Haiti's Commerce Minister Presses Washington on HOPE/HELP Renewal

Haiti's Minister of Commerce and Industry, James Monazard, met with officials from the US State Department as part of an advocacy effort for the renewal of the HOPE/HELP programs, which are considered essential to the Haitian textile sector, according to Le Nouvelliste and Haiti Libre. During the meeting, Monazard emphasized that economic recovery and the preservation of jobs must accompany security efforts in Haiti, describing the trade preferences as a strategic lever for the country's competitiveness and resilience. The discussions also addressed the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of Haitian nationals in the United States. The mission forms part of what Haiti Libre described as a broad diplomatic mobilization aimed at securing the extension of the HOPE/HELP laws, which provide duty-free access for Haitian-made textiles to the US market. The programs are widely regarded as a pillar of formal employment in Haiti. According to Le Nouvelliste, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry welcomed progress toward the extension of the programs. No final decision on renewal was reported at the time of publication. The reporting is based on official statements relayed by Haitian outlets covering the Washington mission.