Although less than in 2007 they have improved with the EPA

SD. Despite the fact that the nation's exports fell by 23% last year as a result of the world economic crisis, the volume of Dominican exports to Europe, while less than in 2007, increased by €53.7 million over the 2008 figures. This was, in large part, due to the tariff facilities that are part of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was signed with the European Union (EU).

According to the Dominican Association of Exporters (Adoexpo), the county's exports suffered a decrease of around US$1.9 billion in 2009. Exports to Europe were down €264.4 million in 2008, going from €806.5 in 2007 to €542.2 million a year later.Nonetheless, last year they climbed up €53.7 million to reach €595.8 million.

In 2008, 15% of the commerce between the CARIFORUM nations and the EU was carried out by the Dominican Republic, second to Trinidad and Tobago at 30% (due to oil and petroleum products), but above Jamaica at 8%.Nonetheless the trade balance with Europe shows a deficit in favor of the EU of €1.103 billion.

According to data from the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD), the exports from the Dominican Republic in 2008 totaled US$6.747 billion.

The main items that the country exports to Europe are raw sugar, bananas, rum, furfural, molasses, enriched syrups, coffee, manufactures, cacao, leaf tobacco, ferronickel and foodstuffs. Our country is number 73 on the list of countries that ship to Europe and number 80 on the list of countries that imports goods from the Old Continent.

The exports to the EU in 2009 showed for the first time a growth in sugar sales.

Although Ben Nupnau, economic affairs manager for the Caribbean in the European Commission, indicated that the fall in the exports of sugar at the world level was 30%, a preliminary report of the Dominican economy for last year, produced by the Central Bank, shows that exports of raw sugar rose by 5.9%, fulfilling the sugar quota and going into the European market as well.

This happened in spite of the fact that currently, and as a result of the increase in demand generated in the Haitian market, the Dominican Republic has been forced to import sugar to supply local demand in the national market.

Some EPA-CARIFORUM Entities Pending

Four regional institutions that are supposed to supervise the implementation of the EPA and review it 5 years after the signing are still pending their installation. The EPA was signed by the Dominican Republic and 13 nations of the CARICOM in October 2008, Haiti signed in December 2009. Still pending is the appointment of the Regional Coordinator and the Joint Council of Ministers. This will allow the CARIFORUM and the EU to resolve any issues and analyze possible conflicts with other commercial agreements such as CARICOM has with Canada and that of the EU with Central America.