Port-au-Prince, January 14, 2026.- On Monday, January 12, the House of Representatives of the United States passed, by a large bipartite majority, Bill HR 6504 to renew and extend the HOPE/HELP programmes for Haiti. This strategic decision, now awaiting consideration by the US Senate, is a strong signal of support for the Haitian textile industry and the preservation of thousands of jobs.
Meeting in Washington, D.C., the elected representatives of the House of Representatives approved, by 345 votes to 45, the extension of Haiti's economic recovery programme, allowing textiles and clothing produced in the country to continue to enter the American market free of customs duties. This scheme, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of Haitian exports, remains an essential pillar of the national economy and a key driver of industrial employment.
The bill is now being forwarded to the U.S. Senate, the final legislative step before final adoption. If approved, it will retroactively restore and extend commercial benefits until December 31, 2028, providing increased visibility to investors and strengthening the stability of the Haitian textile sector.
According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, this advance is the result of a diplomatic plea supported by Minister James Monazard, in close collaboration with the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), workers' organizations and the American authorities. The MCI welcomes this major vote by the House of Representatives and reaffirms its commitment to supporting the productive sector, protecting employment and creating an environment conducive to investment and economic growth in the country.
W.A.
