NewsWhore
08-06-2012, 03:30 PM
Antonio Ramos, president of the National Malls Association (ONEC) and spokesman for the Herrera Industries Association has rejected a call for conciliation made by President Leonel Fernandez, as reported in Listin Diario. President Fernandez is urging the Public Health Ministry and the Customs Department to reach a compromise on the conflict caused by the ban on used clothing imports called by the Department of Customs with less than two weeks before the end of the present Fernandez administration. Used clothing imports have always been banned but the Department of Customs has never enforced the law. President Fernandez suggested that mechanisms could be found to sanitize the used clothes, most of which are imported from Haiti, arguing that many people depend on the informal business for a living.
The announcement of the ban on used clothing imports coincides with visits to the DR by US Drug Enforcement Agency's Michele Leonhart and Janet Napolitano of US Homeland Security, less than a month before the change of government. In the past, news reports have suggested that weapons and drug contraband are slipped into used clothing consignments.
ONEC president Antonio Ramos stresses the illegality of the imports in violation of Law 458 that dates back to 1973. He said that the business of importing used clothing increased from 1,800 tons in 2005 to 22,000 in 2011, enough to fill 1,200 containers.
"This is not about trying to help poor families, as some would like to make it seem," he said. He said that this practice contravenes the DR-CAFTA agreement. "We are not against dad sending clothes to his daughters. We are against the trade that also destroys small businesses," he said.
The former president of the Herrera Industries Association, Manuel Cabrera said that this business is plagued by a lack of controls due to institutional weakness and violation of laws. He said that in addition to the health risks, the imports damage the local apparel industry. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez said that the only reason for banning used clothing imports was that they come without certification that the clothes have been fumigated in their country of origin.
Hoy reports today that over 3,500 merchants, mostly selling used clothes, congregate at Carr. Sanchez Km. 12 and Luperon for the Sunday street sales day.
http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/8/5/440315/Mercado-de-Pulgas-negocio-millonario-en-medio-desorden
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
The announcement of the ban on used clothing imports coincides with visits to the DR by US Drug Enforcement Agency's Michele Leonhart and Janet Napolitano of US Homeland Security, less than a month before the change of government. In the past, news reports have suggested that weapons and drug contraband are slipped into used clothing consignments.
ONEC president Antonio Ramos stresses the illegality of the imports in violation of Law 458 that dates back to 1973. He said that the business of importing used clothing increased from 1,800 tons in 2005 to 22,000 in 2011, enough to fill 1,200 containers.
"This is not about trying to help poor families, as some would like to make it seem," he said. He said that this practice contravenes the DR-CAFTA agreement. "We are not against dad sending clothes to his daughters. We are against the trade that also destroys small businesses," he said.
The former president of the Herrera Industries Association, Manuel Cabrera said that this business is plagued by a lack of controls due to institutional weakness and violation of laws. He said that in addition to the health risks, the imports damage the local apparel industry. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Bautista Rojas Gomez said that the only reason for banning used clothing imports was that they come without certification that the clothes have been fumigated in their country of origin.
Hoy reports today that over 3,500 merchants, mostly selling used clothes, congregate at Carr. Sanchez Km. 12 and Luperon for the Sunday street sales day.
http://www.hoy.com.do/el-pais/2012/8/5/440315/Mercado-de-Pulgas-negocio-millonario-en-medio-desorden
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)