Tariffs Hit DR — Here’s the Opportunity They Create

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In this edition of the Grubernation Weekly Newsletter:

• Tariffs Hit DR — Here’s the Opportunity They Create

• My 10 Step Checklist for Moving To DR

• Friusa Protests - Is Dominican Republic Unsafe?

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Tariffs Hit DR — Here’s the Opportunity They Create

So this happened…

Trump dropped a 10% tariff on everything the Dominican Republic exports to the U.S.

No exemptions — even zona francas are included. Those free trade zones have been the DR’s engine for textile, agriculture, and medical exports for decades. So yeah… this feels like bad news.

And in the short term, it kind of is. Margins will tighten. Some factories may cut staff or hours. And like always, it’s the poor who feel it first — the ones already living close to the edge.

But… if you zoom out a little, things get interesting.
Because in the big picture?

The DR might actually come out ahead.

Most countries got slammed. The DR just got tapped.

Here’s the rundown using DR’s biggest competitors for like/kind exports:

• Vietnam: 46%

• China: 34%

• Bangladesh: 37%

• Mexico: 0% (exempt via USMCA)

• Dominican Republic: 10%

So yeah — Mexico gets a pass (more on that in a second), but compared to most of the world, the DR just took a light hit.

If you’re a U.S. buyer and your Cambodian supplier now costs $1.47 more per unit because of tariffs — and the DR only went up $0.30?

You’re picking the DR.

“But isn’t Mexico the real winner then?”

Not exactly.

Yes, Mexico is exempt from these tariffs, thanks to USMCA.

But their average manufacturing wage is $3.80/hour.
In the DR? It’s about $2.50/hour.

Even with the 10% tariff baked in, you’re still looking at $2.75/hour.

Plus, DR’s exports are mostly mass garment production, medical devices, and agriculture.

Mexico’s textiles skew more toward jeans, tech fabrics, and auto parts — and their real strength is automotive and electronics.

Bottom line: there’s overlap, but not enough to make Mexico the nearshoring king.

What about Puerto Rico? No tariffs, right?

Correct — Puerto Rico, being a U.S. territory, doesn’t face tariffs.
But their minimum wage is over $10/hour.

So while it’s domestic, it’s still way more expensive than operating in the DR.

Plus, PR doesn’t have the same infrastructure for mass-scale production in textiles.
They’re strong in pharmaceuticals — not so much in socks and t-shirts.

Short-term? The poor take the hit.

Being real about this — even if the DR is positioned to win long-term, the short-term pain will be felt by some of the most vulnerable.

• Export factories will get squeezed

• Some will cut back on hours, hiring, or jobs

• The peso may weaken, making groceries and gas more expensive

• And it’s the poor — the working class — who feel those changes the most

This is the hard part of transition. But it’s not the end of the story.

1–3 years from now? It could be a different game.

If the DR plays it right:

• Nearshoring demand will increase (see the cost benefit above)

• More factories and foreign companies will set up shop here

• Tourism will spike as the weaker peso draws in more Americans

• Foreign investment in real estate will rise, fueling construction, rentals, and related jobs

This means new jobs, better pay, and more opportunity — especially for working-class Dominicans.

And we’ve seen it before — just look at Costa Rica and Jamaica. When they leaned into tourism and foreign investment, entire communities benefited. Street vendors, hotel workers, security guards — they weren’t replaced by change, they were elevated by it.

Some people will say “Jamie - once again you’re just being overly optimistic and spinning this”. Fell how you like.

But here’s how I see it: when the world shifts, I look for opportunity.

Option A is to complain — to point fingers at Trump, Biden, Harris, Elon, whoever’s in charge. These are the folks who are outraged that I’m not expressing outrage.

Option B is: “Okay, this happened. What does it make possible?”

I’m not selling sunshine and rainbows. I’m just removing emotion from the equation.

Who benefits? Who doesn’t? And what’s the move from here?

That’s not spin. That’s strategy.

Go to the news if your goal is to be appalled and offended.

Personally, I called my realtor in Michigan yesterday and told him to list the house next month so we can sell and buy our home here.

Makes me go from expat to immigrant with a budget between $600,000-$800,000 to buy. As always, I’ll share that journey and if anything changes but for anyone wondering if it’s the wrong time to buy, you see where I stand.

If you’re interested in buying here, I’d be happy to refer you a realtor that I trust or you can talk to the developer I currently am working with about their options.

💛 A Final Thought on Impact and Responsibility

I want to pause here for a second.

Yes — I’m talking about opportunity. About investment. About where the upside might be. And if you're reading this, chances are you won’t personally feel the sting of these tariffs. In fact, you may benefit from them.

But here’s the truth: there are people in this country who will feel it — fast.

The working class. The factory worker who might lose a shift. The family who sees their grocery bill go up while their income stays the same.

We can’t change the tariffs. There’s no value in outrage. 

But what we can do — especially if we prosper from this moment — is support the people who need it most.

For me, that looks like supporting an incredible organization here in the DR called 2nd Mile Missions — they’re on the ground doing real work in education, food relief, and family empowerment.

If this message resonates with you… maybe check them out.
And maybe commit, like I try to, to this idea:

If you’re fortunate enough to benefit from a shifting world — pay it forward to the ones most impacted by it.

That’s not charity. That’s just balance.

Key Sources:

Dominican Labor Rate - Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) – 2024 report on DR manufacturing labor in context of semiconductor readiness

Mexican Labor Rate - TradingEconomics – “Wages in Manufacturing”

US Labor Rate - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) “Average Hourly Earnings in Manufacturing Report - Feb 2025”

My 10-Step Checklist for Moving to the Dominican Republic

When we decided to leave the U.S. and move to the DR, I had no idea what I was doing. Like, zero idea.

I wasn’t following some perfect expat protocol—I just figured it out one step at a time.

And now, looking back, there is a rhythm to how we did it that made the whole thing way less overwhelming.

Here’s my personal 10-step checklist for moving to the DR—based on what actually worked for me and my family:

✅ 1. Visit for a Month (Live Like a Local)

Before you uproot your life, spend at least a month here. Not as a tourist—live like a local.

• Hire a housekeeper

• Cook at home

• Grocery shop, hit the gym

• Build a basic routine

You’ll learn fast whether this life actually fits.

✅ 2. Commit for One Year Only

Forget forever. It’s too abstract. We committed to just one year.

• It felt doable

• We rented out our U.S. house (furnished)

• We gave ourselves permission to go back if it didn’t work

You can always stay longer—but starting with one year makes it real and bite-sized.

✅ 3. Book the One-Way Flight

This is the unlock. Once you book that one-way ticket, it’s not a plan anymore—it’s happening.

Pick a date. Click “confirm.” The rest will follow.

✅ 4. Book an Airbnb for 2 Months

Wherever you think you want to live—try it first.

• Book a 2-month Airbnb

• Look for one that includes a housekeeper, WiFi, and utilities

• Many hosts will even help with a car

It costs more than a long-term lease—but the flexibility is 100% worth it.

✅ 5. Buy a Car

If you’re staying for a year, buy a car.

• You can finance or pay cash

• Resale value is strong here

• Having your own car = freedom to explore

You can Uber, but trust me—it’s not the same.

✅ 6. Get Local Health Insurance

Don’t rely on travel insurance. Buy a Dominican health plan.

• Super affordable

• Accepted locally

• Gives peace of mind

It’s one of the first “real life” things to check off.

✅ 7. Research Schools & Pets

This one’s a double-header:

• Call schools early – Ask about curriculum, enrollment, uniforms, requirements

• Understand pet import/export rules – Especially if you’re planning to bring them back to the U.S. one day

Start this process months before you move.

✅ 8. Enroll Kids in Summer Camp

If you’re moving with kids, aim for June. Why?

You can get them into summer camps like Carita Feliz—and let them make friends before school starts.

It makes the transition easier for them (and you).

✅ 9. Open a Bank Account

This isn’t urgent on day one—but the sooner, the better.

• It helps with residency and credit

• Makes paying bills and doing business easier

• Start with banks like BHD or Banco Popular

Pro tip: Bring original documents—DR banks love paperwork.

✅ 10. Get a Claro SIM or eSIM

This is a small step that makes a huge difference:

• Head to a Claro store

• Get a Dominican plan (SIM or eSIM)

• You can toggle between your U.S. number and DR number

Makes delivery, banking, and local life way easier.

Final Thought

You’ll figure out 1,000 little things along the way—but these 10 steps moved the needle most for us.

They took us from “we’re thinking about it” to “we actually live here now.”

Want to go deeper? I just dropped a YouTube video that shares even more of our story and behind-the-scenes on our move 👇
👉 WATCH HERE: How We Moved to the DR (and What We’d Do Differently)

Fruisa Protests - Is Dominican Republic Unsafe?

If you’re unaware, there was a large protest in the Friusa are of Bavaro on March 30.

Because the news was SO zoomed in on it, many messaged me biting their nails with concerns about safety, the future of real estate, tourism.

This video will encourage you to zoom out.

I’ll continue to keep you updated on the tariffs if anything else breaks! Stay tuned to YouTube and Instagram.