News on Haiti

The president of the Free Trade Zone Association (ADOZONA) Fernando Capellan has expressed his support for a free trade agreement with Haiti due to the proximity of these two countries. Quoted in Hoy, he said that many opportunities could be maximized, and added that the only way to reduce poverty and social exclusion is to work together. Haiti is one of the DR's main trading partners, but no free trade agreement exists between the two neighbors, making much of the trade informal and subject to arbitrary decisions at the border.
Recently the need for an agreement has become more evident as exporters have complained of price gauging and inconsistent tax regulations at the Haitian border.

27 March 2008 - DR1 Daily News

The lack of an established free trade agreement between Haiti and the DR is leading Haiti to impose indiscriminate tariffs on Dominican goods, which is adversely affecting trade between the neighboring countries. Dominican Business Federation (FDC) president Ivan de Jesus Garcia pointed out the example of steel, which used to sell for US$600 per ton and is now on the market for US$1,100 per ton, due to the increasing tariffs. Garcia says that the high tariffs basically make it impossible to take Dominican steel into Haiti. De Jesus says that trade with Haiti has dropped by 80% because of the increased tariffs and new paperwork required. Garcia explained that the Haitian government paperwork requirements call for a two-month long procedure for importing a goods container.

13 March 2008 - DR1 Daily News

The possibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with neighboring Haiti is stirring a lot of enthusiasm in government and commercial circles. The National Council for Private Business (CONEP), the Young Entrepreneurs Association (ANJE) and the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Melanio Paredes, all expressed approval for such a deal. According to El Caribe, Conep president Lisandro Macarrulla emphasized the importance of a market such as Haiti for Dominican businesses, since it can be served by land routes. He warned, however, that the relationship between Haiti and the European Union needed to be analyzed. Melanio Paredes said that business with Haiti was worth some US$700 million, and pointed out that most of the obstacles to further trade would be eliminated.

25 Feburary 2008 - DR1 Daily News 

In spite of the Haitian official ban on Dominican poultry and eggs, many Haitians are still purchasing chickens and eggs and taking them across the border. In fact, according to Listin Diario, a flourishing new business has emerged: contraband eggs and chickens. According to the paper, this is particularly noticeable in the area between Dajabon and Manzanillo along the frontier. The "chicken-runners" manage to avoid Haitian Agricultural Department inspectors as well as the Dominican police. Most of the contraband is taken across the border on the days when the Bi-National Market is not operating. According to reports from Dominican traders and Haitian buyers alike, it is fairly easy to cross the frontier near Manzanillo due to a lack of vigilance by either country.

13 February 2008 - DR1 Daily News

Commercial and business representatives from the DR have asked the Haitian authorities to review their decision to increase the taxes levied on certain Dominican products that they import. As a result of the tariff increase, Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production president Ivan Reynoso has asked the DR to negotiate a free trade agreement with Haiti that would give formality and structure to the very informal trade relations that currently exist. The Federation of Retail Businesses (FENACODEPRO) has also asked the government to exert pressure on Haiti through diplomatic channels. The concern over trade relations with Haiti comes after it was reported last week that Haiti has increased tariffs on Dominican goods. According to the Dominican Business Federation (FDC) figures, metal bar shipments that were subject to 40,000 Haitian gourdes in taxes a year ago now pay 375,000 gourdes. Pasta, which used to be charged 20,000 gourdes now pays 162,500 gourdes in taxes. Dominican Exporters (ADOEXPO) president Raul Rodriguez said that the any unfavorable action by Haiti against free and fair trade is a threat to business and to Dominican consumers.

12 February 2008 - DR1 Daily News

Poultry producers from the Cibao region have told legislators that they have lost RD$600 million since the Haitian import ban on Dominican poultry and eggs went into effect. According to sector representatives, if the government does not stimulate local consumption (one supermarket chain has announced 30-pack eggs for RD$29.95, down from RD$99.99 a few weeks ago) and renewed exports to Haiti, losses could reach RD$700 million by the end of February. Members of the Senate Agricultural Committee held a meeting with farmers at the headquarters of the Association of Small Poultry Farmers of Moca. The delegation was headed by senators Amilcar Romero, himself a former Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Dominguez Brito, Felix Nova, Luis Rene Canaan, Winston Guerrero, Andres Bautista, Mario Torres, Euclides Sanches, Ramon de la Rosa, Rafael Diaz and Antonio Cruz. One farmer, Enriquillo Rivas, told the senators that he felt that the government had been too slow to react to the Haitian boycott and as a result the situation had become explosive. He added that the boycott, combined with high taxes on supplies and feed, has created much higher costs. In the short term, consumers are benefiting from the low chicken and egg prices.

06 February 2008 - DR1 Daily News

By the end of the week the DR will have completed the four requirements set forth by Haitian President Rene Preval to revoke a Haitian ban on Dominican egg and chicken exports. Agricultural Minister Salvador Jimenez said that technicians from the International Epizootias Organization (OI) would be in the DR on Wednesday to verify that avian flu does not exist in the DR. This is one of the requirements set forth by Haitian officials. Also, both sides have agreed to set norms for dealing with each truck that enters Haiti. Also, fighting cocks in Higuey, where the cases of avian flu were detected, will be killed. In addition to these increased measures, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the chicken production sector has implemented new bio-security measures. Dr. Enriquillo Rivas told Hoy that chicken and egg exports between both countries would resume by Friday.

5 February 2007 - DR1 Daily News

El Caribe writes that Dominican chicken and egg producers are losing RD$5 million on a daily basis since Haiti imposed a ban on Dominican chicken and egg imports. The prolonged Haitian ban has led to uproar, both in the DR and Haiti, and as a result the bi-national market was closed on Monday in protest against Haiti's ban. No word if the boycott will continue, but ripples are being felt on both sides of the border. El Caribe reports that Haitians were turned back from the border and quotes consumer Francis Jean who asked if the authorities were going to allow them to die of hunger. Police were placed in the area of the bi-national market and Special Border Security Corps (CESFRONT) director Adriano Silverio Rodriguez commented that it wasn't so much a strike as an agreement by business owners not to partake in the bi-national market. According to El Caribe, the bi-national market provides roughly RD$50 million in financial stimulation each week. Dajabon mayor Sonia Mateo said that although the boycott was only at the Dajabon market, it could be extended to other border towns.

5 February 2007 - DR1 Daily News

There will be no market day in Dajabon today, in protest against the Haitian government's ban on poultry and egg imports from the Dominican Republic. The municipality of Dajabon passed the resolution to halt the Market Day. On Market Days, between 8,000 and 10,000 Haitians cross the border to purchase goods in the open-air market, and tourists flock to the city to watch the spectacle. Father Regino Martinez told Diario Libre that the problems are not bio-sanitary, but political. He expressed some concern that the situation could get out of hand since Haitians prefer Dominican products for their quality and freshness and the Dominicans need the market sales. The good Father warned, "If they maintain the restrictions, people will find a way to keep business going no matter what."

04 February 2008 - DR1 Daily News

The Dominican mission that went to Haiti earlier this week was unsuccessful in convincing the Haitian government to lift the ban on Dominican chicken and egg imports. Haiti announced it would be sending a second mission of technicians to study the situation in the DR. Agriculture Minister Salvador Jimenez was accompanied in Haiti by Dominican Republic Center for Exports and Investment (CEI-RD) head Eddy Martinez, deputy Foreign Minster Jose Manuel Trullols, Livestock Director Angel Faxas and Dominican Agrarian Institute Director Quilvio Cabrera.

01 February 2008 - DR1 Daily News