Issue
The existing 68-year-old Customs Law did not contemplate various aspects of present day international trade. It was crucial to establish a new regulatory framework to streamline customs clearances through electronic means and non-intrusive inspection technologies, which were not permitted under the existing law.
Our Role
FHC actively engaged in working groups and congressional sub-committees to develop aspects of the legislation relevant to our clients, both directly and through various business associations, affording us the opportunity to incorporate multiple suggestions into the final version of the law. Additionally, FHC collaborated directly with the authorities to avoid the inclusion of provisions that could have compromised the operational stability of several FHC clients.
Results
The new Customs Law has been crucial in solidifying the Dominican Republic’s status as a Regional Logistics Hub. It incorporates the terms Logistics Centers, Logistics Center Operating Companies, and Logistics Corridors, which weren’t previously defined, and offers enhanced legal certainty to our clients.