The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is undertaking a new factfinding investigation on U.S.-Haiti trade and the impact of U.S. trade preference programs on Haiti’s economy and workers. The Commission’s report will provide an overview of Haiti’s international trade since 1980, with special emphasis of the impact of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act of 2006, HOPE II in 2008, and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) in 2010, and the Trade Acts of 2000 and 2002 on Haiti’s trading relationship with the United States, Haiti’s economy, and workers.
The investigation, U.S.-Haiti Trade: Impact of U.S. Preference Programs on Haiti’s Economy and Workers, Inv. No. 332-590, was requested by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means (Committee) in a letter received on February 22, 2022. The Committee noted in its letter that the HOPE and HELP preference programs will expire on September 30, 2025.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will prepare a public report for the Committee. The report will provide, to the extent practicable:
an overview of the Haitian economy and its competitiveness;
an examination of the role of U.S. preference programs in shaping Haiti’s economy; and
case studies on goods currently and historically exported from Haiti such as apparel, tropical fruits, and sporting goods, including baseballs, softballs, and basketballs.
The USITC expects to submit its report to the Committee by December 22, 2022.
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation via an online video conference platform, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on May 26, 2022. More detailed information about the hearing, including how to participate, will be posted on the Commission’s website no later than April 22, 2022, at https://usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm.
Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 4, 2022 with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. See below for important information regarding filing a request to appear at a USITC hearing.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 23, 2022. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection. See below for important information regarding the filing of written submissions for USITC investigations. Read More→
