DR-CAFTA Notification Letter

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000252 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD DR SUBJECT: DR-CAFTA Notification Letter ¶1. Below, find the translation of a letter for United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk from Jose Ramon Fadul Fadul, the Secretary of State for Industry and Commerce of the Dominican Republic. Post will send a scanned version of the original letter via e-mail to WHA/CAR and USTR. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Secretariat of State for Industry and Commerce "Commercial Agreements Office" Santo Domingo, National District "Year of the National Economic Reactivation" Santo Domingo, N.D. February 8, 2010 DICOEX.- 192 Mr. Ron Kirk, United States Trade Representative Dear Mr. Minister: Please accept my cordial greetings as I write you in the framework of the Dominican Republic - Central America - United States Free Trade Agreement. As per Article 18.3 on Notifications, and after having analyzed the pertinent actions and stipulations relative to the commercial relationship between the Dominican Republic and the countries of the Central American Common Market in Annex 3.3.6 of said Commercial Agreement, the Dominican Republic confirms that, since the entry into force of the Treaty for the Dominican Republic, it recognizes the tariff preferences established in Annex 3.3.6 of the DR-CAFTA. Likewise it conveys that it will abide by the stipulations set in paragraph 5, in the sense of "...refusing the preferential duty treatment set by paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Annex if the merchandise is produced in a free zone or under another special fiscal or customs regime in the territory of a Central American Party or of the Dominican Republic, according to each case, provided that the importing Party grants a tariff treatment to said merchandise no less favorable that the tariffs treatment applied to the merchandise when it is produced in its own free trade zones or other special fiscal or customs regimes and entered into the territory." By the same token, we have requested the collaboration of the Central American countries to study, together, the different fiscal stipulations that are in force in our countries, in a way that we may delimit those that establish special fiscal regimes, and thus expedite the preferential trade relationships. Otherwise, such an analysis would have to be performed on a case by case basis. It is our commitment to guarantee the correct and effective application of the obligations assumed in the trade agreements of the country. Please the assurances of my highest consideration and personal esteem. Sincerely, [signed] Jos???? Ram????n Fadul Secretary of State JRF/YSM Ave. 27 de febrero No. 209, Ensanche Naco, Santo Domingo, D.N. Tel: (809) 567-7192 * Fax (809) 381-8076 www.seic.gov.do END TEXT. Lambert