El Caribe reports that the free trade negotiators from the Dominican Republic are in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the second round of talks with the United States. The talks are a follow up to the first discussions that took place in Santo Domingo in January. The final round is scheduled for 12-15 March in Washington, D.C.
According to the papers, the negotiators are facing a great deal of pressure, especially in the areas of agriculture and poultry, which industries are highly-subsidized in the United States and which are part and parcel of the new program. This week’s talks will center on agricultural, textile and industrial markets, as well as intellectual property (copyrights). Even though the official agenda is not currently available, El Caribe says that the first two days of talks will focus on the technical barriers to free trade, with such issues as phytosanitary guarantees and other barriers up for discussion. Industry & Commerce Minister Sonia Guzman has named a 30-member panel of leading industrialists to lend council at the meetings from the oft-mentioned “room next door.” The negotiators will attempt to extend, as far as possible, the timeframe for the elimination of tariffs on certain local products. According to Yanet Beltre, if this doesn’t work, they will then offer annual quotas with lesser tariffs. The World Trade Organization will be a court of last appeal in case all else fails.