This Free Trade Agreement was signed on the 22nd of August 1998 and provisionally entered into force in December 2001, following the signing of the Framework Agreement, together with the Protocol implementing the Agreement on 28th April, 2000. The FTA is based on reciprocity with the five More Developed Countries of CARICOM (MDCs), which includes Jamaica. Jamaica is now applying the Agreement.

 

Goods coverage: The Protocol provides for duty-free trade for about ninety percent of the goods traded between the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. For those products not eligible for duty free treatment, the Protocol provides for phased reduction of duties by 2004, and the Most Favorable Nation Treatment for the remainder. Essentially, therefore, all goods can be imported into the DR duty free or benefit from the phased reduction of tariffs to zero, with the exception of certain goods for which MFN duties will apply. Some special agricultural products will also have their MFN tariffs re-imposed during pre-specified months of each year (seasonal application). CARICOM products covered by the Region’s Oils and Fats Agreement will continue to be protected and will not be subject to free trade.

 

Rules of Origin/cumulation: Products wholly produced, harvested or born within the territories, territorial waters and EEZs of the Parties, as well as those obtained in international waters by ships owned or partially owned by nationals of the Parties, are considered to have originated from the territory of the Parties. Substantial transformation, however, must take place in order for extra-territorial products to be deemed originating, while goods resulting from cumulation, in the production of goods using inputs obtained from the contracting Parties, are also deemed originating. A De minimis (or maximum ignorable) allowance of not more than 7% of inputs being untransformed is also provided for.

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