The United States asked the Dominican Republic to remove all tariffs for what is called the “Dominican Flag” or “la bandera dominicana”, in other words, rice, beans and chicken, by 2005. These products, together with onions, sugar, milk and garlic, are included in the products to be protected by the Technical Rectification of the World Trade Organization. During the first round of talks on a Free Trade Agreement, the US presented a list of 200 products scheduled to become tariff-free in 2005. In spite of the Technical Rectification, the US also requested that onions, milk and corn be included in the new agreement, but tariffs are to be reduced gradually over 8- to 10-year periods. Local producers have requested 18- to 20-year periods in order to prepare for the onslaught of imported produce. Pork and beef are other items slated for immediate duty-free status, according to sources close to the negotiations. According to El Caribe reporters Daniel Garcia and Yanet Beltre, one of the principle concerns of local producers is their ever-growing costs due to the devaluation of the Dominican peso.