2003News

US to negotiate FTA with DR

United States trade representative Robert Zoellick will submit his intention to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with the Dominican Republic to the US congress in the near future. This agreement would be linked to the terms of the US?s free trade agreement with the Central American nations, CAFTA. Parallel negotiations will take place concurrently and then submitted to Congress as a single package. William Malamud, executive vice president of the American Chamber of Commerce in the DR, hailed it as ?a great advance for the country and the result of the sustained effort by President Hip?lito Mej?a?s administration, working closely with the private sector.? Malamud suggested that the private sector make preparations to participate in the upcoming negotiations, and defined Zoellick?s announcement as a vote of confidence for the Dominican Republic. The Dominican ambassador to Washington, Hugo Guiliani Cury, said that the decision would provide a wave of opportunities.