Dominican Republic government seeks DR-CAFTA renegotiation to protect rice sector

The Dominican Republic government, led by President Luis Abinader, is pursuing a renegotiation of the DR-CAFTA trade agreement with the United States to protect the national rice industry. This move follows intense pressure from local producers who face significant competition from U.S. imports as tariff reductions scheduled under the treaty take effect.

Representatives from the National Federation of Rice Producers (Fenarroz) and the Northeast Rice Producers Association (APRANO) have expressed unanimous support for these diplomatic efforts. They argue that without protections, the local industry—which supports approximately 300,000 jobs across 130 factories and 30,000 producers—could face collapse. Producers warn that the loss of local production could eventually lead to higher consumer prices due to dependence on international market fluctuations and exchange rates.

Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza and Minister of Agriculture Francisco Oliverio Espaillat have been central to these discussions, emphasizing that preserving the rice sector is vital for both the national economy and food security.