The American Chamber of Commerce is calling for modernization of the six-decades old general customs law so that the country can develop its potential as a major regional distribution center. William Malamud of AmCham said the country has the potential to attract companies from East Asia that would relocate here to distribute to the Americas.
“More and more companies are looking for a platform to produce nearer to the United States,” he said, as reported in El Caribe. He explained that when the law was passed the Customs Department’s main objective was to collect revenues for the state. Consumer taxes now prevail, especially with all the free trade agreements.
Malamud said the Department of Customs should now operate on the premise that it is a trade facilitator, and ways to reduce costs and time of operation must be found in the movement of goods through borders. “It should be a priority for the Dominican Republic to make the most of this opportunity to insert itself and take advantage of the need for logistic centers and only a modern law can achieve this,” said lawyer Maria Esther Fernandez who chaired a working group for drafting a bill for the revision of the General Customs Law.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2013/11/21/camara-americana-comercio-urge-por-ley-aduanas