The new United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Campos, began her agenda of institutional meetings with a visit to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and SMEs (MICM), where she held a meeting with Minister Víctor -Ito- Bisonó in which they discussed priority issues on the bilateral agenda in trade, investment and technical cooperation.
During the meeting, both delegations reaffirmed the strategic importance of the relationship between the Dominican Republic and the United States, highlighting cooperation in trade, institutional matters, and capacity building.
Minister Bison emphasized the relevance of the bilateral economic link, noting that between January and October 2025 alone, trade exceeded US$15.9 billion, with a 3% year-on-year growth, driven by the dynamism of Dominican exports to the North American market. He also indicated that Dominican exports to the United States exceeded US$6 billion, also with a 3% increase, and that more than 89% of these correspond to the free zone regime, led by sectors such as medical devices, electrical appliances, cigars and cigarillos, jewelry, and advanced manufacturing.
“These results confirm the strength of our economic relationship and the confidence that the US market maintains in Dominican production,” said Minister Bisonó. In addition, Bisonó thanked for the distinction of starting his official meetings at the MICM.
The MICM head also highlighted the country’s position in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI). He recalled that in 2024 the Dominican Republic recorded a record of US$4.523 billion in FDI, while in 2025 it maintains a positive trend that could exceed that figure.
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He also highlighted that in 2024 the country captured 30% of the investment flows that arrived in the Caribbean, consolidating its position as one of the most competitive destinations in the region thanks to its macroeconomic stability, favorable business climate, and legal security.
Strategic and institutional cooperation
The MICM highlighted that the Dominican Republic maintains a close cooperation relationship with key agencies of the United States Government, including the Department of Justice (DOJ), Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
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Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
These collaborations encompass institutional strengthening programs, commercial traceability, technical exchange, and regulatory coordination, which reinforce economic security and transparency in trade flows.
Bisonó explained that these alliances reflect the country’s positioning as a reliable partner for the United States, not only in terms of trade and investment, but also in economic stability, logistics, and regulatory predictability. He also highlighted that, according to the 2025 edition of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s International Intellectual Property Index, the Dominican Republic ranks second in Latin America.
International recognitions and fight against illicit trade
Ambassador Campos also received an update on the country’s progress in the fight against illicit trade. The MICM reported that the Dominican Republic has been internationally recognized for its efforts against counterfeiting, smuggling, and piracy, achieving the seizure and incineration of more than 160 million units of illicit goods in recent years.
The country currently holds the 50th position among 158 economies in the Economist Impact’s 2025 Illicit Trade Index, ranking above the global average as one of the least vulnerable states to illicit trade, a result of sustained improvements in transparency, control, and market security.
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The MICM commission was headed by Minister Víctor -Ito- Bisonó, accompanied by the Vice Minister of Internal Commerce, Ramón Pérez Fermín, as well as the technical team of the Vice Ministry of Foreign Trade, made up of Ilena Rosario, director of Commercial Policies, and Vladimir Hernández, director of Commercial Integration.
On her side, the ambassador was accompanied by Daniel Butterfoss and Bryan Goldfinger, members of the U.S. Embassy’s Department of Commerce team.
