Dominican businessmen have requested that 40 categories of products be excluded from the free trade agreement the Dominican government is negotiating with Central America. The final round of the negotiations is taking place now in Guatemala City. The list of products requested to be excluded was so long that the president of the Consejo Nacional de la Empresa Privada, the largest private business council, Celso Marranzini traveled to Guatemala to lobby for the signing of the free trade agreement. El Siglo newspaper reported that the Central American negotiators were surprised at the long list of products that could imperil the signing of the agreement. El Siglo reported that the list included everything from crackers to toilet paper and calypsos. Other industries that seek protection produce pastas, air conditioners, tomato paste and refined sugar, steel rods for construction, grey cement, leather goods, plastic containers and footwear. Furthermore, chicken and beef producers, as well as farmers that produce onions, red beans, milk, corn, garlic, rice and potatoes seek protection. Ministry of Foreign Relations Eduardo Latorre considers that no more than 10 products should be on the list of excluded Dominican products. Talks that would lead to the signing of the agreement during a presidential summit in the Dominican Republic on 16 April began in December 1997. On 10 February the Ministry invited businessmen to participate in the negotiation round that was held in Santo Domingo.
