OAS
 
 
Central America-Dominican Republic-United States
Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)
(This agreement has been marked up in HTML by SICE. A PDF version can be found here.)
Index
Preamble    
Chapter One Initial Provisions to top
Article 1.1 Establishment of a Free Trade Area  
Article 1.2 Objectives  
Article 1.3 Relation to Other Agreements  
Article 1.4 Extent of Obligations  
Chapter Two General Definitions to top
Article 2.1 Definitions of General Application  
  Annex 2.1: County-Specific Definitions  
Chapter Three National Treatment and Market Access for Goods to top
Article 3.1 Scope and Coverage  
Section A National Treatment  
Article 3.2 National Treatment  
Section B Tariff Elimination  
Article 3.3 Tariff Elimination  
Section C Special Regimes  
Article 3.4 Waiver of Customs Duties  
Article 3.5 Temporary Admission of Goods  
Article 3.6 Goods Re-entered after Repair or Alteration  
Article 3.7 Duty-Free Entry of Commercial Samples of Negligible Value and Printed Advertising Materials  
Section D Non-Tariff Measures  
Article 3.8 Import and Export Restrictions  
Article 3.9 Import Licensing  
Article 3.10 Administrative Fees and Formalities  
Article 3.11 Export Taxes  
Section E Other Measures  
Article 3.12 Distinctive Products  
Section F Agriculture  
Article 3.13 Administration and Implementation of Tariff-Rate Quotas  
Article 3.14 Agricultural Export Subsidies  
Article 3.15 Agricultural Safeguard Measures  
Article 3.16 Sugar Compensation Mechanism  
Article 3.17 Consultations on Trade in Chicken  
Article 3.18 Agriculture Review Commission  
Article 3.19 Committee on Agricultural Trade  
Section G Textiles and Apparel  
Article 3.20 Refund of Customs Duties  
Article 3.21 Duty-Free Treatment for Certain Goods  
Article 3.22 Elimination of Existing Quantitative Restrictions  
Article 3.23 Textile Safeguard Measures  
Article 3.24 Customs Cooperation  
Article 3.25 Rules of Origin and Related Matters  
Article 3.26 Most-Favored-Nation Rates of Duty on Certain Goods  
Article 3.27 Preferential Tariff Treatment for Wool Apparel Goods Assembled in Costa Rica  
Article 3.28 Preferential Tariff Treatment for Non-Originating Apparel Goods of Nicaragua  
Article 3.29 Definitions  
Section H Institutional Provisions  
Article 3.30 Committee on Trade in Goods  
Section I Definitions  
Article 3.31 Definitions  
 

Annex 3.2: National Treatment and Import and Export Restrictions  
  Section A: Measures of Costa Rica  
  Section B: Measures of the Dominican Republic  
Section C: Measures of El Salvador  
Section D: Measures of Guatemala  
Section E: Measures of Honduras  
Section F: Measures of Nicaragua  
Section G: Measures of The United States  
  Annex 3.3: Tariff Elimination  
  Annex 3.3.4: Implementation of Modifications Approved by the Parties to Accelerate the Elimination of Customs Duties  
  Annex 3.3.6  
  Appendix 3.3.6: Special Rules of OriginPDF  
  Appendix 3.3.6.4: Exceptions from Preferential Tariff Treatment  
  Annex 3.11: Export Taxes  
  Annex 3.15: Agricultural Safeguard Measures  
  Annex 3.22: Elimination of Existing Quantitative Restrictions  
  Annex 3.25: Short Supply List  
  Annex 3.27: Preferential Tariff Treatment for Wool Apparel Goods Assembled in Costa Rica  
  Annex 3.28: Preferential Tariff Treatment for Non-Originating Apparel Goods of Nicaragua  
  Annex 3.29: Textile or Apparel Goods Not Covered by Section G  
Chapter Four Rules of Origin and Origin Procedures to top
Section A Rules of Origin  
Article 4.1 Originating Goods  
Article 4.2 Regional Value Content  
Article 4.3 Value of Materials  
Article 4.4 Further Adjustments to the Value of Materials  
Article 4.5 Accumulation  
Article 4.6 De Minimis  
Article 4.7 Fungible Goods and Materials  
Article 4.8 Accessories, Spare Parts, and Tools  
Article 4.9 Packaging Materials and Containers for Retail Sale  
Article 4.10 Packing Materials and Containers for Shipment  
Article 4.11 Indirect Materials Used in Production  
Article 4.12 Transit and Transshipment  
Article 4.13 Sets of Goods  
Article 4.14 Consultation and Modifications  
Section B Origin Procedures  
Article 4.15 Obligations Relating to Importations  
Article 4.16 Claims of Origin  
Article 4.17 Exceptions  
Article 4.18 Obligations Relating to Exportations  
Article 4.19 Record Keeping Requirements  
Article 4.20 Verification  
Article 4.21 Common Guidelines  
Article 4.22 Definitions  
  Annex 4.1: Specific Rules of OriginPDF  
  Annex 4.6: Exceptions to Article 4.6  
Chapter Five Customs Administration and Trade Facilitation to top
Article 5.1 Publication  
Article 5.2 Release of Goods  
Article 5.3 Automation  
Article 5.4 Risk Management  
Article 5.5 Cooperation  
Article 5.6 Confidentiality  
Article 5.7 Express Shipments  
Article 5.8 Review and Appeal  
Article 5.9 Penalties  
Article 5.10 Advance Rulings  
Article 5.11 Implementation  
Article 5.12 Capacity Building  
Chapter Six Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures to top
Article 6.1 Affirmation of the SPS Agreement  
Article 6.2 Scope and Coverage  
Article 6.3 Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters  
  Annex 6.3: Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters  
Chapter Seven Technical Barriers to Trade to top
Article 7.1 Affirmation of the TBT Agreement  
Article 7.2 Scope and Coverage  
Article 7.3 International Standards  
Article 7.4 Trade Facilitation  
Article 7.5 Conformity Assessment  
Article 7.6 Technical Regulations  
Article 7.7 Transparency  
Article 7.8 Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  
Article 7.9 Information Exchange  
Article 7.10 Definitions  
  Annex 7.8: Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  
Chapter Eight Trade Remedies to top
Section A Safeguards  
Article 8.1 Imposition of a Safeguard Measure  
Article 8.2 Standards for a Safeguard Measure  
Article 8.3 Administration of Safeguard Proceedings  
Article 8.4 Notification and Consultation  
Article 8.5 Compensation  
Article 8.6 Global Actions  
Article 8.7 Definitions  
Section B Antidumping and Countervailing Duties  
Article 8.8 Antidumping and Countervailing Duties  
  Annex 8.3: Administration of Safeguard Proceedings  
  Annex 8.7: Country-Specific Definitions  
Chapter Nine Government Procurement to top
Article 9.1 Scope and Coverage  
Article 9.2 General Principles  
Article 9.3 Publication of Procurement Measures  
Article 9.4 Publication of Notice of Intended Procurement  
Article 9.5 Time Limits for the Tendering Process  
Article 9.6 Tender Documentation  
Article 9.7 Technical Specifications  
Article 9.8 Requirements and Conditions for Participating in Procurement  
Article 9.9 Tendering Procedures  
Article 9.10 Awarding of Contracts  
Article 9.11 Information on Contract Awards  
Article 9.12 Non-Disclosure of Information  
Article 9.13 Ensuring Integrity in Procurement Practices  
Article 9.14 Exceptions  
Article 9.15 Domestic Review of Supplier Challenges  
Article 9.16 Modifications and Rectifications to Coverage  
Article 9.17 Definitions  
  Annex 9.1.2(b)(i)PDF  
  Annex 9.1.2(b)(ii)PDF  
  Annex 9.1.2(b)(iii)PDF  
Chapter Ten Investment to top
Section A Investment  
Article 10.1 Scope and Coverage  
Article 10.2 Relation to Other Chapters  
Article 10.3 National Treatment  
Article 10.4 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment  
Article 10.5 Minimum Standard of Treatment  
Article 10.6 Treatment in Case of Strife  
Article 10.7 Expropriation and Compensation  
Article 10.8 Transfers  
Article 10.9 Performance Requirements  
Article 10.10 Senior Management and Boards of Directors  
Article 10.11 Investment and Environment  
Article 10.12 Denial of Benefits  
Article 10.13 Non-Conforming Measures  
Article 10.14 Special Formalities and Information Requirements  
Section B Investor-State Dispute Settlement  
Article 10.15 Consultation and Negotiation  
Article 10.16 Submission of a Claim to Arbitration  
Article 10.17 Consent of Each Party to Arbitration  
Article 10.18 Conditions and Limitations on Consent of Each Party  
Article 10.19 Selection of Arbitrators  
Article 10.20 Conduct of the Arbitration  
Article 10.21 Transparency of Arbitral Proceedings  
Article 10.22 Governing Law  
Article 10.23 Interpretation of Annexes  
Article 10.24 Expert Reports  
Article 10.25 Consolidation  
Article 10.26 Awards  
Article 10.27 Service of Documents  
Section C Definitions  
Article 10.28 Definitions  
  Annex 10-A: Public Debt  
  Annex 10-B: Customary International Law  
  Annex 10-C: Expropriation  
  Annex 10-D: Treatment in Case of Strife  
  Annex 10-E: Submission of a Claim to Arbitration  
  Annex 10-F: Appellate Body or Similar Mechanism  
  Annex 10-G: Service of Documents on a Party Under Section B - Costa Rica  
Chapter Eleven Cross-Border Trade in Services to top
Article 11.1 Scope and Coverage  
Article 11.2 National Treatment  
Article 11.3 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment  
Article 11.4 Market Access  
Article 11.5 Local Presence  
Article 11.6 Non-conforming Measures  
Article 11.7 Transparency in Developing and Applying Regulations  
Article 11.8 Domestic Regulation  
Article 11.9 Mutual Recognition  
Article 11.10 Transfers and Payments  
Article 11.11 Implementation  
Article 11.12 Denial of Benefits  
Article 11.13 Specific Commitments  
Article 11.14 Definitions  
  Annex 11.9: Professional Services  
  Annex 11.13: Specific Commitments  
  Section A: Costa Rica  
  Section B: The Dominican Republic  
  Section C: El Salvador  
  Section D: Guatemala  
  Section E: Honduras  
Chapter Twelve Financial Services to top
Article 12.1 Scope and Coverage  
Article 12.2 National Treatment  
Article 12.3 Most-Favored-Nation Treatment  
Article 12.4 Market Access for Financial Institutions  
Article 12.5 Cross-Border Trade  
Article 12.6 New Financial Services  
Article 12.7 Treatment of Certain Information  
Article 12.8 Senior Management and Boards of Directors  
Article 12.9 Non-Conforming Measures  
Article 12.10 Exceptions  
Article 12.11 Transparency  
Article 12.12 Self-Regulatory Organizations  
Article 12.13 Payment and Clearing Systems  
Article 12.14 Domestic Regulation  
Article 12.15 Expedited Availability of Insurance Services  
Article 12.16 Financial Services Committee  
Article 12.17 Consultations  
Article 12.18 Dispute Settlement  
Article 12.19 Investment Disputes in Financial Services  
Article 12.20 Definitions  
  Annex 12.5.1: Cross-Border Trade  
  Section A: Costa Rica  
  Section B: The Dominican Republic  
  Section C: El Salvador  
  Section D: Guatemala  
  Section E: Honduras  
  Section F: Nicaragua  
  Section G: United States  
  Annex 12.9.2: Specific Commitments  
  Section A: Costa Rica  
  Section B: The Dominican Republic  
  Section C: El Salvador  
  Section D: Guatemala  
  Section E: Honduras  
  Section F: Nicaragua  
  Section G: United States  
  Section H: Specific Commitments of Costa Rica on Insurance Services  
  Annex 12.9.3: Additional Information Regarding Financial Services Measures  
  Section A: Costa Rica  
  Section B: The Dominican Republic  
  Section C: El Salvador  
  Section D: Honduras  
  Section E: Nicaragua  
  Annex 12.16.1: Financial Services Committee  
Chapter Thirteen Telecommunications to top
Article 13.1 Scope and Coverage  
Article 13.2 Access to and Use of Public Telecommunications Services  
Article 13.3 Obligations Relating to Suppliers of Public Telecommunications Services  
Article 13.4 Additional Obligations Relating to Major Suppliers of Public Telecommunications Services  
Article 13.5 Submarine Cable Systems  
Article 13.6 Conditions for the Supply of Information  Services  
Article 13.7 Independent Regulatory Bodies and Government-Owned Telecommunications Suppliers  
Article 13.8 Universal Services  
Article 13.9 Licenses and Other Authorizations  
Article 13.10 Allocation and Use of Scarce Resources  
Article 13.11 Enforcement  
Article 13.12 Resolution of Domestic Telecommunications Disputes  
Article 13.13 Transparency  
Article 13.14 Flexibility in the Choice of Technologies  
Article 13.15 Forbearance  
Article 13.16 Relationship to Other Chapters  
Article 13.17 Definitions  
  Annex 13: Specific Commitments of Costa Rica on Telecommunications Services  
  Annex 13.3: Rural Telephone Suppliers  
  Annex 13.4.5: Interconnection  
  Annex 13.4.8: Access to Rights-of-Way  
Chapter Fourteen Electronic Commerce to top
Article 14.1 General  
Article 14.2 Electronic Supply of Services  
Article 14.3 Digital Products  
Article 14.4 Transparency  
Article 14.5 Cooperation  
Article 14.6 Definitions  
Chapter Fifteen Intellectual Property Rights to top
Article 15.1 General Provisions  
Article 15.2 Trademarks  
Article 15.3 Geographical Indications  
Article 15.4 Domain Names on the Internet  
Article 15.5 Obligations Pertaining to Copyright and Related Rights  
Article 15.6 Obligations Pertaining Specifically to Copyright  
Article 15.7 Obligations Pertaining Specifically to Related Rights  
Article 15.8 Protection of Encrypted Program-Carrying Satellite Signals  
Article 15.9 Patents  
Article 15.10 Measures Related to Certain Regulated Products  
Article 15.11 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights  
Article 15.12 Final Provisions  
  Annex 15.11: Procedures and Remedies Concerning Broadcast or Cable Transmissions or Retransmissions in the Dominican Republic  
Chapter Sixteen Labor to top
Article 16.1 Statement of Shared Commitment  
Article 16.2 Enforcement of Labor Laws  
Article 16.3 Procedural Guarantees and Public Awareness  
Article 16.4 Institutional Arrangement  
Article 16.5 Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building Mechanism  
Article 16.6 Cooperative Labor Consultations  
Article 16.7 Labor Roster  
Article 16.8 Definitions  
  Annex 16.5: Labor Cooperation and Capacity Building Mechanism  
Chapter Seventeen Environment to top
Article 17.1 Levels of Protection  
Article 17.2 Enforcement of Environmental Laws  
Article 17.3 Procedural Matters  
Article 17.4 Voluntary Mechanisms to Enhance Environmental Performance  
Article 17.5 Environmental Affairs Council  
Article 17.6 Opportunities for Public Participation  
Article 17.7 Submissions on Enforcement Matters  
Article 17.8 Factual Records and Related Cooperation  
Article 17.9 Environmental Cooperation  
Article 17.10 Collaborative Environmental Consultations  
Article 17.11 Environmental Roster  
Article 17.12 Relationship to Environmental Agreements  
Article 17.13 Definitions  
  Annex 17.9: Environmental Cooperation  
Chapter Eighteen Transparency to top
Section A Transparency  
Article 18.1 Contact Points  
Article 18.2 Publication  
Article 18.3 Notification and Provision of Information  
Article 18.4 Administrative Proceedings  
Article 18.5 Review and Appeal  
Article 18.6 Definitions  
Section B Anti-Corruption  
Article 18.7 Statement of Principle  
Article 18.8 Anti-Corruption Measures  
Article 18.9 Cooperation in International Fora  
Article 18.10 Definitions  
Chapter Nineteen Administration of the Agreement and Trade Capacity Building to top
Section A Administration of the Agreement  
Article 19.1 The Free Trade Commission  
Article 19.2 Free Trade Agreement Coordinators  
Article 19.3 Administration of Dispute Settlement Proceedings  
Section B Trade Capacity Building  
Article 19.4 Committee on Trade Capacity Building  
  Annex 19.1: The Free Trade Commission  
  Annex 19.1.4: Implementation of Modifications Approved by the Commission  
  Annex 19.2: Free Trade Agreement Coordinators  
  Annex 19.3: Remuneration and Payment of Expenses  
Chapter Twenty Dispute Settlement to top
Section A Dispute Settlement  
Article 20.1 Cooperation  
Article 20.2 Scope of Application  
Article 20.3 Choice of Forum  
Article 20.4 Consultations  
Article 20.5 Commission – Good Offices, Conciliation, and Mediation  
Article 20.6 Request for an Arbitral Panel  
Article 20.7 Roster  
Article 20.8 Qualifications of Panelists  
Article 20.9 Panel Selection  
Article 20.10 Rules of Procedure  
Article 20.11 Third Party Participation  
Article 20.12 Role of Experts  
Article 20.13 Initial Report  
Article 20.14 Final Report  
Article 20.15 Implementation of Final Report  
Article 20.16 Non-Implementation − Suspension of Benefits  
Article 20.17 Non-Implementation In Certain Disputes  
Article 20.18 Compliance Review  
Article 20.19 Five-Year Review  
Section B Domestic Proceedings and Private Commercial Dispute Settlement  
Article 20.20 Referral of Matters from Judicial or Administrative Proceedings  
Article 20.21 Private Rights  
Article 20.22 Alternative Dispute Resolution  
  Annex 20.2: Nullification or Impairment  
  Annex 20.17: Inflation Adjustment Formula for Monetary Assessments  
Chapter Twenty-One Exceptions to top
Article 21.1 General Exceptions  
Article 21.2 Essential Security  
Article 21.3 Taxation  
Article 21.4 Balance of Payments Measures on Trade in Goods  
Article 21.5 Disclosure of Information  
Article 21.6 Definitions  
  Annex 21.3: Competent Authorities  
Chapter Twenty-Two Final Provisions to top
Article 22.1 Annexes, Appendices, and Footnotes  
Article 22.2 Amendments  
Article 22.3 Amendment of the WTO Agreement  
Article 22.4 Reservations  
Article 22.5 Entry into Force  
  Amendment to DR-CAFTA (Article 22.5, paragraph 2 of the Agreement, regarding entry into force)  
Article 22.6 Accession  
Article 22.7 Withdrawal  
Article 22.8 Depositary  
Article 22.9 Authentic Texts  
     
  Annexes on Non-Conforming Measures to the top!
  Annex I   (Chapters 10 and 11)  
  Formatting notePDF  
  Costa Rica SchedulePDF  
  Dominican Republic SchedulePDF  
  El Salvador SchedulePDF  
  Guatemala SchedulePDF  
  Honduras SchedulePDF  
  Nicaragua SchedulePDF  
  U.S. SchedulePDF  
  Annex II (Chapters 10 and 11)PDF  
  Annex III Financial Services Non-Conforming Measures  
     
  Tariff Schedules to top
  Costa Rica  
  Costa Rica General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of Costa Rica to Annex 3.3PDF  
  Dominican Republic  
  Dominican Republic General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of Dominican Republic to Annex 3.3PDF  
  El Salvador  
  El Salvador General notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of El Salvador to Annex 3.3PDF  
  Guatemala  
  Guatemala General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of Guatemala to Annex 3.3PDF  
  Honduras  
  Honduras General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of Honduras to Annex 3.3PDF  
  Nicaragua  
  Nicaragua General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of Nicaragua to Annex 3.3PDF  
  United States  
  U.S. General Notes and Appendix IPDF  
  Schedule of U.S. to Annex 3.3PDF  
     
PDF version of text PDF to top
Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative  
 
   
 

 

 

  Spanish version
About the Agreement
  Signature
  05 August 2004
  Entry into Force
  El Salvador and the United States
01 March 2006
Honduras and Nicaragua
01 April 2006

Guatemala
01July 2006

Dominican Republic
01 March 2007

Costa Rica
01 January 2009
Trade Policy Developments

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Related information

Topics Covered in the Agreement
 
Other related documents
Side Letters and Understandings
Amendment to DR-CAFTA (Article 22.5, paragraph 2 of the Agreement, regarding entry into force)