The Ministers of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica have countered opposition by conservative business groups regarding the signing of a free trade agreement stressing that the agreement will be beneficial to all involved parties. Minister of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic, Eduardo Latorre, said that what is being negotiated is a free trade agreement with Central America and the Caribbean Community, not one with the United States. Latorre said that at the present time, the opposition is irrelevant because trade with Central America represents only 1% of the total trade of the Dominican Republic. The free trade agreement is expected to increase trade and investment between Central America and the Dominican Republic. Printer and spokesman for the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, Nassim Alemany; Fernando González Nicolás, a lobbyist and president of Cieca, a Caribbean think tank group; and Cesareo Contreras, spokesman for the association of milk producers, said that the treaty was premature, that the negotiators had not given time for the study of the consequences it would have on Dominican business. The threesome also criticized that Dominican negotiators were not capable. The Dominican Republic’s chief negotiator is Deputy Minister Frederick Emam-Zade, (with a doctorate in economy from the University of Chicago), who was in charge of economic affairs for the ministry under the Balaguer administration and is a former director of the Investment Promotion Council of the Dominican Republic. In Central America, conservative groups have also rejected the treaty. But the governments of these countries stand firmly behind it. The Minister of Foreign Relations of Costa Rica, Fernando Naranjo, who is in Santo Domingo for a talk at the Dominican-Costa Rican Chamber of Commerce, defended the agreement saying that the alliance with Central America is the Dominican Republic’s best option for integration. The D.R. and Central America have a common cultural heritage and similar economic priorities, such as negotiating better treatment for migrants and the elimination of free zone quotas for exports to the United States. Naranjo said that the treaty would provide access to Dominican exporters to a market of more than 32 million persons, in addition to making the nation a more attractive market for investment. Central America will gain a new member with 8 million more consumers. This will strengthen the negotiating capacity of the region before major regional trading blocks and partners. Naranjo explained that the D.R. exported US$75 million to Central America, and purchased US$50 million. "The sectors that will succeed in the integration process are those with vision, those who are willing to get on the globalization train intelligently but firmly," said Naranjo. On the other hand, Minister Latorre said, "We can inequivocably say that we are as well or better prepared for free trade than the other countries of Central America with which we will sign." He also said the country would be in an even better competitive position if the tax reform and export regime reform bills were passed by Congress. The final round of negotiations will take place in Guatemala City from 23-27 March. Thereafter, the presidents of Central America are expected to travel to Santo Domingo for the signing of the trascendental treaty, prior to the summit of American statesman in Chile. "The Dominican Republic cannot go alone to the round of negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas that will take place in Chile from 18-20 April," he explained. "Small nations have to join efforts to ensure that their points of view are heard and their interests protected," said Latorre.
