Dominican merchants weigh national strike over Chinese business growth

Dominican business organizations are calling for increased government intervention and potential industrial action due to the rapid expansion of Chinese-owned businesses in the country. The Federación Dominicana de Comerciantes (FDC) is considering a 48-hour national strike, a proposal to be finalized during a national assembly on September 25. FDC President Iván de Jesús García stated that local merchants feel they are being driven toward bankruptcy by what they describe as unfair competition.

Simultaneously, the Unión Nacional de Empresarios (UNE) has urged the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII) to increase fiscal oversight of these establishments. UNE President Julio García reported that irregularities in these large-scale businesses are resulting in significant lost tax revenue for the state. Business leaders noted that the impact of these businesses is particularly visible in lower-income sectors and smaller towns, where traditional local commerce is being heavily affected.