Welcome to the CAFTA-DR Gateway
This site brings together information and resources the U.S.
Department of Commerce and other U.S. Government Agencies offer to
U.S. businesses interested in new opportunities which will be
offered by the markets of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua) and the Dominican Republic,
particularly in light of the newly negotiated (but not yet
implemented) Free Trade Agreement with these countries.
About CAFTA-DR
The Central American - Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA-DR) is currently not in effect. The U.S. Congress approved
the CAFTA-DR in July 2005 and the President signed it into law on
August 2, 2005. The CAFTA-DR has been approved by the legislatures
in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua. Approval is pending in Costa Rica. The agreement shall
enter into force on a date to be agreed upon among the parties. Once
implemented, however, U.S. manufacturers, workers, farmers and
ranchers will benefit from its market opening provisions.
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The CAFTA-DR is a state-of-the-art free trade agreement. It not
only will reduce barriers to U.S. trade, but also require
important reforms of the domestic legal and business environment
that are key to encouraging business development and
investment.
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It will promote economic growth in the Central American
countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua, as well as in the Dominican Republic, and thereby will
expand U.S. opportunities in important regional markets.
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The Agreement will provide new opportunities for U.S. workers
and manufacturers. More than 80 percent of U.S. exports of
consumer and industrial goods will become duty-free in Central
America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and
Nicaragua) immediately, with remaining tariffs phased out over 10
years. Key U.S. export sectors will benefit, such as information
technology products, agricultural and construction equipment,
paper products, chemicals, and medical and scientific
equipment.
Links to web sites outside the U.S. Federal Government or
the use of trade, firm, or corporation names within the
International Trade Administration web sites are for the convenience
of the user. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or
approval by the U.S. Commerce Department of any private sector
website, product, or service.
