The Dominican Republic’s two major free daily newspapers carry conflicting stories on the start of the Haitian ban on Dominican exports.
The Haitian government recently announced that it would seize any goods on a list of 23 products that were imported into Haiti as of yesterday, Thursday 1 October 2015. As of that date, according to the announcement, these goods are only authorized to enter via the ports of Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien or by air.
Diario Libre reports that despite the announced ban on the export to Haiti of 23 Dominican products, cargo trucks have been crossing overland to Haiti without being stopped by Haitian Customs officers. The ban was due to enter into effect yesterday, Thursday 1 October 2015. As reported in Diario Libre, around 100 freight trucks and pick-ups laden with banned products crossed the border freely yesterday, Thursday 1 October 2015.
A meeting between Haitian and Dominican traders to discuss the situation has been set for 2pm today. Friday 2 October 2015 at the Dajabon Chamber of Commerce or the Club Sueno Dajabonero.
Dominican Transporters Federation (Fenatrado) regional director Giovanny Escoto said that they were hoping to hear the final decision from the Haitian authorities during the meeting. He told Diario Libre they had been operating normally and were waiting to see what would happen next.
In contrast, El Dia reports that the ban was implemented almost completely, at least on the border with Dajabon. According to the newspaper, Haitian traders continued to smuggle goods in.
The Dominican Customs director in Dajabon, Freddy Sanchez, told El Dia that around 50-60 trucks usually travel to Haiti a day, but the flow had been almost completely reduced. Nevertheless, he said they have not yet received an official notice from the Haitian authorities of the ban on the import of 23 products. He said that the usual Dajabon market is scheduled for 8 to 5pm today, Friday 2 October 2015.
Read more in Spanish:
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/sucesos/patanas-con-productos-en-veda-entraron-por-la-frontera-hacia-haiti-KX1426581
La veda de Haití a 23 productos se cumple en casi su totalidad