The United States ambassador told reporters that the free trade agreement called “DR-CAFTA” is, in his words, “just around the corner.” At the same time he urged the Dominican legislators to ratify the agreement as soon as possible. Hertell called the agreement “one of President Bush’s most important initiatives in the Western Hemisphere.”
Hertell made his statements after a meeting with President Leonel Fernandez, U. S. legislators and 25 leading members of the Dominican business community. According to Hertell, the Republican control of both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate as well as the mandate received by President Bush in the last elections, all point to a reasonable quick ratification in the US Congress. According to figures from the US Census Bureau, US – Dominican Republic trade reached US$8.1 billion between January and November of 200This makes the US the Dominican Republic’s largest commercial partner. Over the recent years the DR has enjoyed a trade surplus in its commerce with the United States, and last year this reached US$249.8 million.