US lawmakers reached a bipartisan deal on 17 December, just days ahead of Friday’s deadline to avert a government shutdown and ensure funding for federal operations until 14 March, which has been welcomed by the AAFA as it results in an extension to the Haiti HOPE/HELP initiative.
The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), which encompasses trade preference programmes such as the Haitian HOPE and HELP Acts, is currently slated to expire on 25 September 2025.
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These programmes offer duty-free importation into the US for clothing, textiles, and certain other goods originating from Haiti.
AAFA Trade and Customs Policy vice president Beth Hughes said: “We have an incredible opportunity right now to take advantage of the sourcing diversification that is going on in the industry to encourage some of that trade and investment to Haiti. Yesterday’s decision was made ahead of the September 2025 expiration and provides more certainty so that companies can make sourcing decisions and investments accordingly.”
The AAFA also remains active in lobbying for a 16-year extension of Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which also expires in September 2025, and a retroactive reinstatement of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) that expired on 31 December 2020.
The AGOA includes a variety of imports from approximately 35 African countries. The GSP was designed to support economic growth by removing tariffs on a wide range of products imported from 119 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
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By GlobalDataAAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar said: “This renewal is urgently needed to help combat the crisis that continues to unfold in our island neighbour by anchoring much needed textile and apparel jobs, which in turn support US jobs, in the region at a crucial time.”
“At the same time, we are deeply disappointed that this measure doesn’t include the much-needed long-term renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the long overdue retroactive renewal Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), which has now been expired for nearly four years. Congress must prioritise passage of these vital programmes to support a return to a predictable and investment-based trade policy.”
Further, the bill is set to deliver close to $100bn for the recovery efforts of Americans from several natural calamities expected in 2023 and 2024. It also earmarks $10bn for agricultural economic support.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have expressed strong disapproval regarding the temporary funding arrangement negotiated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Trump and Vance said in a statement: “Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025.
“The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill without democrat giveaways combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country.”
Moreover, earlier this month, AAFA urged the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) to resume negotiations with the US Maritime Alliance (USMX), aiming to finalise an agreement that includes a significant wage increase of 61.5%.
This appeal came amidst discussions between president-elect Donald Trump and ILA representatives about the future of US ports.
