The Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Víctor (Ito) Bisonó, reported yesterday that it has not yet been necessary for the commission indicated by the law to meet zero rate to 67 tariff subheadings for six months to contain the inflation.
When he was questioned about Free Journal in relation to whether they have brought products with zero rate to the country, contemplated in the recent law, replied: “Until now, the commission that mandates the law of zero rate with State officials and with interested and involved parties, and when that happens, well, it will be known publicly”.
However, on May 24, the Minister of Agriculture, Limber Cruz, said that Law 6-22 has already been used to bring in duty-free chicken and beans, in order to lower their prices to consumers.
“We are increasing chicken production from 18 million units per month to 18,300,000 units. As the production of chicken and beans increases, for example, we are bringing these products duty-free,” he said at the time.
Bisonó argued that this law is nothing more than a prevention against the scarcity that exists in the world of raw materials, and that sometimes it is not enough to have the money, but to have where to buy, and then see if they bring it, due to the irregularities the subject of transportation and logistics.
“We think of being legally authorized to not do what was done before, which was done administratively, and taxes are by law, not administrative; so, that law was passed,” he said.
He commented that the Government’s interest is to support the industry. He indicated that this is why they are subsidizing corn, a measure that benefits chicken production. “The same thing happens with the flour industry. Local industries are being supported to produce, subsidizing wheat and other products that have to do with flour production”, he argued.
In relation to the price of chicken, he stated that this is due to the fluctuation of prices. “That depends on the free trade that exists in the Dominican Republic, which is not regulated, because it is prohibited by law, there is no price control, it does not exist,” he said.
