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Buying directly from Dominican producers — a practical guide
Most Dominican goods enter the United States duty-free under CAFTA-DR. Buying at origin removes two or three layers of markup — but it also moves the compliance work to you. This is the route, in order.
1. Find and vet the exporter
- Ask for the basics: RNC (tax ID) and Registro Mercantil (business registration), export history, references.
- On Dominicana Trade, a "Verified" badge means those documents were reviewed; anything else is an unverified lead — treat it that way.
- Start with a trial order before committing to volume.
2. Request quotes properly
- Say exactly: product and grade, quantity and packaging, destination port, timeline, and whether you want FOB or CIF pricing.
- Compare against international references (our reference prices page) before negotiating.
3. Your US compliance duties (the importer's side)
- FSVP: under the FDA's Foreign Supplier Verification Program, the US importer is legally responsible for verifying the supplier — keep records.
- FDA: the foreign facility must be FDA-registered; file Prior Notice for every food shipment.
- USDA/APHIS: fresh produce is only admissible if listed for the Dominican Republic, with the required treatment.
- Work with a licensed customs broker; confirm the HS classification and the CAFTA-DR origin claim before the goods sail.
4. Logistics
- Main ports: Caucedo and Río Haina. Sea freight to Miami is roughly 3 days; East Coast ports are also served.
- For fresh produce, insist on an unbroken cold chain and a temperature log.
5. Pay safely
- First deals: partial advance + balance against documents, or a letter of credit. Escrow services are a Phase-3 item on this platform — today, payments are arranged directly between buyer and seller.
- Never wire full payment in advance to a new supplier.
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