Trade between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, was significantly disrupted in early 2019 as protests, road blockades, and security concerns made cross-border commerce increasingly difficult. The border markets at Ouanaminthe, Malpasse, and other crossing points, which normally bustle with vendors and traders from both countries, saw sharply reduced activity.
The disruption hit Haitian traders particularly hard, as the Dominican Republic is one of Haiti’s most important sources of food, construction materials, and consumer goods. Price increases for Dominican imports were felt immediately in Haitian markets, adding to the inflationary pressures already squeezing household budgets.
Dominican authorities expressed concern about the instability on the Haitian side of the border and increased their security presence at crossing points. Business associations in the Dominican Republic’s border regions also reported losses from reduced Haitian demand for their goods and services.
Analysts noted that the economic interdependence of Haiti and the Dominican Republic meant that Haitian instability inevitably had spillover effects on the Dominican economy, particularly in border regions. They called on both governments to work together to maintain trade flows even during periods of Haitian political turbulence.