According to a report released by the National Council for Free Trade Zones (CNZF), Dominican exports of clothing to the U.S. market increased by 10 percent in 1995. The country exported some 34,795,683 dozens out of an allocation of 37,035,461 dozens. In 1994, the Dominican Republic exported 31,647,322 dozens, which is near to 10 percent less than last year’s figure. Of the total exported in 1995, 64.1 percent was made up of products manufactured with non-U.S. materials, while the remaining 35.9 percent went to products manufactured with materials cut and made in the United States under the Guaranteed Access Level clause.
Despite the lack of competitiveness vis-a-vis the Mexican maquiladoras, the Dominican free trade zones continue to experience steady growth. Nevertheless, the CNZF is deeply concerned about Mexico’s mushrooming exports of clothing to the U.S. market under NAFTA. Dominican business leaders and government authorities continue to appeal to the U.S. Congress to pass a parity bill.