January 18, 2026
Haiti’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has announced a new measure prohibiting customs offices along the Haitian-Dominican border from processing goods imported from foreign countries through the Dominican Republic. According to the official directive, this decision will take effect on April 7, 2025, and will remain in place until further notice.
Going forward, all imports from third-party countries must be transported exclusively by sea before being processed by designated customs offices in Haiti. “Customs officials are instructed to seize any goods that cross the border in violation of this directive,” stated the document signed by Minister Alfred Fils Métellus.
To ensure strict enforcement of this measure, the General Administration of Customs (AGD) has been directed to work closely with the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Haitian Armed Forces (FADH) to monitor cross-border trade. This decision is part of a broader effort to tighten trade controls and combat smuggling.
The ministry warns that any violation of this circular will result in administrative sanctions. “Failure to comply with this directive will expose offenders to administrative penalties, without prejudice to the criminal sanctions provided for by law,” the official statement emphasized.
This measure could significantly impact trade flows between the two countries, particularly for importers who rely on land routes for their transactions. It remains to be seen how economic stakeholders will adapt to the new regulation and what effect it will have on the prices of imported goods in Haiti
