ASOCIVU and Customs establish a dialogue table to optimize the application of DR-CAFTA
The Association of Used Vehicle Importers (ASOCIVU) held a strategic meeting with the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), led by its director, Nelson Arroyo, with the purpose of addressing the sector’s concerns regarding the implementation of the DR-CAFTA free trade agreement. This meeting allowed for the formalization of a technical and legal working group to resolve the discrepancies in criteria that were affecting vehicle importers.
Following the exchange, the General Directorate of Customs clarified that there is no restriction or suspension of the DR-CAFTA for Honda CR-V hybrid models. The entity specified that, in order to access preferential tariff benefits, importers must present documentation certifying that the vehicle complies with the rules of origin stipulated in the agreement.
Procedures and facilities for importers
- If the necessary documentation is not presented at the time of importation, the taxpayer has a period of 12 months to request a review and manage the refund of the duties paid, provided that they meet the requirements.
- The evaluation under the DR-CAFTA framework operates independently of the exemptions granted by Law No. 103-13, ensuring that the benefits of said law remain in effect.
- ASOCIVU and the DGA will work together to implement agile verification mechanisms, thus avoiding additional storage costs or disruptions in the importers’ logistics chain.
We thank Director Nelson Arroyo and his team for listening to us and showing the willingness to seek a solution to the issue that concerned us. The management of ASOCIVU and institutional dialogue have allowed us to make significant progress for the benefit of our members.
Aramis Mella, president of ASOCIVU
The president of ASOCIVU, Aramis Mella, positively valued the openness of the authorities and reaffirmed the guild’s commitment to maintaining a constructive dialogue that provides technical and legal solutions. According to Mella, the organization’s priority is to protect the interests of legally established importers, always acting within the current legal framework and under a legal security scheme that favors the predictability of their commercial operations in the Dominican Republic.
