ACOFAVE urges Dominican authorities to include vehicle imports in illicit trade crackdown

The Association of Vehicle Manufacturers and Dealers (ACOFAVE) has called on Dominican authorities to explicitly include vehicle importation in ongoing efforts to combat illicit trade and unfair competition. While recent public attention has focused on irregularities regarding Chinese goods, ACOFAVE emphasizes that subvaluation and informality are also significant issues within the automotive sector, regardless of the vehicles' origin.

A report by economist Roberto Despradel of Despradel & Asociados (DASA) indicates that 90% of used vehicles imported from United States auctions show signs of subvaluation, with a weighted average of 45%. Additionally, 96% of these vehicles reportedly have undisclosed prior damage.

According to Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) data, authorities seized irregular merchandise valued at over RD$1,030 million between January and September 2026. ACOFAVE suggests that improving efficiency in collecting established tariffs and taxes could generate an additional RD$13,200 million annually for the Dominican state without creating new tax burdens.