. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG211/N/4 
S/C/N/391 
6 March 2007  
 
(07-0929) 
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 2 March 2007, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegations of the United States, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and 
Guatemala.  
_______________ 
 
 
Notification Pursuant to Artic le XXIV:7(a) of GATT 1994 and Article V:7(a) of the GATS  
 
   The Permanent Mission of the Dominican Repu blic to the United Nations in Geneva, the 
Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the Worl d 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 United 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 the Dominican Republic 
of the Dominican Republic - Central America - Un ited States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), 
as previously notified in WT/REG211/N/1 and  S/C/N/365 (El Salvador and the United States), 
WT/REG211/N/2 and S/C/N/366 (Honduras and Nicaragua) and WT/REG211/N/3 and S/C/N/372 
(Guatemala)
1. 
  
 The CAFTA-DR establishes a free-trade area among the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States within the meaning of Article XXIV of the 
GATT 1994.  The CAFTA-DR also provides for the liberalization of trade in services among the 
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United States within the 
meaning of Article V of the GATS.    
  
                                                      
1 The full text of CAFTA-DR was provided in connection with the notification of the entry into force 
of the CAFTA-DR 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.seic.gov.do  (Dominican Republic);  
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/CAFTA/CAFTA-DR_Final_Texts/Section_Index.html  
(United States).  WT/REG211/N/4 
S/C/N/391 Page 2 
 
 
   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, for 
Guatemala on July 1, 20064, and for the Dominican Republic on March 1, 2007.   The duration of the 
agreement is indefinite.   
  
 This joint notification is presented: 
  
(i) pursuant to paragraph 7(a) 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 Arti cle 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 Secretary of State for Industry and Commerce of the 
Dominican Republic, 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 Nicaragua, and the Office of United States Trade Representative.     
  
 The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the United 
States wish to express their willingness to contribut e to the process of examin ation in accordance with 
the procedures agreed upon in the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.  
  
__________ 
   
                                                     
 
2 WT/REG211/N/1 and S/C/N/365. 
3 WT/REG211/N/2 and S/C/N/366. 
4 WT/REG211/N/3 and S/C/N/372.