For Immediate Release
Contact: Nate Herman
703-797-9062

TGA Praises Free Trade Proposal On The Dominican Republic

Princeton, NJ - July 31, 2003 - Travel Goods Association President Anne DeCicco today congratulated the Bush Administration for beginning free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Dominican Republic. "Many TGA members have important trade relationships with the Dominican Republic," noted DeCicco. "We believe that U.S.-Dominican Republic free trade talks are a logical addition to the current U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (USCAFTA) negotiations."

U.S. travel goods companies imported more than $10.9 million worth of product from the Dominican Republic (DR) during the year ending May 2003 - the most recent period for which statistics are available. Much of this product is made with U.S. parts and materials. The DR represents the 13th largest source of U.S. luggage and briefcase imports and is a major supplier of travel/sports bags and handbags to the U.S. market. According to Thomas Sandler, TGA Chair and President of Samsonite, "For over 10 years, the Dominican Republic has been one of the most important sources of travel goods in this hemisphere and a critical market for U.S. exports of travel goods product components. We believe that a free trade agreement with the Dominican Republic will continue and expand this vital partnership."

Since June 2003, the TGA has called for the inclusion of the Dominican Republic in the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement as one of the central tenets of the Association’s new trade policy. TGA has consistently urged that the DR be brought into a free trade environment.

-###-

The Travel Goods Association is the voice of the U.S. travel goods industry. A national trade association, TGA represents the manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of luggage, leather goods, business and travel accessories, business and computer cases, handbags, and other products for people who travel.