The Asociación de Importadores de Leche has expressed disagreement with the government’s decision to impose higher tariffs on imports of whole milk, arguing that the measure will only make the product less affordable by the nation’s poorest consumers. Spokesman, Bayardo Mejía Alcalá, says it appears that the government authorities do not realize that a can of milk is equivalent to about 9 percent of the total income of a worker earning the minimum wage. He says that this is the first time in 40 years that milk imports are subjected to tariffs, quotas or any other barriers.
According to the World Health Organization’s parameters, the Dominican Republic requires about 1,400 million liters of milk annually to attain the prescribed 150 liters per capita. Mr. Mejía maintains that the amount barely reaches 65 liters per capita in this country. He points out that domestic production only covers 35 percent of the total consumption, and that no government efforts are currently in place to foresee an increase in production.
These comments were made after the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carlos Morales Troconso, announced to the press that only milk was yet to be negotiated to gain approval of a technical adjustment of tariffs. It seems, however, that the Minister will have to work hard to convince the Netherlands, a major whole milk exporter, that there are sufficient reasons to warrant such an increase in duty. Last year, milk imports amounted to US$70 million.