Minister of Foreign Relations Andres Navarro says that Haiti needs to re-think the measure that bans the import of 23 of the most commonly exported products across the land border with the Dominican Republic before putting it into effect on 1 October 2015. Navarro advised the Haitian authorities to think of what is good for the Haitian people, pointing out that the Haitian government has not yet notified the Dominican Republic about the ban. He confirmed that he had summoned the Dominican ambassador in Haiti, Ruben Silie, to Santo Domingo for consultations. Navarro said the ban would violate the bilateral trade agreement signed in 2014 that stipulates that any measure affecting the flow of trade needs to be previously notified and discussed by both parties.
Meanwhile, Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) executive president Osmar Benitez said that the measure announced by the Haitian Economy Ministry would result in these products costing more in Haiti and encourage contraband. “We do not understand how a government can take measures that will harm its own citizens,” he commented.
The Association of Exporters estimated the ban could represent US$200 million decline in exports.
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