Dominican Republic removes rice import tariffs under new decree

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic has repealed tariff measures governing rice imports, changing the conditions that had been in place since 2024 as the country negotiates agricultural trade issues with the United States.

President Luis Abinader issued Decree 635-26 on September 9, 2026, repealing Decree 693-24, which had established a 20% tariff on certain rice imports within the country’s World Trade Organization quota and a 99% tariff on imports exceeding the quota.

The 2024 measure also granted a 23,300-metric-ton quota for U.S. rice at a 0% tariff. Once that volume was exceeded, additional U.S. rice imports were subject to the 99% Most Favored Nation tariff.

Why did the Dominican Republic remove the rice tariffs?

The repeal comes as the Dominican Republic and the United States discuss market-access conditions for U.S. agricultural products under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).

On September 11, the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office said the Dominican Republic should repeal Decree 693-24, arguing that its provisions needed to be aligned with the country’s market-access commitments under DR-CAFTA.

The issue was also discussed during a virtual meeting between U.S. officials and Dominican Foreign Minister Víctor-Ito Bisonó, which addressed bilateral economic and trade relations and potential negotiations toward a reciprocal trade agreement.

Decree 693-24 had been introduced in 2024 as a measure to protect Dominican rice producers from expected changes under DR-CAFTA while supporting domestic production and food security.

The new decree eliminates those tariff provisions and orders the Ministries of Finance and Economy, Agriculture, and Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, along with the General Directorate of Customs and other relevant institutions, to implement the measure.