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Dominican Republic

US Revised Tariffs (%)

10

Ease of doing business

theboardiQ Tariffs Dashboard:

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Understand the complexities of international tariffs and ease of doing business across nations to cultivate balanced trade relationships, streamline operations, and deliver cost savings to end consumers.

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Revised Tariff %
Original Tariff %
Country Tariff Rate %
Share of US Imports % (1 implies <1%)
10
10
4
1
Exports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Imports (in USD Bill.) 2024
Balance (in USD Bill.) 2024
13.08
7.51
5.58

Implications

The trade status between the US and the Dominican Republic (DR) is currently defined by two competing policies: the long-standing Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the new, broader U.S. reciprocal tariffs.


Here is an update on the tariffs and trade status for the Dominican Republic as of October 2025:

Area

Status (October 2025)

Key Details

Bilateral Trade Agreement

CAFTA-DR is In Force

The Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) remains in effect. This agreement aims for the eventual elimination of most tariffs on goods and services between member nations.

Universal US Reciprocal Tariff

10% Implemented

The DR is subject to the new 10% baseline reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on most trading partners (often referred to as the "Liberation Day" tariff), which took effect on April 5, 2025.

Country-Specific Tariff Rate

No Higher Rate Announced

The DR has not been named among the countries subject to the higher, country-specific reciprocal tariff rates (which range from 15% to 40% for other nations). This suggests ongoing negotiations to maintain a lower rate.

Tariff on Low-Value Shipments

De Minimis Suspended

The U.S. has suspended the de minimis exemption (effective August 29, 2025) for all countries. This means every import into the U.S., regardless of its low value (previously under $800), is now subject to applicable duties, including the 10% reciprocal tariff.

Export to Sheets


Impact on Companies and Industry Trends


The current tariff environment has created a mixed and evolving impact on businesses trading with the Dominican Republic:

Impact Category

Effect on Companies

Details

Increased Costs

Higher import costs for US companies/consumers.

The 10% reciprocal tariff and the suspension of the de minimis exemption mean that a wider range of Dominican exports to the U.S. are now subject to duties, raising costs for U.S. importers.

Near-Shoring Opportunity

DR is becoming an attractive alternative for sourcing/manufacturing.

As other countries (like China) face significantly higher U.S. tariffs, the Dominican Republic's stable government, proximity to the U.S., existing CAFTA-DR framework, and numerous Free Trade Zones (FTZs) make it a viable "near-shoring" destination for U.S. companies looking to relocate supply chains.

Free Trade Zones (FTZs)

Increased focus on FTZs.

Companies operating out of the Dominican Republic's FTZs, which offer tax exemptions and a highly export-focused structure, are a critical component of the country's trade. The Dominican government is actively negotiating to protect these goods from high U.S. tariffs. World Emblem, for example, has been noted for planning a significant manufacturing shift to the DR.

Broader Industry Impact

Textile, medical device, and agricultural sectors are most exposed.

Trade between the US and the DR is heavily concentrated in certain sectors, making them highly sensitive to any new tariffs: textiles/apparel, medical devices, and agricultural products.


US Revised Tariffs

Country Tariffs

Balance of Trade

Commercial Guide

Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in countries, prepared by U.S. Embassies worldwide, Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals

Tariff Rate for US

World Bank staff estimates using the World Integrated Trade Solution system, based on tariff data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development's Trade Analysis and Information System ( TRAINS ) database and global imports data from the United Nations Statistics Division's Comtrade database.

US Imports Guide 

United States Imports from Countries during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. United States Imports from Countries- data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on April of 2025.

Investing in USA

theboardiQ Economic Relevance Score, ranks States of USA based on 11 parameters

Sources : ForbesUSDA Economic Research | TCGen Total Innovation Rank Index | Best States for Manufacturing | World Population Review | Tax Foundation | US News | BEA Data | Wikipedia International Trade Administration

theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of a nation's economic vitality and global significance. This score is meticulously calculated using 11 key parameters, each reflecting a critical facet of economic performance. It analyzes the representation of Fortune 500 companies within a nation, a strong indicator of its business environment and market size. The balance of trade surplus or deficit reveals the nation's international competitiveness and export strength. It incorporates Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a fundamental measure of overall economic output, and examine the health of key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. The score also accounts for innovation, gauging a nation's ability to drive future growth through technological advancements. Crucial labor market indicators such as employment rates are considered, alongside fiscal policies reflected in tax rates. To capture the lived experience of citizens, it assesses cost of living and disposable income, providing insight into purchasing power and economic well-being. Finally, education levels are integrated, recognizing their pivotal role in fostering a skilled workforce and driving long-term economic development. By synthesizing these 11 parameters, theboardiQ's Economic Relevance Score delivers a nuanced and holistic view of a nation's economic standing, enabling informed strategic decisions. The Top 5 States in the assessment are Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Washington. Texas does consistently well across most of the 11 variables especially in the areas of GDP, F500 representation in the State, Balance of Trade where it ranks 2nd nationally. North Carolina scores as the highest-ranking state nationally in manufacturing and performs consistently across the other variables. Virginia does well in disposable income where it ranks 3rd nationally. It also scores high in the variables of manufacturing and employment Florida holds the 4th ranking nationally for GDP and Tax Washington State scores the top spot for disposable income nationally, 2nd for education and 3rd for innovation. Colorado, with an overall rank of 7 scores the top spot for Education (schools and higher education). Nebraska, that ranked 10th overall, did well in Agriculture where it is ranked 3rd nationally as well as Trade Balance where it ranked 5th. Illinois, though ranked 20th overall did well nationally in F500 representation, GDP, Agriculture, and Disposable Income. Pennsylvania comes in at 21 overall doing well nationally in GDP (6th); Manufacturing (8th) and F500 representation (8th) New York scores 23rd overall with a 2 ranking in Disposable Income nationally, as well as 3rd in both F500 representation and GDP. California comes in at 29th overall and has the top spot ranking in a whopping 4 variables nationally – GDP, Innovation, Agriculture and F500 representation. However, performance in the areas of Trade Balance, Cost of Living, Tax, Manufacturing and Employment resulted in the overall ranking dipping. Wyoming at 30th overall scores the top spot nationally in the area of Tax Massachusetts at 31 overall does well in innovation where it is ranked 2nd nationally Arkansas at 36 and Alabama at 39, do well in overall Cost of Living where they are ranked 2nd and 3rd nationally, respectively. Louisiana ranked 44th overall is ranked 1st in Trade Balance nationally.

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