The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has called on Congress to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the US government funded and renew the Haiti Hope/Help program for five years. This program provides duty-free access for certain apparel and textile products from Haiti to the US, supporting critical jobs in both Haiti and the US.
“This renewal is urgently needed to anchor textile and apparel jobs in Haiti, aiding its economic recovery during a time of crisis,” said Steve Lamar, AAFA president and CEO. “While this measure is a step forward, we are disappointed it does not include the long-term renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) or the retroactive renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which has been expired for nearly four years.”
Beth Hughes, AAFA’s vice president of Trade and Customs Policy, emphasized the importance of this renewal ahead of the program’s September 2025 expiration. “This decision provides much-needed certainty for companies making sourcing and investment decisions,” she stated.
AAFA has long supported the Haiti Hope/Help programs and continues to advocate for a 16-year AGOA renewal and a retroactive GSP renewal to foster stable trade policies. The association urges Congress to prioritize these critical trade programs to strengthen global partnerships and economic growth.
