ONEC, the association representing owners of the country’s leading big stores is claiming that its members’ sales are down because of unfair competition. The group wants the government to tax Internet imports under US$200 and to regulate the import of small-scale merchandise entering in barrels.
Speaking to Diario Libre, ONEC director Ernesto Martinez said that while the Dominican economy is growing, commerce is showing a downward trend, which he said is related to these “irregular” imports. “Because of this situation, we have told the President that the problems are fundamentally issues that have to do with informal trade, which in some cases is irregular; importers with a low level of taxation.” ONEC is also complaining about importers of used and new clothing receiving preferential customs treatment.