Haiti It appears to an economic vacuum after the expiration, on September 30, of the American Haitian programs Hemishphic officientity through partnership found (Hope) and Haiti Economic Lift Program (Help), that for almost two decades guaranteed Tariff free exports of clothing to the United States, as reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
No renewal by the American Congress leaves unprotected textile industrythe last great source of formal employment of the country, and opens the door to a new wave of unemployment, closing of factories and greater migratory pressure.
He agreementin force since 2006 and extended after 2010 earthquakeattracted American clothing manufacturers and generated tens of thousands of jobs in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, occupying 60,000 workers in 2021. Under his amparo there was clothing for brands such as Hanes, Calvin Klein, Gap and Victoria’s Secret.
In 2022more than 80 % of external sales of Haiti They came from Textile sector.
However, with the insecuritythe political crisisthe inflationthe power cuts and the withdrawal of investors, in the last three years, the industry lost around 40 thousand jobs, reducing its workforce by almost two thirds.
With the conclusion of the preferential regime, US importers of Haitian clothing must pay tariffs between 20 % and 30 %, in addition to one “reciprocal tariff“10 % applied by Trump’s administration, which eliminates competitive advantage against countries in Asia and Central America.
The big brands, sensitive to prices, had begun to diversify orders towards Honduras, Nicaragua, Vietnam either Bangladesh.
The loss of places
The blow will feel strongly in the Industrial Poles. In the Binational Park Codevion the border of Juana Méndez with Dajabón, most of the sector is concentrated: about 18,000 of the 26,000 existing places.
Despite the situation, Fernando Capellánpresident of the complex, remains optimistic about what Hope/Help It will be renewed before December.
“For every three jobs that arise in these companies in Haitithere is a formal one in the Dominican Republic as well. For this Supply chain Where raw material imports influence, carriers, export ports, American shipping companies in shipments, “he said.
Said that in the White House They are also from agreement in which a renewal.
In it snail parkin the north of the country, today there are only some some 2,000 jobs. Haitian businessmen warned that the Mass closure of plants in the Northeast will accentuate poverty and encourage recruitment by armed bands.
“What maintains security are jobs,” he said Maulik Radiaof the Association of Industries of Haiti.
Migratory flows to the Dominican Republic, already significant, could intensify with the loss of border jobs. And towards the United States, which in theory sought with these programs to reduce migratory pressure, an opposite effect could occur. American legislators and businessmen have warned of the strategic error of not renewing the regime, but divisions in Congress stopped the process.
“The future of Haiti and the security of the United States depend on it,” said congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), When asking for the program to be maintained.
Despite the claims, the White House reiterated its priority to return manufacturing to US territory. “I am not looking to make t -shirts or socks,” said President Trump in May, by ruling out the continuity of the preferential scheme.
