Trade talks begin between Ecuador and Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo.- Ecuador and the Dominican Republic have launched negotiations on a partial trade agreement aimed at expanding reciprocal access to each other’s markets, according to Ecuador’s Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade and Investment.

The first round of talks, being held virtually, focuses on market access, rules of origin, trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, trade remedies, dispute settlement, and institutional matters. The agreement is expected to establish clearer trade rules and strengthen the competitiveness of businesses in both countries.

Trade between the two nations has continued to grow. Ecuador exported US$148 million worth of goods to the Dominican Republic in 2025, while imports from the Caribbean nation totaled US$19 million, resulting in a US$128 million trade surplus for Ecuador. Ecuadorian exports to the Dominican Republic also increased by 11.4% during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year. Key exports include raw tobacco, electrical equipment, metal products, shrimp, and flowers.

A second round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in person in the Dominican Republic in the coming weeks.