Central American cabinet ministers are in Santo Domingo for the conclusion of the free trade agreement between Central America and the Dominican Republic and for discussion of key issues on the regional agenda for the Summit of the Americas that opens in Santiago de Chile with the attendance of chiefs of state from all throughout the Americas. Meanwhile, Hoy newspaper reported that Central American ministers have opposed including Dominican free zone exports in the free trade treaty. Free zone exports are the Dominican Republic’s principal exports. Frederic Emam-Zade, chief negotiator for the Dominican Republic, said that the inclusion of the free zone exports in the tax exempt treaty is a non-negotiable issue.
