US Congress Votes to Renew HOPE/HELP Trade Program for Haiti Through 2028

Both chambers of the US Congress — the Senate and the House of Representatives — have voted to renew the HOPE/HELP laws for Haiti until December 31, 2028, according to Le Nouvelliste. The legislation, inserted into a broader package, still requires President Donald Trump's signature to take effect. Once promulgated, the renewal is expected to provide what Le Nouvelliste described as a 'breath of oxygen' for Haiti's textile subcontracting sector. Several actors in the industry expressed gratitude toward the United States, noting that the extension brings a degree of predictability for buyers and the possibility of preserving the sector's 22,000 jobs. The news had been awaited for months. Le Nouvelliste noted that efforts to secure a longer, roughly ten-year renewal will continue. The paper also raised the question of whether Haiti will be able to fully benefit from the renewed program, citing prior warnings from industry figure Georges Sassine about the consequences of short-term renewals. The Herald Ghana reported that the US Chamber of Commerce applauded the congressional extension of AGOA and the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs. Workers were pictured at a Codevi factory.