Agribusiness negotiators consider Cancun’s meeting to have been a “successful failure”, according to both the Listin Diario and Hoy newspapers. Negotiator Osmar Benitez said that the position of the poorer nations was to form a negotiating bloc of 34 nations that could face up to the Big Three (the United States, the European Union and Japan). The Big Three represent the major countries that heavily subsidize the export of agricultural products. While Switzerland has the most heavily subsidized agricultural industry in the world, the United States, according to the Listin, finances its agricultural production to the tune of nearly US$1 billion a day. According to Benitez, the former executive vice-president of the Dominican Agro-Business Board (JAD), discussions started during the Uruguay Round of Ministerial Talks were amplified and the three basic points of market access, export subsidies and internal assistance were confirmed. The leading negotiator for the agricultural sector told the press that while the DR only posted ten products on the protective list (rice, poultry, milk, beans, garlic, onions, sugar, pork, beef and cheese) other countries posted as many as 500 products for tariff protection.
Economist Bernardo Vega said that commitments have been made by the Dominican government and confirmed by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sonia Guzman, who have required what he called a “technical correction” of the items to be protected under the new trade agreements. The Dominican Republic is now a net importer of foodstuffs.