Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement Could Take Effect in April

 
A free trade agreement signed by the Dominican Republic and Central American countries in 1998 could be implemented in April after ratification by the Dominican Congress, the Spanish news agency EFE reported. The Dominican industry and commerce secretary, Angel Lockwood, attributed the delay in the agreement's ratification to ongoing disputes over the treatment of certain key commodities, including Nicaraguan beef and Costa Rican poultry and dairy products. These conflicts have since been resolved, reported El Salvador's vice minister of the economy, Eduardo Ayala Grimaldi. The Dominican Congress could ratify the agreement as soon as early March.