 2019-27 Establishes mandatory regionalization requirements a pplicable to the sowing of any 
type or variety of chilli pepper  
Resolu tion No. 2019-17 On baggage  screening for passengers from countries with active African swine fever 
outbreaks  
Resolu tion No. 2019-16 Regulates the movement of birds and bird products and by -products  
Resolu tion No. 2019-13 Establishes measures governing imports from the hides and skins sector  
Resolu tion No. 2018-89 Establishes programmes, certification and control measures for avocado, citrus, cocoa, 
mango and coffee seeds  
Resolution No. 2018-84 Establishes general provisions concerning hygiene practices applicable to unprocessed 
foods  
Resolu tion No. 2018-68 Support programme for irrigated farming  
Resolu tion No. 2018-67 Creation of a safety and risk management team (EGERSER ) 
Resolu tion No. 2018-61 Policy to enhance animal and plant health  
Resolu tion No. 2018-5 Establishes dates for the planting and growing of all types of chilli pepper  
Resolu tion No. 2017-24 Merging of the MOSCAMED -RD and MOSCAFRUT -RD programmes  
 
Food safety  
Law No. 42-01 General Law on Health (regulates the production, marketing and importation of 
foodstuffs)  
Decre e No. 528-01 Regulations on food and beverage risk control  
Decre e No. 52-08 Establishes regulations  for the general implementation  of basic rules concerning  good 
agricultural practices (GAP) and good animal husbandry practices  (GAHP)  
Resol ution No. 10-08 Adopts the Regulatory Technical Guide for the Application of Good Agricultural Practices 
and Good M anufacturing Practices in Production  
Decre e No. 329-11 Regulates the sanitary inspection of meat and meat products  
Decre e No. 599-10 Draft Regulation on the sanitary management of international waste  
Resolu tion No. 04-15 National Programme for the Monitoring and Surveillance of Pesticide Residues in Food 
(MOVIREA)  
Resolu tion No. 2018-1 Sets out guidelines for the inspection of establishments that process farmed fishery 
products  
Source : Information provided by the authorities . 
__________