Government confirms solution to trade restrictions at the border with Haiti
President Luis Abinader announced this Wednesday that the trade conflict arising from the restrictions imposed by Haitian authorities on the land entry of Dominican products has been overcome. The measure, which had generated uncertainty in the productive and commercial sectors of the border area, was addressed by the president during a press conference held at the Presidential House, located in the La Trinitaria sector of Santiago.
Although the head of state confirmed the understanding, he did not offer technical details or the specific conditions under which the flow of goods to the neighboring country will be normalized.
Impact of restrictive measures
The situation, which intensified earlier this week at the border crossing between Dajabón and Juana Méndez, directly affected 22 categories of national products. According to the restrictions applied by Haiti, these items were prohibited from entering by land, forcing their importation to be carried out exclusively through maritime or air means.
Among the products that faced limitations are:
- Wheat flour and pasta.
- Edible oil, butter, and margarine.
- Powdered detergents and plastic household utensils.
- Construction iron.
- Carbonated drinks, drinking water, and various snacks.
The application of these trade barriers had sparked deep concern among merchants, transporters, and workers who depend on the dynamism of the binational market, due to the fear of a prolonged paralysis of commercial exchange.
Diplomatic efforts
Prior to the president’s announcement, the Dominican government had maintained a constant dialogue through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, agencies that were in charge of evaluating the impact of the measures and seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
This announcement was made within the framework of the closing of the presidential agenda in Santiago de los Caballeros, where President Abinader temporarily moved the seat of the Executive Branch during the days of September 14 to 16 to oversee various development projects in the Cibao region.
