. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG211/N/3 
S/C/N/372 17 August 2006 
 
(06-3944) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements 
Council for Trade in Services  
 
 Original:   English 
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - CENTRAL AMERICA - UNITED STATES  
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT 
 
Notification from the Parties
 
 
  The following communication, dated 11 August 2006,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegations of the United States, Guatemal a, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.  
 
_______________ 
 
 
Notification Pursuant to Article XXIV:7(a) of GATT 1994 and Article V:7(a) of the GATS
 
  
 The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the World Trade Organization and the 
World Intellectual Property Organization, the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the World Trade Organization, the Permanent Mission of Honduras to the World Trade Organization, the Permanent Mission of Nicaragua to the Office of the United Nations and other International 
Organizations, and the Permanent Mission of the Un ited States to the World Trade Organization have 
the honor to notify the Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the entry into force for 
Guatemala of the Dominican Republic - Centra l America - United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR), as previously notified in WT/REG 211/N/1 and  S/C/N/365 (El Salvador and the 
United States), and WT/REG211/N/2 and S/C/N/366 (Honduras and Nicaragua).
1 
  The CAFTA-DR establishes a free-trade area among El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, and the United States within the m eaning of Article XXIV of the GATT 1994.  The 
CAFTA-DR also provides for the liberalization of trade in services among El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States within the meaning of Article V of the GATS.    
  The CAFTA-DR was signed on August 5, 2004.   The agreement entered into force for 
El Salvador and the United States on March 1, 2006
2, for Honduras and Nicaragua on April 1, 20063, 
and for Guatemala on July 1, 2006.  The dur ation of the agreement is indefinite.   
 
                                                      
 1 The full text of CAFTA-DR was provided in connec tion with the notification of the entry into force 
of the DR-CAFTA with respect to the United States and El Salvador , WT/REG211/N/1 and  S/C/N/365, and is 
also available, along with tariff schedules and annexes, at  
http://www.minec.gob.sv/default.asp?id=84&mnu=70  (El Salvador); 
http://www.mineco.gob.gt/mineco/cafta/textos.php  (Guatemala);   
http://www.sic.gob.hn/cafta/index.asp  (Honduras);  http://cafta.mific.gob.ni/index.shtm  (Nicaragua);  
and http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/C AFTA/CAFTA-DR_Final_Texts/Section_Index.html  
(United States).   
2 WT/REG211/N/1 and S/C/N/365. 
3 WT/REG211/N/2 and S/C/N/366. WT/REG211/N/3 
S/C/N/372 Page 2 
 
 
   This joint notification is presented: 
  (i) pursuant to part (a) of paragra ph 7 of Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and the 
Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XXIV of GATT 1994;  and 
 
 (ii) in accordance with paragraph 7(a) of Article V of the GATS (Economic Integration). 
  In this regard we are pleased to advise that  the agencies responsible  for the implementation 
and enforcement of CAFTA-DR are the Ministry of  Economy of El Salvador, the Ministry of 
Economy of Guatemala, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Honduras, the Ministry of 
Development, Industry and Commerce of Nicara gua, and the Office of United States Trade 
Representative.       El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States wish to express their 
willingness to contribute to the process of examin ation in accordance with the procedures agreed upon 
in the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.  
__________