Dominican Republic’s trade with the Popular Republic of China represented more than US$150 million in 2003, according to the commercial representative Cai Weiquan, who said that this figure is up from a level of less than US$1 million in the 90s. He said that China exported US$130 million in 2003 to the DR, while the DR exported US$36 million during the same period. China’s exports were mainly based in equipment and machinery, while it imported such items as coffee, fruits and farm products.
Weiquan also informed that several Chinese investors have expressed interest in the Dominican market joint ventures.
Weiquan considers Taiwan to be an obstacle to increased trade with the DR. Speaking on the TV program Aeromundo that is produced by Guillermo Gomez on Channel 9, the commercial representative said that although the DR maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan and not China, Taiwan is merely a province of the Republic of China.