Tariff impact challenges the competitiveness of the Dominican export sector
The executive vice president of the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), Mario Pujols, warned about the negative impact generated by the tariffs imposed by the United States on national products. According to the union leader, this situation places local manufacturing in a position of clear disadvantage compared to other trading partners that access said market with more favorable fiscal conditions.
Pujols detailed that, while Dominican exporters must assume a 12.5% tariff, various competing nations manage to enter their goods by paying rates of 10% or even becoming tax-exempt, which reduces the dynamism of the country’s export supply.
That puts us at a disadvantage in relation to our trading partners who are currently entering the United States paying a 10% tariff or 0%.
Mario Pujols, vice president of the AIRD
Trust in government management
Despite the challenges, the industrial sector maintains a vote of confidence in the Dominican authorities. Pujols assured that there is a fluid and constant dialogue between the business community and the Government to address this issue firmly, seeking solutions that allow for balancing the conditions of commercial exchange.
Challenges and opportunities in the Caribbean
Beyond the situation with the United States, the national industry faces significant structural challenges, among which the following stand out:
- The increase in the electricity bill cost.
- Fluctuations in international freight prices.
- The need to expand market share in Caribbean countries.
Pujols highlighted that the Dominican Republic possesses a key competitive advantage thanks to its geographical proximity, which facilitates logistics to the Caribbean region. “We are the industrial and manufacturing hub in the Caribbean region,” he stated, underscoring the potential of local products to conquer new commercial spaces under the framework of the agreement signed in 1998.
These statements were offered within the framework of the seventh edition of HUB Cámara Santo Domingo, a strategic event designed to connect local companies with international buyers, thus fostering the growth of Dominican exports.
