# Dominican Republic trade and regulatory dynamics

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-trade-and-regulatory-dynamics
> Updated: 2026-08-27T10:31:48.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 2.

The Dominican Republic continues to manage complex economic and trade dynamics involving China and the United States. While trade with China has grown significantly since 2018, the relationship remains asymmetrical, with China accounting for 18.3% of Dominican merchandise imports as of 2024. This expansion has created regulatory challenges, particularly regarding tax compliance among the 1,300 active Chinese-capital companies in the country.

Regarding trade with the United States, tensions persist over rice import tariffs. While the U.S. has questioned Dominican tariff structures under the DR-CAFTA agreement, the Dominican government maintains that protections via Decree 693-24 are necessary for national food security. 

As of late August 2026, the government is actively negotiating with the United States to address tariff discrepancies. Dominican exporters currently face a 12.5% tariff rate, while competitors pay 10%. To mitigate these risks and improve international competitiveness, officials are exploring market diversification in Europe—specifically targeting Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy—and pursuing legislative reforms, including a new Forced Labor Law and updates to the Public-Private Partnership Law.

## Claims

- Honduran President Nasry Asfura Zablah will visit the Dominican Republic on August 29 and 30. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The visit includes a tour of the border wall in Dajabón to observe security systems and construction progress. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The two leaders will hold bilateral meetings and sign official instruments during the visit. (corroborated by 10 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-27: Honduran President Nasry Asfura Zablah to visit Dominican Republic for official agenda

Honduran President Nasry Asfura Zablah is visiting the Dominican Republic on August 29-30 for bilateral meetings, signing agreements, and inspecting the Dajabón border wall.

26 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/dominican-republic-manages-trade-tensions-with-us-and-china

### 2026-08-27: Chinese commerce growth outpaces regulation in Dominican Republic

Chinese-owned businesses in the Dominican Republic are growing faster than regulatory oversight, leading to significant tax compliance issues and challenges in tracking imports and sales.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chinese-commerce-growth-outpaces-regulation-in-dominican-republic

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Cite as: Dominican Republic trade and regulatory dynamics. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-trade-and-regulatory-dynamics