Dom Rep throws over Taiwan for China after $3-billion deal

[Westy]

From Breitbart.com --


The Dominican Republic announced on Monday that it will break diplomatic ties with Taiwan, establish diplomatic relations with mainland China, and recognize Taiwan as an “inalienable part of Chinese territory.”

The move came after China offered the Dominican Republic a $3 billion investment and loan package and fits neatly into China’s strategy of isolating Taiwan.

“The decision was the latest setback for Taiwan in the Caribbean and Latin America. Panama dropped its longtime ties with Taiwan last year and established relations with China, which considers Taiwan to be Chinese territory. The island is recognized as a sovereign nation by only 19 mainly small, developing countries, 10 of them in this region,” the Associated Press noted (https://apnews.com/e57952bdaa3644dbaab71bbc34c842ce).

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said his government is “deeply upset by China’s actions,” which he said involved offering the Dominican Republic “vast financial incentives” to move into Beijing’s orbit after 77 years of diplomatic relations with Taipei.

The government of the Dominican Republic did not exactly deny their decision was based on what Taiwan derided as “dollar diplomacy....”

More at this link ... (http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/05/01/dominican-republic-breaks-taiwan-moves-chinas-orbit-3-billion-payoff/)

Did the whole country just whore itself out? :rolleyes:

[Atlantic City Jimmy]

From Breitbart.com --



More at this link ... (http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/05/01/dominican-republic-breaks-taiwan-moves-chinas-orbit-3-billion-payoff/)

Did the whole country just whore itself out? :rolleyes:

They have no idea how many pesos they are getting?

[Westy]

They have no idea how many pesos they are getting?
One hundred million STD's at 1500 pesos a pop.

Wait a moment, maybe I should have spelled it "ST's" ....

[Atlantic City Jimmy]

One hundred million STD's at 1500 pesos a pop.

Wait a moment, maybe I should have spelled it "ST's" ....

Nothing wrong with STDs.

[Kevy]

Seville said in Kenya the money had no strings attached????:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[minkyboodle]

Shocking....

[greydread]

Seville said in Kenya the money had no strings attached????:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Not "No Strings". China and India are competing for agricultural contracts in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia. These countries are not receiving "aid" from China. They are signing long term agricultural commodity supply agreements and the region is being set up as the breadbasket for China (1.4B) and India (1.2B) for the next 50 years. The road rail and ports projects, the dams and bridges and other infrastructure projects are investments required to get products to market.

China has been running around Africa for the last 20 years making deals where both parties win. The Caribbean, South and Central America are watching and they want in after generations of dealing with rape, rob and pillage American businesses which plundered their resources, enriched their despots and left their populations in abject poverty.

Think of it this way....China and America are both Tricks. The developing world is a bunch of Ho's.

One Trick likes beating Ho's up and biting them on the ass and shorting their money after the deed is done and the other one builds them a house, takes them grocery shopping and always pays in full, up front.

Which Trick have we been? The world is watching!

[weyland]

It would have happened sooner or later with or without bribes (if that is what you want to call them). The writing is on the wall for even the slowest-witted and most brain-washed. The DR is one of the last countries to make the change. Do you want to shackle your country to the future or to the past?

To me the most telling event happened a few years back, when the UK elected to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Chinese sponsored rival to the World Bank, which latter has always been USA dominated and has been a malign force keeping the Third World impoverished. The UK has been the USA's bitch since WWII (as members here have been so kind as to remind me from time to time), so for a right-wing, pro-capitalist and pro-business UK government to resist all the USA's threats and influence and join the AIIB really shows that there is no turning back the clock. (The AIIB even has a Brit as VP and Corporate Secretary).

The Chinese investment in the Belt and Road Initiative is so absolutely massive that it makes Marshall Aid look like pocket money (even allowing for changing monetary values). The Chinese are already changing Africa and Central Asia, and Latin America will be looking for their share too. And they are doing it without sending in thousands of marines, dropping napalm or crushing democratic governments (in the few cases these exist) and replacing them with fascist stooges as in the DR and Haiti.

[weyland]

The DR is one of the last countries to make the change.

Out of nearly 200 nations in the UN, the Taiwan regime is now recognized as a sovereign country by only 19 nations: 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, six tiny island states in the Pacific and the Vatican.

The Pope still loves them, so when the regime dies (which cannot now be far off) it will go to Heaven.

[jose1234]

Making a loan is one thing and collecting is another. We shall see what happens in the years ahead...

[Atlantic City Jimmy]

Out of nearly 200 nations in the UN, the Taiwan regime is now recognized as a sovereign country by only 19 nations: 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, six tiny island states in the Pacific and the Vatican.

The Pope still loves them, so when the regime dies (which cannot now be far off) it will go to Heaven.

Do you remember when there was just Great Britain and 5 or 6 others?

[greydread]

Making a loan is one thing and collecting is another. We shall see what happens in the years ahead...

That's the problem. The IMF goes into a country with a dismal economy, dangles "loans" in front of it and then makes access to those loans available only as the country spends the money in accordance with IMF guidelines, thus becoming the country's de facto policy maker and no matter who is in charge of that country on paper, the conditions associated with those loans stand as the deciding economic policy initiative.

China is coming from an entirely different angle. They are making financial and infrastructure investments which they are backing with long term commodity deals which ensure that their own economic growth can continue on a long range trajectory under decades of slow, steady growth. China has 6,000 years of recorded history. They don't do anything short term.

The difference between the deals reached between China and it's partner nations is that those nations are treated like partners. China is the Hyman Roth of nations: "Michael, I always make money for my partners" (poignant scene from "The Godfather II" for those too young to remember when it was on the big screen.)

Does China offer these deals out of some altruistic sense of world peace, harmony and 'kumbaya"? Hell no. Their aim is global economic domination to secure their own future. The difference is that they plan to do it economically, resulting in new allies rushing to rise by their side versus the current Western theme of murdering on a massive scale (shock & awe, etc) and loan sharking to establish and maintain their dominance. The USA has over 800 military installations in over 100 different countries. China has a military installation in Djibouti and plans another in Lamu to protect the humongous port they're building there. Lamu is in the Northern part of the Kenyan Coast on the Indian Ocean and is uncomfortably close to it's border with Somalia.

The world has grown weary of a century of gunboat diplomacy, death and destruction on a scale never seen before in the entirety of Human existence and the world is screaming "Show me the money!". Times have changed and old methods are no longer viable and our greatest challenge is to change with the times or be swallowed by the inevitability of change.

[camaro1257]

That's the problem. The IMF goes into a country with a dismal economy, dangles "loans" in front of it and then makes access to those loans available only as the country spends the money in accordance with IMF guidelines, thus becoming the country's de facto policy maker and no matter who is in charge of that country on paper, the conditions associated with those loans stand as the deciding economic policy initiative.

China is coming from an entirely different angle. They are making financial and infrastructure investments which they are backing with long term commodity deals which ensure that their own economic growth can continue on a long range trajectory under decades of slow, steady growth. China has 6,000 years of recorded history. They don't do anything short term.

The difference between the deals reached between China and it's partner nations is that those nations are treated like partners. China is the Hyman Roth of nations: "Michael, I always make money for my partners" (poignant scene from "The Godfather II" for those too young to remember when it was on the big screen.)

Does China offer these deals out of some altruistic sense of world peace, harmony and 'kumbaya"? Hell no. Their aim is global economic domination to secure their own future. The difference is that they plan to do it economically, resulting in new allies rushing to rise by their side versus the current Western theme of murdering on a massive scale (shock & awe, etc) and loan sharking to establish and maintain their dominance. The USA has over 800 military installations in over 100 different countries. China has a military installation in Djibouti and plans another in Lamu to protect the humongous port they're building there. Lamu is in the Northern part of the Kenyan Coast on the Indian Ocean and is uncomfortably close to it's border with Somalia.

The world has grown weary of a century of gunboat diplomacy, death and destruction on a scale never seen before in the entirety of Human existence and the world is screaming "Show me the money!". Times have changed and old methods are no longer viable and our greatest challenge is to change with the times or be swallowed by the inevitability of change.

Interesting conversation...

It makes me think of our current National Security Advisers comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I988P0KDLHk

Bolton says " the declared policy of the United States of America should be the overthrow of the Mulla's regime in Teran"

Ok so haven't we seen this movie (gun boat diplomacy)before in Iraq, Libya and Syria? It's okay for the United States to put in practice it's doctrine of regime change but when the Russians meddle in our elections we call foul?

IMHO this is a brilliant chess move on the part of China investing in the future of other countries that can secure their future going forward. The question becomes what happens if the Yuan becomes the world's reserve currency...hmmmmmmmmmm?

[jose1234]

Money always changes things. Eventually it will be gun boat diplomacy by the Chinese as well after they take a few losses. They are newbies at this...

[greydread]

Money always changes things. Eventually it will be gun boat diplomacy by the Chinese as well after they take a few losses. They are newbies at this...

Like I said....the Chinese have 6,000 years of recorded history. 'Murica has 400. Who is the "newbie"?

[greydread]

Interesting conversation...

It makes me think of our current National Security Advisers comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I988P0KDLHk

Bolton says " the declared policy of the United States of America should be the overthrow of the Mulla's regime in Teran"

Ok so haven't we seen this movie (gun boat diplomacy)before in Iraq, Libya and Syria? It's okay for the United States to put in practice it's doctrine of regime change but when the Russians meddle in our elections we call foul?

IMHO this is a brilliant chess move on the part of China investing in the future of other countries that can secure their future going forward. The question becomes what happens if the Yuan becomes the world's reserve currency.

:rofl:



..hmmmmmmmmmm?

Not if. When. Muamar Ghaddafi was assassinated because he announced the formation of the African Central bank with its currency. the African Gold Dinar as the standard for the sale of oil and other commodities on the African continent. That is what got him assassinated. When the Chinese do it and destroy the Petro-Dollar, assassination will not be an option.

Right now the USA spends more on its military than the next 7 countries, combined. Unfortunately for us, the amount that we spend does not equate to military might as we have found out in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan (our longest continuous military conflict in the history of the nation).

Gunboat diplomacy no longer works. Everything that the USA has endeavored upon since WWII bears that theory out and when the mighty US military was humbled during the Vietnam conflict against a bunch of barefoot rice farmers and then again against a rag tag bunch of Afghan goat herders it exposed us as a paper tiger, to our eternal shame, in front of the entire world.

"We woulda', we shoulda', we coulda'..." That bullshit will not be a part of the narrative as the history of our time is recorded into posterity.

Right now, our form of democracy (Constitutional Republic) is the best form of government ever introduced in the history of mankind. We don't need to sell it at gunpoint. We need to adhere to it strictly and it will sell itself. The Neocons have led our nation astray and the rest of us will suffer for it. The world will suffer for it.

[PapiQueRico]

Not if. When. Muamar Ghaddafi was assassinated because he announced the formation of the African Central bank with its currency. the African Gold Dinar as the standard for the sale of oil and other commodities on the African continent. That is what got him assassinated. When the Chinese do it and destroy the Petro-Dollar, assassination will not be an option.

Right now the USA spends more on its military than the next 7 countries, combined. Unfortunately for us, the amount that we spend does not equate to military might as we have found out in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan (our longest continuous military conflict in the history of the nation).

Gunboat diplomacy no longer works. Everything that the USA has endeavored upon since WWII bears that theory out and when the mighty US military was humbled during the Vietnam conflict against a bunch of barefoot rice farmers and then again against a rag tag bunch of Afghan goat herders it exposed us as a paper tiger, to our eternal shame, in front of the entire world.

"We woulda', we shoulda', we coulda'..." That bullshit will not be a part of the narrative as the history of our time is recorded into posterity.

Right now, our form of democracy (Constitutional Republic) is the best form of government ever introduced in the history of mankind. We don't need to sell it at gunpoint. We need to adhere to it strictly and it will sell itself. The Neocons have led our nation astray and the rest of us will suffer for it. The world will suffer for it.

Already have.

[greydread]

Already have.
...tip of the spear...

[jose1234]

Meanwhile back to the Dominican Republic...Economy is Excellent

Central banker Hector Valdez Albizu, on Wed. said the Dominican economy posted a “robust” growth of 6.4% in the first quarter.
He said the growth results from the economy’s sustained momentum and the central Bank’s “flexible” measures adopted in mid 2017.
He said Dominican Republic’s growth has led the Latin American region, “which in the cases of greater expansion don’t exceed 4 percent.”
Among the “robust sectors the official cited mining with 4.2%, local manufacturing 6.9%, construction 9.3%, retail 8.2%, services 5.3%, energy and water 6%, hotels, bars and restaurants 6.9%.
“In general terms, the main sectors of the economy have had very strong growth in this quarter and it’s in a certain way, as the Monetary Fund pointed out in its report, that they’re contemplating that the effect of economic liberation was going to be felt more strongly, with greater momentum during the year 2018,” Valdez said.

[Mr. Smooth]

Like I said....the Chinese have 6,000 years of recorded history. 'Murica has 400. Who is the "newbie"?

And the majority of the last century they have been ruled by a bloody, ruthless communist dictatorship which has murdered 10's of millions of people. In addition to having stole billions in intellectual property from Western countries, namely the United States.

These people haven't exactly been sitting on the sidelines as innocent bystanders in the murder, rape and pillage business over the last 75 years.

[Mr. Smooth]

Meanwhile back to the Dominican Republic...Economy is Excellent

Central banker Hector Valdez Albizu, on Wed. said the Dominican economy posted a “robust” growth of 6.4% in the first quarter.
He said the growth results from the economy’s sustained momentum and the central Bank’s “flexible” measures adopted in mid 2017.
He said Dominican Republic’s growth has led the Latin American region, “which in the cases of greater expansion don’t exceed 4 percent.”
Among the “robust sectors the official cited mining with 4.2%, local manufacturing 6.9%, construction 9.3%, retail 8.2%, services 5.3%, energy and water 6%, hotels, bars and restaurants 6.9%.
“In general terms, the main sectors of the economy have had very strong growth in this quarter and it’s in a certain way, as the Monetary Fund pointed out in its report, that they’re contemplating that the effect of economic liberation was going to be felt more strongly, with greater momentum during the year 2018,” Valdez said.



So that's where all those old Sosua ho's wind up after their stomachs get flabby, their tits sag, and their hips can no longer shake and sway to the music like they once could.

Maybe they actually found real, honest to goodness, employment.

Bravo to the DomRep economy. Danillo for Life! :corky:

[greydread]

So that's where all those old Sosua ho's wind up after their stomachs get flabby, their tits sag, and their hips can no longer shake and sway to the music like they once could.

Maybe they actually found real, honest to goodness, employment.

Bravo to the DomRep economy. Danillo for Life! :corky:
The GDP is bolstered by new debt and the country's GDP is 62% tourism dependent. One sneeze and the whole economy washes away into the Caribbean.

With 42% of its population living under the poverty level, all that "growth" is just a parlor game using numbers.

Like numbers? The CIA World Fact Book is full of them:



GDP (purchasing power parity): (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2001&term=GDP%20(purchasing%20power%20parity))
$172.6 billion (2017 est.)
$164.7 billion (2016 est.)
$154.5 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 73 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.html#dr)
GDP (official exchange rate): (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2195&term=GDP%20(official%20exchange%20rate))
$74.87 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2003&term=GDP%20-%20real%20growth%20rate)
4.8% (2017 est.)
6.6% (2016 est.)
7% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2003rank.html#dr)
GDP - per capita (PPP): (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2004&term=GDP%20-%20per%20capita%20(PPP))
$17,000 (2017 est.)
$16,400 (2016 est.)
$15,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 104 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html#dr)
GDP - composition, by end use: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2259&term=GDP%20-%20composition,%20by%20end%20use)
household consumption: 69.8%
government consumption: 10.9%
investment in fixed capital: 23.3%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 25.8%
imports of goods and services: -30.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2012&term=GDP%20-%20composition,%20by%20sector%20of%20origin)
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 33.8%
services: 60.8% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2052&term=Agriculture%20-%20products)
cocoa, tobacco, sugarcane, coffee, cotton, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Industries: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2090&term=Industries)
tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Industrial production growth rate: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2089&term=Industrial%20production%20growth%20rate)
6% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2089rank.html#dr)
Labor force: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2095&term=Labor%20force)
4.732 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2095rank.html#dr)
Labor force - by occupation: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2048&term=Labor%20force%20-%20by%20occupation)
agriculture: 14.4%
industry: 20.8%
services: 64.7% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2129&term=Unemployment%20rate)
5.5% (2017 est.)
5.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2129rank.html#dr)
Population below poverty line: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2046&term=Population%20below%20poverty%20line)
30.5% (2016 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2047&term=Household%20income%20or%20consumption%20by%20percentage%20share)
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 37.4% (2013 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2172&term=Distribution%20of%20family%20income%20-%20Gini%20index)
47.1 (2013 est.)
45.7 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2172rank.html#dr)
Budget: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2056&term=Budget)
revenues: $11.18 billion
expenditures: $12.77 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2221&term=Taxes%20and%20other%20revenues)
14.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2221rank.html#dr)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2222&term=Budget%20surplus%20(+)%20or%20deficit%20(-))
-2.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2222rank.html#dr)
Public debt: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2186&term=Public%20debt)
47.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
47.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html#dr)
Fiscal year: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2080&term=Fiscal%20year)
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices): (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2092&term=Inflation%20rate%20(consumer%20prices))
3% (2017 est.)
1.6% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2092rank.html#dr)
Commercial bank prime lending rate: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2208&term=Commercial%20bank%20prime%20lending%20rate)
14.6% (31 December 2017 est.)
15.08% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2208rank.html#dr)
Stock of narrow money: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2214&term=Stock%20of%20narrow%20money)
$6.921 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.491 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2214rank.html#dr)
Stock of broad money: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2215&term=Stock%20of%20broad%20money)
$21.44 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$19.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2215rank.html#dr)
Stock of domestic credit: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2211&term=Stock%20of%20domestic%20credit)
$35.64 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$33.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2211rank.html#dr)
Market value of publicly traded shares: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2200&term=Market%20value%20of%20publicly%20traded%20shares)
$NA
Current account balance: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2187&term=Current%20account%20balance)
$-1.192 billion (2017 est.)
$-1.066 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2187rank.html#dr)
Exports: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2078&term=Exports)
$10.33 billion (2017 est.)
$9.86 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html#dr)
Exports - commodities: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2049&term=Exports%20-%20commodities)
gold, silver, cocoa, sugar, coffee, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
Exports - partners: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2050&term=Exports%20-%20partners)
US 47.3%, Haiti 12%, Canada 7.8%, India 6.2% (2016)
Imports: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2087&term=Imports)
$19 billion (2017 est.)
$17.48 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2087rank.html#dr)
Imports - commodities: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2058&term=Imports%20-%20commodities)
petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2061&term=Imports%20-%20partners)
US 40.4%, China 12.5%, Mexico 5.2% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2188&term=Reserves%20of%20foreign%20exchange%20and%20gold)
$6.233 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.134 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2188rank.html#dr)
Debt - external: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2079&term=Debt%20-%20external)
$29.69 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2079rank.html#dr)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2198&term=Stock%20of%20direct%20foreign%20investment%20-%20at%20home)
$35.93 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$33.56 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2198rank.html#dr)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2199&term=Stock%20of%20direct%20foreign%20investment%20-%20abroad)
$487.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$387.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2199rank.html#dr)
Exchange rates: (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html?fieldkey=2076&term=Exchange%20rates)
Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar -
47.42 (2017 est.)
46.08 (2016 est.)
46.08 (2015 est.)
45.05 (2014 est.)
43.56 (2013 est.)