In an economic context marked by price volatility and the approach of major holiday periods, the National Union of Shopkeepers of Senegal (UNBS) held a crucial working session with the head of the Regional Trade Service. This meeting, organized at the Sédhiou Chamber of Commerce on Saturday afternoon, aimed to address the grievances of retailers and harmonize strategies for the long-term stability of the local market.

The freeze on imports is at the heart of the debates.

One of the major points of contention raised by the UNBS concerns the management of goods flows. Shopkeepers have warned about the premature freezing of imports. According to them, halting the entry of certain products before local production or existing stocks can actually meet demand creates an artificial shortage, noted Oumar Diallo, spokesperson for the merchants.

Unfair competition from wholesalers

Retailers then addressed a deep-seated problem related to the practices of certain wholesalers. The UNBS denounces blatant unfair competition from operators who simultaneously sell wholesale (to shopkeepers) and retail (directly to consumers) at the same prices, or even lower. This practice is stifling small, local businesses, which are unable to compete with the margins of industry giants.

For educational rather than repressive control

Regarding economic controls, the UNBS advocates for a paradigm shift, prioritizing awareness over repression. Merchants would like trade department agents to act more as advisors than as inspectors.

The objective, they say, is to allow shopkeepers to comply without the fine being the primary lever of action.

Shared and transparent regulations

Finally, they suggested better dissemination of regulations: "It is imperative that the texts are known to all in order to prevent the big players from eating the little players. A better understanding of the laws would help to rebalance the power dynamics and guarantee healthy competition for the benefit of the national economy," they explained.

The Regional Trade Service stated that it was in agreement with the traders. It sees this meeting as a great opportunity to clear up the misunderstandings and prejudices that had, until now, strained the good neighborly relations between traders and economic inspectors.