This report briefly examines social issues in the Dominican Republic regarding the treatment of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent.

On August 5, 2004, the United States entered into the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). This permanent, comprehensive, and reciprocal trade agreement eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers to two-way trade, building on unilateral trade preferences begun under the 1983 Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI). CAFTA-DR reinforces the idea that growth in trade correlates closely with policies that promote economic stability, private investment in production, public investment in education, infrastructure, logistics, and good governance in general.

This report discusses the political and economic conditions in Dominican Republic and its relations with United States.

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This report addresses the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The CAFTA-DR is a regional agreement with all parties subject to “the same set of obligations and commitments,” but with each country defining its own market access schedule.

On August 5, 2004, the United States, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic signed the Dominican Republic- Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement, or the DR-CAFTA. The DR-CAFTA was negotiated as a regional agreement in which all parties would be subject to the “the same set of obligations and commitments,” but with each country defining its own separate schedules for market access. It is a comprehensive and reciprocal trade agreement, which distinguishes it from the unilateral preferential trade arrangement between the United States and these countries as part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), as amended. It liberalizes trade in goods, services, government procurement, intellectual property, investment, and addresses labor and environment issues.

Interview with Valentin R. Ybarra regarding his experiences during World War II. He discusses his wartime experiences in Peleliu and Okinawa as well as occupation duty in Japan and China. He also had an assignment in Spain. He remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis, the revolt in the Dominican Republic, and his service in Vietnam.

Photograph of Board of Members Reunion at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of Board of Members Reunion at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of attendees of the 2003 World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas dancing at the closing ceremony dinner. The dinner venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) in the Dominican Republic.

Photograph of Alan Stark dancing at the 2003 World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas closing ceremony dinner. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) in the Dominican Republic.

Photograph of "Creating Dance in the 21st Century" panelists Jorge A. Mendoza, Peter Palacio, Nejla Yatkin, and Edmundo Poy seated behind a table at the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of dancers in traditional costumes performing at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of dancers in traditional costumes performing at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of a man and woman dancing at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of men in traditional costumes playing music at the closing ceremony for the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003. The venue was the Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales).

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.

Photograph of "Nuestra Danza" performance at the closing ceremony of the World Dance Alliance V General Assembly of The Americas held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in April 2003.