Dominican government ministers of Foreign Relations and Industry & Commerce and business people are taking advantage of Dominican Week in the USA to lobby for the restoration of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HELP) Act trade preference program that was allowed to expire on 1 October together with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Fernando Capellan, president of Codevi, the largest private employer in Haiti (around 20,000 jobs) is championing the efforts on behalf of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
The mechanism allows for special provisions for the clothing produced in Haiti and Africa and exported to the United States.
For the United States, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is also working to continue the programs.
“We are frustrated by the failure to act on these long-standing, bipartisan trade preference programs that clearly benefit local garment industries abroad as well as Made-in-America cotton and textile exporters, American brands, and the 3.6 million American workers directly supported by the fashion industry,” said AAFA’s Vice President of Trade and Customs, Beth Hughes. “Despite persistent and constructive engagement from a wide range of stakeholders, Congress has fallen short in renewing these mutually beneficial programs, ultimately surrendering further strength to China’s manufacturing influence by placing unnecessary obstacles in the way of viable sourcing alternatives.”
The Wall Street Journal has also highlighted the major issues the expiration of the program will create to Haiti, at a time when the US announced funding of a new force to combat the gangs that control the country. The Wall Street Journal mentions how brands such as Hanes, Calvin Klein and GAP manufacture in Haiti and will be impacted.
In an official statement, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is expressing its deep disappointment that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act, and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act (Haiti HOPE/HELP) trade preference programs were allowed to expire yesterday.
“For more than 23 years, AGOA has provided eligible Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access, strengthening American exports in textiles and agriculture and fostering diverse U.S.–Africa commercial partnerships. Similarly, for over 15 years, the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs have supported both U.S. and Haitian textile industries by granting Haiti duty-free access for apparel and textile products, building strong business ties between the two neighboring nations,” states the AAFA.
AAFA explains that these programs enjoy strong bipartisan backing, support American cotton and textile exports, and provide American businesses with smart, practical strategies to diversify sourcing outside of China.
AAFA says that with the programs now lapsed and Congress facing a government shutdown, renewal will face unnecessary delays. AAFA is calling on Congress and the Administration to take steps to extend these programs, retroactively, immediately.
Read more:
American Apparel & Footwear Association
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
2 October 2025