Press Release World Customs Organization Brussels, 18 January 2007 The Republic of Paraguay becomes the 128^th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention

On 12 January 7 September2007, the Republic of ParaguayDominican Republic deposited with the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization its instrument of accession to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonized System).

Considering that more than 98 % of international trade is classified in terms of the Harmonized System, the World Customs Organization is pleased to welcome Paraguaythe Dominican Republic as the 128^th125^th Contracting Party to the Harmonized System Convention and looks forward to Paraguay’sthe Dominican Republic’s active participation with respect to Harmonized System matters.

ParaguayDominican Republic has been a Member of the World Customs Organization since 3 October 1969. It is a landlocked country in South America neighbouring Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Its principal exports are soybeans, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather and sugar. The country's principal imports are motor vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products and machinery.28 July 2004. Although geographically small in size, the Dominican Republic has an active trade in sugar, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, precious metals and ferronickel.

The Harmonized System Convention will enter into force in Paraguaythe Dominican Republic on 1 January 2009, unless2008, unless the Dominican Republic decides to specify an earlier date Paraguay decides to specify an earlier date.