RS21868 -- U.S.-Dominican Republic Free-Trade Agreement
Updated January 3, 2005

	Provisions of the Free-Trade Agreement

On August 5, 2004, representatives of the United States, the Dominican Republic, and five Central American countries signed a regional free-trade agreement(DR-CAFTA) among their countries. Later, on March 15, 2004, the United States and the Dominican Republic announced that they had concludeda bilateral trade agreement that from theoutset of negotiations was intended to be integrated into (or "docked onto") CAFTA. It is uncertain when the Administration might submit implementing legislation for DR-CAFTA to the Congress.
On March 15, 2004, the United States and the Dominican Republic concluded a draftfree-trade agreement tointegrate the Dominican Republic into the earlier signed Central American Free-Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Thefinal agreement (DR-CAFTA) was signed byall parties on August 5, 2004. The Dominican Republic would have its own market access provisions, but wouldaccept the rest of the CAFTA framework. Legislation to implement DR-CAFTA might be considered in the 109th Congress. This report willbe updated as developments occur.