Haiti industries oppose lifting of ban on Dominican products: Acento

Port-au-Prince, Haiti.- Haiti’s Industries Association (ADIH) on Mondayobjected to the lifting of overland import restrictions levied by authoritieson 23 products from the Dominican Republic.

Outlet acento.com reports that the ADIH aims to defend domesticproduction and create jobs for Haitians, by constantly fighting smuggling,which it calls "a real plague for the national economy."

The Association notes that on October 1, 2015, Haiti’s Government,at the behest of the country’s national producers, economic actors and governmentagencies, imposed the ban, which allows the import of the 23 Dominican productsonly by sea or air, allegedly to better manage customs and phytosanitary controls.

"If this restriction is lifted, the domestic privatesector cannot face unfair competition that will sweep Haiti and that will leadto the loss of jobs, lower tax revenue and the disappearance of domesticinvestors," said Haiti’s Private Sector Economic Forum.

"However, this measure was strongly challenged by theDominican government, exporters and truckers’ unions of the neighboringRepublic, which demanded the unconditional revocation of the decision," theADIH says.

"The ADIH regrets to learn that after the visit of thenew Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado, on August 30, thisrestrictive measure transport is about to be lifted, at the expense of domesticindustries (Haiti)."