Abinader says U.S. tariff negotiations are a top priority for Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader said Wednesday that negotiating a reciprocal tariff agreement with the United States is a top priority for his administration, as the Dominican Republic seeks to secure favorable trade conditions while preserving incentives for free trade zones and attracting new investment.

Speaking at the Second International Investment and Nearshoring Forum of the Dominican Republic, organized by Banco Promerica, Abinader said the government is working under the leadership of Foreign Minister Víctor “Ito” Bisonó to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

The president said the Dominican Republic has maintained the same incentives for its free trade zones in recent years and intends to preserve them, emphasizing that policy stability is essential for investor confidence.

Focus on investment and competitiveness

Abinader acknowledged that the global economic and regulatory environment remains challenging, particularly for the free trade zone sector, and called for closer cooperation between the government, businesses and investors.

He also highlighted efforts to strengthen the country’s workforce. According to the president, Infotep has expanded from eight schools in 2020 to 64 nationwide, while technical and university education is being complemented by programs in areas such as digital technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence through ITLA and other institutions.

The government is also working to reduce the number of permits required to establish and operate businesses. Abinader noted that investors can currently obtain permits in about 12 days, compared with more than 100 days in Mexico, but said the Dominican Republic should continue reducing processing times.

Despite global disruptions including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and changes in U.S. trade policy, Abinader said foreign investment in the Dominican Republic continues to grow and is expected to perform better in 2026 than in the previous year.

Dominican Republic seeks higher-value investment

The president said the country must move toward attracting higher-value industries, particularly in technology, semiconductor assembly and medical-device manufacturing. He reiterated that improving the country’s investment climate will require continued progress in education, infrastructure, transportation and regulatory certainty.

Among the infrastructure projects highlighted were the Santiago Monorail, which connects to the city’s free trade zone, and the completion of Avenida Ecológica, which improves access to the Caucedo port.

Abinader said the government’s goal is to address remaining challenges and create conditions that could allow the country to double its current investment levels by 2036.

The forum also featured international business executives who discussed opportunities in medical devices, electronics and advanced manufacturing. Participants highlighted the Dominican Republic’s free trade zone framework, technical workforce, logistics potential and opportunities to develop local suppliers and industrial clusters as factors that could attract additional investment.