Antonio Espín, president of the Asociación de Empresas Industriales de Herrera, criticized that the Customs is now demanding import documents be in Spanish. He says the measure is absurd and harmful to Dominican commerce. The measure is in effect since 1 September 2000, and indicates that merchandise coming with documentation in English will not clear Customs. Espín said that most shipping documents arrive in the English language, the language of international trade. He suggested that if the new Customs personnel do not understand English, they hire translation personnel.
