DRC: Support for local industry, a government response to trade dumping
The Minister of Foreign Trade, Julien Paluku Kahongya, recently reaffirmed the Congolese government’s commitment to supporting local industry, a crucial element for the country’s economic development. During a press briefing on August 14th, Julien Paluku highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to combat unfair trade practices such as the transshipment of goods and dumping from neighboring states. “These practices of dumping, product splitting, and transshipment cost us $5 billion USD every year”, lamented the Minister of Commerce.
These practices, which involve flooding the Congolese market with lower quality or cheaper goods, pose a serious threat to the national economy. They stifle local businesses by making it impossible for them to compete with imported goods that are often subsidized or of dubious quality. This situation is intolerable for a country that aspires to sustainable industrialization and autonomous economic development.
Julien Paluku emphasized strongly that the measures taken by the government reflect those of a modern state, determined not to become a dumping ground for unsellable products from neighboring countries. By calling for the modernization of the Congolese Control Office (OCC), the Minister is demonstrating the government’s intent to equip the country with effective tools to monitor the quality, quantity, and compliance of imported products.
This modernization, which will include improving the OCC’s laboratories, is a crucial step in ensuring that only products meeting the strictest standards enter the Congolese market. Supporting local industry means supporting the national economy. By valuing the output of local businesses, the government not only promotes job creation but also strengthens the country’s productive capacity. This is a step toward a more resilient economy, capable of meeting the needs of its population without overly relying on imports.
The Congolese government’s initiative deserves recognition and support. It clearly demonstrates a commitment to promoting a fairer economy, where local producers have a rightful place and where the quality of products consumed by citizens is guaranteed. It is now essential that all economic actors, from the private sector to consumers, support these measures by choosing to prioritize local products and rejecting the unfair practices that harm the economy in the DRC.
