Dominican textiles denounce industry collapse due to dumping prices on imports from China

The Dominican Association of Textile Industries (ADITEX) warned about the imminent collapse of the national textile industry due to the massive entry of finished textile products imported from China at dumping prices and without complying with the country’s fiscal and labor regulations. This situation, if not addressed urgently, would endanger more than 70,000 formal jobs and compromise the stability of thousands of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which represent one of the main productive engines of the country. “We are facing devastating unfair competition. Foreign merchants operating outside our laws are weakening the Dominican business fabric from its foundations,” said the president of ADITEX, Rene Rivas. ADITEX points out that this practice is undermining the competitive capacity of local companies, eroding tax collection and making employment precarious, which threatens the sustainability of one of the most strategic economic sectors for the Dominican Republic.

Faced with this scenario, the association requests the Dominican Government to take a firm and sovereign stance in defense of the national productive apparatus, adopting measures similar to those implemented in countries like Mexico, where tariffs of up to 25% are applied, and Colombia, which has established anti-dumping mechanisms, customs reinforcement and differentiated tariffs of up to 40% on textile imports from China.

As urgent measures, ADITEX proposes the imposition of a 50% tariff on finished textile products imported from China at ridiculously low prices, the strengthening of customs controls to curb undervaluation and tax evasion, and strict supervision of compliance with tax, customs, and labor regulations by the relevant authorities. The association called on the Government, the National Congress, business associations, and civil society to join forces in defense of the national industry and Dominican jobs. “What’s at stake is not just an industry. It’s about defending the country’s economic sovereignty and the dignity of our working class,” Rivas pointed out.