Forced-Labor Trade Crackdown: The Dominican Republic issued Decree 502-26 to block imports linked to forced labor, empowering Customs (DGA) to halt, re-export, destroy, or otherwise dispose of covered goods and coordinate with labor, foreign affairs, industry, and other agencies as U.S. Section 301 forced-labor tariffs take effect. US Tariff Shock to DR Exports: Washington’s new 10%–12.5% tariff schedule targets 60 economies over forced-labor enforcement gaps, with the Dominican Republic listed at 12.5% for affected goods. Egg Exports to Cuba Resume: Santo Domingo restarted egg shipments to Cuba with a maritime-transport subsidy, sending the first batch of about 3.9 million eggs in 12 containers and aiming for 13M+ eggs monthly. Port Infrastructure Upgrade: APORDOM launched preventive maintenance for tourist and fishing docks nationwide, including anti-corrosion work, lighting repairs, and mooring equipment fixes. Santo Domingo 2026 Showcase: The Games opening ceremony is set for Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium with 1,100 drones, 500+ lasers, and 30,000 LED wristbands, as the event boosts tourism investment. Seismic Preparedness Push: FUDEC and ONESVIE highlighted the country’s seismic fault risks and urged stronger building assessments and public earthquake education. Competition Law Update: ProCompetencia proposed modernizing antitrust rules for the digital economy, platforms, AI, and cross-border operations. Aviation Industry Move: FL Technics named Saulius Bajarunas as CEO effective Sept. 1, with continued MRO expansion including Punta Cana. Tourism Development Spotlight: Airbnb backed a Dominican vacation rental registry, arguing for proportionate rules that distinguish hosts from hotels.