Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s formal exports toHaiti have plunged around US$400 million, on Port-au-Prince’ ban on 23Dominican products, Industry and Commerce minister José del Castillo said Wednesday.
He said the decline occurred last year and the situationhas increased smuggling. "This type of action is what has contributed to ahigher level of informality in the business relationship and increasedsmuggling at border points where transactions are made."
He noted however that industrialists and merchants have saidthey maintain the same sales levels, “revealing” a jump in smuggling.
"That was something we had foreseen. This controlmeasure, this ban of 23 products which can only go by sea, would cause anincrease in smuggling," the official said.
Speaking with reporters in the National Palace, delCastillo said there are points at the border where neither Haitian norDominican authorities have absolute control.