The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity Through Partnership for Encouragement (HOPE) laws and the extension of the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) law expired at the end of September 2025, without being renewed. These laws, approved by the U.S. Congress in 2005 and 2010, allow Haiti to export clothing to the U.S. market duty-free, representing 90% of Haitian exports.

These benefits extend directly to the Dominican Republic, where textile mills in Barahona, Bonao, Guerra, and Santiago produce fabrics and yarns that are then sent to Haiti for the production of garments for export.

In 2018, the textile manufacturing sector in Haiti employed 62,000 people. Today, that number has dropped to 26,000 due to security concerns that have forced the closure of at least 15 factories.

Dominican businessman Fernando Capellan, president of the Industrial Development Company (CODEVI), located in the Ouanaminthe/Dajabón mixed free trade zone, where some 18,000 of the country's remaining 26,000 Haitians work, manufacturing clothing for major brands such as Hanes, Calvin Klein, and GAP. He confirmed the expiration of the Hope/HELP Act, which has been in effect for 20 years, and expressed optimism that it will be renewed within the next 90 days. "I am always optimistic, sometimes cautiously optimistic, but I am confident that Haiti's friends in Congress and the Trump administration will work hard to extend the legislation for another 10 years."

Capellán stated that "the White House supports the renewal of the law, as this program impacts not only the United States, but also its supply chain."

James Monazard, Haiti's Minister of Trade and Industry, stated that "the situation in this sector remains alarming [...] textile industry leaders are still waiting for a signal from the U.S. Congress regarding the renewal of the HOPE/HELP Act." He warned on a radio station of the capital that if this law is not renewed, this situation could lead to the closure of many companies in the subcontracting sector, one of the pillars of the Haitian economy.

Finally, Monazard noted that disagreements between Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress have prevented the approval of the federal budget, thus delaying any decision regarding the HOPE/HELP Act. The Trump administration is expected to decide on this renewal before December 19, 2025.

"The future of Haiti's outsourcing sector largely depends on this renewal. We are optimistic, but time is running out," the minister concluded.

SL/ HaitiLibre