Free trade zones dedicated to the production and export to the United States of electronic devices, medical devices and instruments, tobacco, and clothing are the most threatened by the new 12.5% tariff that the United States will impose on 60 countries, including the Dominican Republic, as part of its policy against forced labor.
So far in 2026, the country has exported to the United States, its main trading partner, approximately US$435 million in circuit breakers, about US$413 million in cigars, cheroots, and cigarillos, and about US$408 million in medical instruments and appliances for human or veterinary surgery.
These have been the three main export products to the United States in 2026, mainly under the free trade zone regime.
Followed by clothing items such as T-shirts and shirts (US$162 million), electrodiagnostic apparatus (US$139 million), jewelry items (US$136 million), and tobacco, whether or not manufactured or stemmed (US$104 million), among other products and items.
The imposition on the Dominican Republic of an additional 12.5% tariff starting at 12 midnight this Friday, July 24, will reduce the competitiveness of these free trade zones and could cause the relocation of these types of companies to countries with lower tariffs or no tariffs for exports to the United States, due to the importance of that market.
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To avoid the situation, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 502-26 yesterday, which establishes the administrative procedure to prevent, identify, and restrict the importation of merchandise, products, and goods produced, in whole or in part, through forced labor, strengthening the protection of human rights and compliance with international commitments assumed by the Dominican Republic.
In the document, the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) is authorized to order, through a reasoned decision, the prohibition of the importation of merchandise, products, or goods when it is determined that they were produced using forced labor.
It also establishes that administrative measures will be applicable to goods that have already set sail, are in ports, or are subject to any customs regime or operation prior to their importation or final entry into the national territory.
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In addition, the DGA may order, as appropriate, the re-exportation to the country of origin or to another authorized destination, as well as its destruction or any other legally appropriate measure.
This institution must, likewise, maintain an administrative record of the merchandise, products, and goods whose importation has been prohibited.
