The Haitian Government has postponed the ban on the import of 23 basic products from the Dominican Republic into its territory until 1 October 2105. The measure was originally scheduled to go into effect this Friday, 18 September 2015 as notified to the Haitian press, but was postponed, as Wilson Laleau, Minister of Economy and Finances confirmed to the Dominican press.
The ban will affect farm products including eggs, chickens, plantains, bananas, lettuce, carrots, coconuts, processed meats, juices and other products that are sold at the Monday and Friday border markets, as well as construction materials. The ban does not affect clothing imports that are sent to the Conavi free zone plants on the Haitian side of the border.
The Haitian government announced the ban after a visit to the border between Ouanaminthe and Dajabon by Prime Minister Evans Paul and other Haitian officials who watched the voluntary return of Haitians who had not registered for the National Foreigner Legalization Plan (PNRE).
The Haitian government closed the borders, only allowing Haitians to cross the Dominican Republic to use the free hospital services as well as schoolchildren who commute to the Dominican Republic for their free classes at Dominican public schools and others who study at Dominican universities and private schools. It also allows the export of goods from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.
While ground exports are banned, the Haitian authorities announced that they would allow imports via air and sea to Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien.
In response to the ban, Dominican Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose del Castillo Savinon said that the decision violates all international agreements and will have serious repercussion on Dominican producers and on Haitian traders and consumers. He said the 23 banned products make up the bulk of Dominican exports to Haiti, worth over US$1.4 billion last year.
The Dominican Republic Ministry of Foreign Relations says that if the export restrictions were applied, Haiti would be violating all the bi-national commitments agreed upon by the two countries, such as the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Relations signed on 10 July 2014. The Ministry of Foreign Relations says it has not yet been formally notified of the measure. The Ministry says that the measure is also in violation of commitments signed with the World Trade Organization.
Blas Peralta, president of the Fenatrado trucking union, whose members deliver cargo to Haiti, said that the biggest losers would be the Haitian people who will have to pay much more for the 23 banned products. He pointed out that transport by air and sea was much more expensive.
Read more in Spanish:
El Gobierno haitiano cierra la frontera al comercio dominicano