Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic sugar producers, represented by the National Sugar Union (UNAZUCAR), have expressed their opposition to a bill to eliminate the sugar import tax.
Mr. César Heredia, president of UNAZUCAR, maintains that local plants are capable of meeting domestic demand and complying with international commitments, including the DR-Casta quota, making such a law unnecessary.
He suggests that the government already has mechanisms to adjust rates in crisis situations, approved by the national congress.
In an interview on the “Frente al Mundo” program, Heredia expressed concern that the proposed law would undermine local production, which could lead to a dependence on imports and endanger the country’s food security, which is currently guaranteed around 80% due to local production.
He fears this could cause food shortages in the Dominican Republic.
Highlighting the strength of the national sugar industry, Heredia points out its capacity to produce 650,000 metric tons of sugar annually, covering both domestic needs and international obligations.
The industry, in his words, is competitive with cutting-edge technology and respects international standards, being supervised and audited by the relevant organizations.
Heredia also addresses the issue of rising sugar prices, attributing it to speculators and market hoarders.
He points out that although the Dominican Republic has a free market, sugar is the only regulated item in the family basket, its marketing being supervised by the National Sugar Institute (INAZUCAR).
However, he criticizes Pro Consumo, the institution responsible for guaranteeing fair prices to consumers, for lacking effective measures to control speculation within the supply chain.
Heredia calls on authorities to find solutions to prevent hoarding and ensure that sugar reaches consumers at fair prices.