Dominican Republic Denies Irregular Export Assembly Operations Amidst U.S. Report

The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and SMEs (MICM) has asserted that no irregular product assembly operations for export exist within the country. The ministry stated it neither promotes nor tolerates practices aimed at concealing the true origin of goods. This response comes after a White House report identified the Dominican Republic, along with 39 other nations, as potential sites for the final assembly of Chinese products to circumvent tariffs.

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If there is any irregular operation, the Dominican Republic is the first interested in identifying it, correcting it, and sanctioning it according to the law.

The MICM emphasized its strong interest in identifying, correcting, and penalizing any irregular operations. "Our country does not promote or tolerate practices aimed at concealing the real origin of merchandise, evading tariffs, or affecting the trust of our trading partners," the ministry said in a press release. It shares the U.S. goal of preventing any company from using Dominican territory to illegally evade tariffs, falsify product origin, or violate trade commitments.

Companies involved in the international logistics, services, and export manufacturing sectors are subject to verification and compliance processes to ensure operations reflect genuine production and traceable documentation. The ministry is working closely with national customs and trade authorities and maintains dialogue with U.S. counterparts to understand the report's indicators and strengthen traceability, controls, and bilateral cooperation.

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Our country does not promote or tolerate practices aimed at concealing the real origin of merchandise, evading tariffs, or affecting the trust of our trading partners.

The Dominican government aims to distinguish between illegal triangulation and legitimate production where companies invest, employ locals, and transform goods within the country. This distinction is vital for protecting the nation's reputation, formal trade, and the confidence of its partners. The MICM will continue supporting initiatives that safeguard international trade integrity, combat illicit practices, and solidify the Dominican Republic as a reliable destination for manufacturing, logistics, and nearshoring.

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The objective of the Dominican Government is clear: to distinguish between illegal triangulation and legitimate production that occurs when a company invests, produces, employs Dominicans and transforms goods in the Dominican Republic.