Authorities in both countries announced the launch of negotiations for a partial-scope trade agreement, excluding products or sectors likely to be affected.
From the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic:
Santo Domingo, December 3rd, 2018. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Miguel Vargas, and the Minister of Economic Development of Curacao, Iván Steven Martina, signed this Monday the negotiation framework of a Partial Scope Agreement, which establishes the basis for creating a mechanism that stimulates trade flows and cooperation between the two countries.
The partial scope agreement establishes that sales will not be made using quotas, but based on a list of goods approved by both countries.
The Nicaraguan business sector expects to capitalize on the marketing of products such asrum, cigars, motorcycles assembled in Nicaragua, timber and manufactured goods, and beans, among other things.
An agreement has been made to expand the list of traded products and other conditions of the Partial Agreement which has been in force since 2010.
Guatemala and Belize agreed to extend the benefits of the Partial Agreement which came into effect four years ago. The aim, according to the Ministry of Economy (Mineco), is to strengthen trade relations.
In the second round of negotiations an agreement was signed on tourism and advances made in relation to investment protection.
In the second round of negotiations for a Partial Agreement (PA) between El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago, which was held in Puerto España, both delegations reached an agreement on tourism and advances were made in relation to investments.
This week Authorities from both countries will begin a second round of negotiations for a partial scope trade agreement.
This week El Salvador and Trinidad & Tobago will hold a second round of negotiations for a Partial Scope Agreement. The main products exported by Salvadorans to this country are articles made of plastic, sugar, agricultural products, industrial products, clothing, iron, steel, plastic, paper and cardboard.
Delegations from both countries have concluded the first round of negotiations for a partial trade agreement which they hope to sign in the first half of 2014.
Eleconomista.net reports: "Added to this trade agreement, as part of the same negotiation, is an agreement for cooperation in tourism and other investment protections, said the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of El Salvador, Mario Hernandez ...".
The modifications to the original trade agreement will boost by up to $40 million growth in exports from the Dominican Republic to Panama.
According to the Executive Secretary of the National Trade Negotiations Committee (CNNC), Luis Omar Fernandez this will allow the Dominican Republic, to increase by 60% its exports in the next few years, by an amount estimated at $40 million, as in 2012 they reached an estimated value of $25 million, with the most important products being steel and iron, plastics, pharmaceuticals, coffee and other industrial goods and foodstuffs.
In late May, the two countries will officially sign a partial scope agreement.
According to Maria Luisa Flores, vice minister of Foreign Trade and Integration in Guatemala, the signing will take place on 30 or 31 May, taking advantage of the visit of foreign business people participating in the Guatemala Investment Summit.
"To pave the way, a technical committee from the Ministry of Economy will travel to the Caribbean island in order to revise and refine the legal texts of the Partial Scope Agreement (PSA)", noted an article in Americaeconomia.com
Costa Rica business associations are calling for better management of the free trade agreements that have already been signed, stopping the search for others.
According to the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry (Cacia), first existing agreements should be better managed before searching for new ones.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica (ICRC) has seen exports to several countries where there are free trade agreements (FTAs) decrease.
From March 8 through March 10, Salvadoran negotiators are meeting with their Cuban peers in Havana.
The meetings are in response to interest shown by Salvadoran exporters, who already export to Cuba, to create a permanent framework that will facilitate and increase trade with Cuba.
According to Director of Trade Policy, Carlos Brown, a partial agreement is expected within three rounds of negotiations, which is what is scheduled now.