Dominican government seeks U.S. protection for domestic rice sector

The Dominican government is trying to persuade Washington that protecting the country's rice sector serves American interests as well as Dominican ones.

President Luis Abinader said rice has become a major point in ongoing discussions with the United States about tariffs. He maintained that the government continues to defend protection for domestic producers because of the sector's importance to the Dominican economy.

“We are convincing and talking with the American government about the importance of that sector to the Dominican economy, and that harming such an important sector, the rice sector of the Dominican Republic, even goes against their own interest,” Abinader said.

He spoke during the closing session of the 28th National Meeting of Leaders in the Agricultural Sector, organized by the Dominican Agro-Business Board. The remarks framed rice as a central issue in the commercial negotiations between Santo Domingo and Washington.

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We are convincing and talking with the American government about the importance of that sector to the Dominican economy, and that harming such an important sector, the rice sector of the Dominican Republic, even goes against their own interest.