DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

A temporary 10% global tariff has been levied on Dominican exports as part of a 150-day surcharge under Section 122 of the United States Trade Act of 1974. This measure took effect at 12:01am EST on 24 February 2026. While the Trump Administration has signaled a possible increase to 15%, the current operative rate remains 10% for most non-exempt goods.

For the Dominican Republic, qualifying textile and apparel products imported under the DR-CAFTA agreement are specifically excluded from this new duty. However, other major Dominican exports, including medical devices and instruments (US$1.3 billion in exports in 2024), jewelry, and cigars that make up the larger portion of Dominican free zone exports, now face the 10% surcharge.

The United States is the Dominican Republic’s primary trading partner, absorbing over 53% of its total exports. Industry analysts warn that the new costs...