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U.S. Relations With the Dominican Republic

More information about the Dominican Republic is available on the Dominican Republic Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with the Dominican Republic in 1884 following its independence from Spain in 1865. Post-independence, the country saw a mix of coups, U.S. military intervention and occupations, military government, and democratic government. The Dominican Republic s first peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected president to another was in 1978.

U.S. relations with the Dominican Republic are excellent. The country is an important partner in hemispheric affairs due to its standing in the Caribbean as the largest economy and second-largest country in terms of population and land mass, its large bilateral trade with the United States, and its proximity to the United States and other smaller Caribbean nations. The Dominican Government has been supportive of many U.S. initiatives in the United Nations and related agencies. The two governments cooperate in the fight against trafficking in illegal substances. The Dominican Republic has worked closely with U.S. law enforcement officials on issues such as the extradition of fugitives and measures to hinder illegal migration.

The United States has a strong interest in a democratic, stable, and economically healthy Dominican Republic and supports its democratic and economic development. Obstacles to sustainable development include the poor quality of the country s education system, the inability of the health system to adequately respond to the population s needs, weak economic competitiveness, and severe inefficiencies in the energy sector. Violence has increased in the Dominican Republic in recent years. While there have been coordinated efforts to address corruption, improving transparency is a priority in order to consolidate the country s democratic gains. The U.S. Government collaborates with Dominican authorities to address these issues while working with local and international partners to strengthen institutional and technical capacity.

U.S. Assistance to the Dominican Republic

U.S. assistance helps build accountable and transparent institutions that can better serve the needs of the Dominican people and strengthen democratic governance. In addition, U.S. assistance stimulates income generation opportunities for small businesses and rural communities, improves the protection of the environment, enables local organizations to promote ecological and cultural tourism, and furthers the equitable provision of quality health and education services. The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative complements bilateral programs in the Dominican Republic and provides additional assistance for law enforcement, citizen safety, and rule of law programs.

Bilateral Economic Relations

The Dominican Republic s most important trading partner is the United States. The two countries are parties to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), along with five Central American countries. This agreement creates new economic opportunities by eliminating tariffs, opening markets, reducing barriers to services, and promoting transparency. It facilitates trade and investment among the seven countries and furthers regional integration.

U.S. exports to the Dominican Republic include oil, agricultural products, machinery, vehicles, and cotton, yarn, and fabric. U.S. imports from the Dominican Republic include optical and medical instruments, jewelry and gold, agricultural products, machinery, tobacco, and knit apparel. U.S. firms, mostly manufacturers of apparel, footwear, and light electronics, as well as U.S. energy companies, account for much of the foreign private investment in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic s Membership in International Organizations

The Dominican Republic and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Organization of American States, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic is James (Wally) Brewster ; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department s Key Officers List .

The Dominican Republic maintains an embassy in the United States at 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-6280).

More information about the Dominican Republic is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here: