The government is taking steps to prepare for the May
\nsigning of a free trade agreement with the United States. Although the Dominican
\nRepublic plans to dock itself to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, it
\nwill be allowed to make recommendations for certain changes. Industry & Commerce
\nMinister Sonia Guzman de Hernandez will lead the team of negotiatiors, which
\nwill include Hugo Rivera Fernandez, Manuel Diaz Franjul, Hugo Rivera Santana
\n(Industry & Commerce Ministry), Orlando Jorge Mera (INDOTEL), Eduardo Rodriguez,
\nMagin Diaz, Claudia Troncoso (Finance Ministry), Santiago Tejada, Natalia
\nPolanco, Lynette Batista (Foreign Relations Ministry), Carolina Mejia (daughter
\nof President Hipolito Mejia), Jeannette Dominguez (CNZFE), Elka Scheker and
\nPatricia Mejia (CEI-RD), Milton Ray Guevara (Labor Ministry), Jesus de los
\nSantos (Agriculture Ministry), Hector Rene Ledesma (Ministry of Environment),
\nand others. The government announced that the consultations with the private
\nsector regarding the Dominican position on the FTA with the US will begin this
\nweek. Sonia Guzman is promoting the FTA on grounds that it will stimulate new
\njobs, increase investment, transfer technology, generate foreign currency, and
\nimprove education and the institutionalism of the government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The government is taking steps to prepare for the May signing of a free trade agreement with the United States. Although the Dominican Republic plans to dock itself to the Central American Free Trade Agreement, it will be allowed to make recommendations for certain changes. Industry & Commerce Minister Sonia Guzman de Hernandez will lead … <\/p>\n