Dominican Republic Member profile
No notifications submitted by Dominican Republic
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/435/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.46.
The Dominican Republic maintains import prohibitions and restrictions for reasons of public health and safety, animal and plant health, and environmental protection, and in order to comply with the requirements of the international agreements to which it is a party.
3.47.
Most of the prohibitions currently maintained by the Dominican Republic are for plant and animal health reasons, and their objective is to prevent the entry of pests and diseases into the national territory, in view of the high commercial interest of the products they are intended to protect (Table 3.7). Therefore, in some instances, the import prohibition applies only to countries affected by the pests or diseases.
3.48.
The import prohibition on certain used products (clothing, vehicles and household electrical appliances) is still in effect, as is the prohibition on firearms and ammunition, and right‑hand‑drive vehicles for public safety reasons.
3.49.
In its most recent notification, in 2016, the Dominican Republic indicated that the import licensing procedure had not changed.[143] The Dominican Republic continues to use a system of automatic and non‑automatic licences, sometimes referred to as import permits. Licences are issued for statistical purposes, to control and monitor quality, and/or to administer import levels; they are not intended to limit quantities. An import licence is currently still required for all agricultural products (with a few exceptions[144], namely arms and ammunition; medicines; telecommunications equipment; and ozone‑depleting gases and substances) (Table 3.8). An import licence is also required for all products under WTO quotas. As part of this review, the authorities indicated that they are in the process of updating the regulations on the issuance of import licences (i.e. agricultural import permits). A non‑automatic licence is also required to import oil.[145]
3.50.
In the case of sugar (HS 1701), prior to its importation, the Dominican Sugar Institute (INAZUCAR) must issue a "declaration of necessity" based on the existence of a deficit in domestic production.[146]
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.77.
The Dominican Republic imposes export prohibitions and requires permits or authorizations for a limited number of products.
3.78.
In 2015, prohibited exports included amber and larimar. Exports of amber and larimar, both pure and processed, are currently permitted (Table 3.12). Exports of tortoiseshells and sea cucumbers are still prohibited, and exports of sugar and fishery products are subject to restrictions (Table 3.13). The Dominican Republic also imposes temporary restrictions on exports of certain products, including Anguilla rostrata (HS 0301.92), which, as of October 2021, could be exported only through specific ports and only by holders of a CODOPESCA licence to exploit and trade this product. This type of measure is used to track, control and monitor the exploitation of species.[172]
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.