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View Full Version : Why imports don't cost less



NewsWhore
04-22-2008, 03:30 PM
According to statistics from the Customs Department (DGA), the import of duty free goods under the DR-CAFTA free trade scheme means that the government has given up RD$2.3 billion in taxes. Most of these imports were from mainland US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Diario Libre focuses on how the promise of goods costing less on the local market with the elimination of the tariffs under DR-CAFTA hasn't been fulfilled. A study by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reveals that one of the reasons is that 14 mass consumption products are produced domestically, and thus are under gradual tariff removal schedules of 10, 15 or 20 years. Another explanation is that many imported appliances, despite being US branded, are not sourced from the US, but from Asia.
Meanwhile, traders say that prices haven't declined because of increases in their operational costs.

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