Tensions Flare at Pedernales Border Market Over Bid by Firms to Enter Haiti Trade

A confrontation among traders reportedly broke out Friday, market day, at the Pedernales border crossing between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, according to elnacional.com.do. The outlet reports that rising sales volumes through this frontier, combined with reduced commerce at other Dominican border points, have drawn interest from merchants and companies seeking to enter the trade of manufactured goods into Haiti. The Association of Border Traders (Asociación de Comerciantes Fronterizos) reportedly rejected the entry of companies aiming to operate directly in the exchange, among them Cola Real and other firms. The president of the association linked to the Haitian municipality of Anse-à-Pitre said members would not allow their work to be disregarded, arguing that they can serve as commercial intermediaries and benefit from the activity because they pay the corresponding taxes, according to the report. Wholesale trader Auryn Dotel of the exchange market called on Cola Real's commercial management to meet with border vendors to avoid possible confrontations, the outlet said. The report is single-sourced and describes a developing situation; further details and independent verification were not immediately available.