Dominican government: Protecting rice from the U.S. is a "matter of national security"

The government of the Dominican Republic declared on Monday that protecting the domestic rice sector from the removal of tariffs on grain imported from the United States is a matter of national security. The administration emphasized that the crop is a sensitive issue directly affecting the Caribbean nation's vital interests.

The statement comes in response to economic threats facing local producers as tariff protections for the staple grain are phased out under trade agreements with the United States.