Dominican industrial sector and Government coordinate actions regarding U.S. tariff measures
The Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) has taken a clear stance regarding the recent restrictions imposed by the United States. Julio Brache, president of the entity, assured that there are no records of forced labor or child labor in its affiliated companies, describing the accusations that have led to new tariffs on Dominican exports as surprising.
During a meeting with the Director General of Customs, Nelson Arroyo, the business sector and government authorities reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate closely to clarify the situation and mitigate the economic impact of these trade measures.
Ongoing diplomatic and commercial efforts
The Dominican government has activated various dialogue mechanisms with Washington to seek a relaxation of tariff policies. According to Nelson Arroyo, a commission led by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) has traveled to the U.S. capital to directly address concerns regarding product traceability.
- The Government is working on strengthening legal frameworks against forced labor.
- The goal is to demonstrate transparency and compliance with international regulations.
- There is active coordination between the private sector and the State to protect the country’s commercial interests.
We are taking all possible measures to ensure that the U.S. administration relaxes the current provisions. Traceability is complex, but we are making progress in the necessary conversations.
Nelson Arroyo, General Director of Customs
Resilience of Dominican exports
Despite the uncertainty generated by the new tariffs, the president of the AIRD, Julio Brache, highlighted the adaptability of the national export sector. Thanks to market diversification, the negative impact has been mitigated, allowing the industry to maintain a steady pace of growth.
Brache projected an optimistic outlook for the end of the year, estimating that Dominican exports will reach a historic record by exceeding 16 billion dollars. The current focus, according to the business leader, remains on maintaining a fluid trade flow while diplomatic differences with the Dominican Republic’s main trading partner are resolved.
The situation, derived from an investigation under Section 301 of U.S. trade law, has also motivated local legislative initiatives, such as the proposal by Senator Félix Bautista, aimed at strengthening internal laws against forced labor to align national standards with the demands of the North American market.
