Canadian Ambassador Patricia Fortier told Hoy newspaper that a new
round of trade talks are expected to start no latter than August. The
DR was to negotiate a free trade agreement with Canada in xxxx, but
this was discontinued when talks began for a trade agreement iwht the
US, which is the DR-CAFTA. Fortier said that there have already been
preliminary meetings. Canada has FTAs with the US, Costa Rica and
Chile. She said that they are also holding ongoing talks for FTA with
Peru and Colombia. She explained that the DR has potential to export
tropical fruits to Canada, such as papaya, coconuts, melon and mango,
coffee. Bilateral trade with Canada and the DR was US$277 million in
2006.
The ambassador estimates that 25,000 Dominicans live in Canada, and
10,000 Canadians live in the DR. She says that 600,000 Canadian
tourists visit the country.
Major Canadian businesses here are YVR airport operation, Scotiabank,
SNV Lavalin.