TALK OF CLOSING US$2.0B PER YEAR BORDER MARKET WORRIES AGRO LEADER
(Dominican Today) -
Santo Domingo - Racking up a whopping US$1.0 billion per year, and as much as US$2.0 billion when the informal movement is added, more than 181,700 people take part in the Dominican-Haiti cross-border markets, with 95,055 Dominicans (52.3%), 86,652 Haitians (47.7%), according to the Country Market 2010 Census.
Because of those figures, Agro Board vice president Osmar Benitez said Dominicans should be concerned with statements from Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, that his country is studying the possibility of closing the markets, because many products are smuggled and don’t pay taxes.
He called on the Haitian prime minister to reconsider a decision because it would hit Haiti’s poor the hardest, since in his view Dominican foods reach Haiti fresher, cheaper and faster than all others.
He also notes that the Haiti and Dominican Republic’s Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union means a commitment to free movement of goods across the border in both directions.
Benitez said the situation poses an opportunity for both countries to sign a free trade agreement, to boost the opportunities for commerce.
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