Saviñón Del Castillo, the Dominican Minister of Industry and Commerce, reacting to the restrictive measures of the Haitian Government, prohibiting as of October 1, 2015, the transport by land, of 23 products which account for 47% of exports from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15156-haiti-notice-import-ban-by-road-of-certain-products-from-dr.html declared that the Haitian authorities should consider the possibility of withdrawing the measure, because it will affect not only the Dominican industry and trade, but also companies and Haitian traders, transporters and especially the Haitian people, who will experience an increase in product costs, whose several are basic necessities, due to logistics and higher transportation costs, by sea or air.

In addition, he recalled that the decision of Haiti was in violation of agreements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) whose both countries are members. He said that the Dominican Republic had already made a preliminary consultation with the Legal Council of the WTO, which would have confirmed it that the decision of Haiti, violated inter alia the Articles 5 and 11 of the Agreement.

He reiterated that the Dominican Republic was open to dialogue with the Haitian authorities to try to find a solution to this conflict saying "I think that dialogue, should be the first option, to find a viable solution to the problem that has arisen with the decision of the Haitian government [...]" adding that "to create the conditions for this dialogue, the Haitian government must first suspend this measure."

One can assume that if Haiti refuses dialogue, or that no satisfactory solution for both countries is found, the Dominican Republic could then take its case front the WTO.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15196-haiti-economy-adih-support-the-transport-restriction-on-23-products-from-dr.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15187-haiti-politic-dr-thinks-about-diplomatics-measures-against-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15168-haiti-flash-the-dominican-republic-recalls-its-ambassador-for-consultation.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-15156-haiti-notice-import-ban-by-road-of-certain-products-from-dr.html

SL/ HaitiLibre