Celso Marranzini advocates for strengthening trade dialogue between the Dominican Republic and the United States
The president of the National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP), Celso Marranzini, emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication channels with the United States Government to manage the recent tariff situation impacting various productive sectors of the country. Marranzini underscored that, as the United States is the nation’s main trading partner, it is imperative to advance in technical roundtables that allow for the optimization of trade conditions.
If maintained in the medium and long term, this will affect the Dominican Republic’s ability to export to the U.S. market, thereby aggravating the existing trade deficit.
Celso Marranzini, president of CONEP
The background of tariff measures
When asked about the justifications presented, particularly those linked to labor conditions, the head of CONEP ruled out that this is the central axis of the conflict. Marranzini maintains that the actions respond mainly to a reconfiguration in U.S. trade policy.
- The business sector observes a constant variation in the legal arguments used by Washington to support tariffs.
- There has been a shift from initial technical grounds to including labor-related issues as justification.
- CONEP maintains a constant evaluation of the scope and effects of these measures on local competitiveness.
Economic impact and global landscape
The statements were made within the framework of the seventh edition of HUB Cámara Santo Domingo, an event that highlights the dynamism and productive capacity of Dominican companies. During the meeting, which was attended by President Luis Abinader, the international situation was also analyzed.
Marranzini also addressed the impact of the conflict in Iran and its direct effect on fuel prices. Faced with this scenario of volatility, he pointed out that the Government faces the challenge of managing public finances through the efficient targeting of subsidies and a strategic prioritization of spending, allowing the countercyclical plan to act as a containment mechanism against the deficit.
