US pears and apples first beneficiaries of the FTA US-Dominican Republic
Fresh Plaza | March 8 2007
Pears and apples first beneficiaries of the FTA US-Dominican Republic
Jahir Lombana
Tholen — The US export of 25 MT of pears and apples to the Dominican Republic was the first transaction following the application of the free trade agreement between both countries. With this treaty, the Dominican Republic enters to the group of Central American countries signatories of a FTA with the US. The sub-regional group of Central American countries (CAFTA) has one year of free bilateral trade relations with the US and the Dominican Republic expects a more positive balance than its Central American partners.
The imports of apples and pears represented an exemption on tarifs of approximately US$5000 to the importing group Ramos, owner of a supermarket chain in the Dominican Republic. Customs were fast and efficient argued the Customs Direction, who also expects that the tariff reductions can be transfered to consumers as soon as possible. However, some importers argued that this transfer could be delayed between 3 and 6 months due to reserves of previous campaigns from exporters.
