After the Minister of Agriculture, Osmar Benítez, revealed that President Danilo Medina had authorized the revision of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-Cafta), the economist Pavel Isa Contreras believes that the country is being It will be difficult to renegotiate this agreement without the support of the Central American countries.
“I think there would be reasonable doubts about the position that Central America could have in that sense,” he says.
He explains that a renegotiation is a relevant element for the country because the agricultural sectors are very concerned, pointing out that they are right because of the effects that could have. Understand that renegotiation must be given a long-term sense.
“A renegotiation for what? To win more time? Well, if it is to gain more time, it would be necessary to promote agricultural policies that in the medium and long term will give the sector the capacity to respond to the imports that would come from the US of agricultural products, because that is the concern “, he warns.
What should be the strategy?
Details that products such as rice, chicken meat, pork and beans could be impacted in the country.
“What are we doing or what do we plan to do to do what we did not do in 15 years when the DR-Cafta was signed? If it is to protect in a defined way some sensitive products, well, but what is the strategy regarding those products, or also promote a development that allows these producers to have a more dignified life and be more competitive units, “argues the economist Pavel Isa Contreras.
In summary, he considers that the concern of the agricultural sectors is perfectly valid, and that it is necessary to have a key plan, “it is not renegotiate to renegotiate, but with specific objectives,” he says. He also says that it would be necessary to see what the final position will be for the President of the Republic to choose and what will be the position of the Central American countries.