The meeting was supposed to last for several hours but after 30 minutes everyone went home. The theoretical last session of the technical group of business, government and civil society representatives, which was meeting to bring about a consensus on the new taxes needed by the government in the face of the DR-CAFTA agreement on the one hand and the IMF stand by accord on the other, stalled on the government?s idea of imposing a 30% tax on business incomes and a 4% surcharge on imports. The PUCMM vice-rector, Radham?s Mej?a, the technical group?s coordinator, was careful to point out that the talks are not in stalemate, but were postponed until next Wednesday when, supposedly, the different groups will arrive at a consensus. Juan Hern?ndez, the director general of the Tax Department, told reporters from the List?n Diario that the suggestions of an increase to 30% on the income tax and the 4% surcharge on imports were ?simply suggestions put on the table.? While pointing out that the 4% surcharge on imports could be deducted from the monthly income tax payments required from all businesses, Hern?ndez emphasized the fact that the government had to find those RD$29.63 billion in lost income following the implementation of DR-CAFTA. The government has not considered reducing its own spending. Enriquillo Rivas, speaking for the agricultural sector, noted that even the World Trade Organization needed to be consulted on that 4% tax.