The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic announced on 21 October 1996 their intention to launch free trade negotiations at the beginning of 1997. A Framework free trade agreement was signed in Dominican Republic on 22 August 1998. A Protocol for the implementation of the CARICOM/Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement was initialled on 19 March 2000 and signed on 28 April 2000 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The agreement provides for reciprocal duty-free treatment of trade for the CARICOM MDCs (Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) with non-reciprocity for the LDCs (Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), scheduled to be phased out in 2005, as set out in paragrpah 8 of Article I of the Protocol of Implementation.

Documents relating to the negotiations
03 May 2000	Signing of Protocol to Implement the Agreement Establishing the Free Trade Area between the CARICOM and the Dominican Republic
21 March 2000	CARICOM and Dominican Republic conclude free trade talks
04 September 1998	The Statement of Santo Domingo
17 August 1998	Caribbean leaders to meet in Santo Domingo 20-22 August 1998
21 October 1996	CARICOM and Dominican Republic sign free trade agreement
Source: CARICOM Secretariat

According to the text of the agreement, the FTA will come into effect either on January 1, 1999 or upon completion of a plan of action scheduled to be completed ninety days after the signing of the Agreement. Both parties will then take the necessary administrative and legal action to implement the Agreement. The following countries have taken the necessary steps to implement the FTA:

Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (1 December 2001); Dominican Republic (5 February 2002); Guyana (6 October 2004); and Suriname (August 2005).

Documents related to entry into force
30 November 2001	CARICOM Secretariat. CARICOM-Dominican Republic free trade agreement enters into force on 1 December 2001
Source: CARICOM Secretariat

After the signing of the FTA in 1998, commonly known as the Framework Agreement, CARICOM and Dominican Republic agreed to advance the implementation of the different elements of the Agreement establishing the FTA through the following legal instruments: Plan of Action, signed on August 22, 1998; Protocol to Implement the Agreement establishing the Free Trade Area between the Caribbean Community and the Dominican Republic, signed on April 28, 2000; and Memorandum of Understanding, signed on 28 April 2000.

The Protocol to Implement the Framework Agreement specifically outlines the procedures for market access for the trade in goods; the treatment of goods and services produced in free trade zones (FTZs) and export processing zones (EPZs); special arrangements for the trade in selected agricultural products; market access for the trade in services; reciprocal promotion and protection of investment; government procurement; and the temporary entry of business persons. Additionally, it contemplates a List of Products for which Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment will apply until 1 January 2004 when the zero duty rule will become applicable to them.

• CARICOM Secretariat
• Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery
• Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana