Affirms Free Trade exclusivity with the U.S. not convenient

http://www.dominicantoday.com 05/09/06

Santo Domingo.- The president of the Dominican-Italian Chamber of Commerce (CCDI) said that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Central America and the United States (DR-CAFTA) is convenient as long as the local market is not monopolized.

Enrico Citati stated that “there cannot be a free trade agreement only with the United States, without a free trade accord with Europe that can place the two powerful blocks in equal competitive terms.”

“Competitiveness is [the element] that allows the Dominican Republic the opportunity to choose the best product at the best price,” he said.

The Italian affirmed that negotiations are well underway to establish a treaty with Europe, which would give the country better opportunities to enter international markets, as long as local interests are taken into account being this a sovereign nation that should protect its national entrepreneurs.

Citati mentioned a grapevine project to produce wine in Barahona, which is currently being advised by an Italian consultant, saying that “it could pave the way for creating an export market toward the United States, given the facilities that the FTA offers.”