Dominican Customs tightens control over goods destined for Haiti

Dominican Customs is intensifying oversight of barges, known as 'patanas,' that ferry goods between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The objective is to ensure these vessels depart for their destinations before midday and that customs authorities verify their actual crossing into Haiti.

Customs Director General Nelson Arroyo stated that while no new resolution has been issued, the agency is enforcing existing regulations under Law 168-21. He acknowledged complaints from businesses but affirmed that customs is operating within the law. Arroyo addressed concerns raised by the business community, particularly the Dominican Association of Industries (AIRD), regarding the diversion of transit merchandise. Reports suggest that goods declared for transit to Haiti are being sold within the Dominican Republic, evidenced by the prevalence of international brands in border markets instead of national products.

"The merchandise on these barges should not be deposited in warehouses belonging to the owners of the transit merchandise, but rather customs authorities must ensure that this merchandise crosses the border point," Arroyo explained during a meeting with AIRD. He clarified that if merchandise returns after crossing the border, it falls outside of customs' purview, but the agency is actively working to prevent such diversions and the perpetuation of this practice in transit trade.

Circe Almánzar, representing various national productive sectors, supported the stricter measures. She noted that informal trade, involving imported goods lacking proper labeling or documentation of formal import, is negatively impacting businesses. Almánzar highlighted that for transit imports, there is often no clear customs tariff classification or cargo manifest detailing the products. Public information requests to customs revealed a significant increase in transit import containers, prompting an analysis that suggests a lack of proper import finalization is occurring.

“

The merchandise on these barges should not be deposited in warehouses belonging to the owners of the transit merchandise, but rather customs authorities must ensure that this merchandise crosses the border point.