With growth projected among the strongest in the hemisphere, the Dominican Republic is positioning itself as a regional hub for trade, logistics, and nearshoring. Modernizing customs has been central to that story, from streamlining cross-border flows and combating contraband to safeguarding revenue and leveling the playing field for firms that play by the rules.
However, new pressures are testing the system. Illicit trade, whether at the land border or through complex international supply chains, undercuts legitimate commerce and weakens public trust. Rapid shifts in global demand, the rise of e-commerce, and competition distorted by unlawful practices are raising the stakes for effective enforcement and cooperation with partners like the United States.
How is the economy performing amid global headwinds? What are the greatest challenges facing the customs agency? Where can bilateral and regional cooperation most move the needle?
Join us for a conversation with Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, Director-General of Customs of the Dominican Republic on September 30, 2025 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM ET at the Inter-American Dialogue for an exchange on these critical issues.
Follow this event on X (formerly Twitter) at @The_Dialogue.
OPENING REMARKS
Ambassador María Isabel Castillo Baéz
Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States
SPEAKER
Eduardo Sanz Lovatón
Director of Customs of the Dominican Republic
MODERATOR
Manuel Orozco
Program Director, Migration, Remittances and Development, Inter-American Dialogue (@manuelorozco65)
