Haiti uses bans and obstacles so that DR will treat its products in the same way

Santo Domingo. The ban and the obstacles which Haiti has imposed on seven Dominican products are framed in the context of their government rhetoric, and their private sector which should be treated equally in commercial relations. 

According to the industrial sector, this ban is illegal, since the Haitians do not have laboratories to prove that Dominican plastics harm the environment, and they point out that they need plastic plates to eat, and sacks for garbage, but they don't manufacture them.

It is estimated that in May this year they exported plastic products to the Haitian market of US$30 million. The annual total is around US$75 million.

Up to now, poultry, meat, eggs, salami and plastic products are not allowed to be exported to Haiti and there are obstacles in the way of exports of wheat flour, beans and onions, which are subject to high duty levels.

Justifying the ban and the obstacles on Dominican products, the Haitian Minister of Commerce and Industry, Wilson Laleu, criticized the Dominicans for wanting to maintain a dominant position in commercial relations with Haiti, in relation to some demands, published in the Haitian daily paper, Le Nouvelliste.

In addition the Haitians are complaining that since the Dominican Republic puts obstacles in the way of the import of its products, such as rum and beer, according to a complaint by the Haitian ex consul in the country, Edwin Paraison, even though the Dominican businessmen deny it, saying that all types of products come into the country without any obstacles.

Ligia Bonetti, president of the Industries Association, said that faced with the problem of commerce with Haiti, they should have faith and hope that the problem will be resolved shortly.

She also said that she agrees with the idea of a free trade agreement with Haiti, whether it be in part, or whatever is decided, due to the fact that the country is the natural closest partner to the Dominicans.

She said that her organization and other sectors were in a process of dialogue so that there might be an agreement with Haiti, a county where she hoped its initiatives and policies which they had imposed would come to an agreement as laid down by the World Commerce Organization. There are ways to make commerce work between countries which should be respected, said Bonetti

Dialogue and rapprochment

Yesterday afternoon, the businessmen who export to the Haitian market met in the office of the Industries Association, and agreed to look for a better way of coming together with the Haitian businessmen in order to find a way out of the ban and the obstacles on Dominican products, The meeting was headed up by Ligia Bonetti, president of AIRD and Circe Almanzar, executive vice president. Bonetti said that "I believe that they - the Haitians - have their reasons, and that is part of what we want to know, and that is why we are looking for a rapprochement.