# Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023

This bill extends a special trade deal that lets Haitian products enter the United States without import taxes (called tariffs or duties). Right now, Haiti gets favorable treatment under an existing program called the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, which helps developing countries in the Caribbean region by making their goods cheaper to import. This bill simply keeps that benefit going longer than it would otherwise expire.

The main change is about timing and scope. Currently, Haiti's special tariff-free status was set to end, but this bill extends it until September 30, 2035—giving Haiti another twelve years of preferential access to American markets. The bill also clarifies that Haiti can export apparel and clothing items duty-free up to a certain limit (1.25 percent of all apparel imported into the U.S. during any given year), and it requires that at least 60 percent of the material in these products comes from Haiti or other approved countries in the region.

For everyday Americans, this means Haitian-made goods—particularly clothing and textiles—will likely remain more affordable since companies won't have to pay import taxes on them. For Haiti, this is significant because it keeps their manufacturers competitive and helps support jobs in their textile and apparel industries. The bill essentially says the U.S. is committed to this trade relationship with Haiti for over a decade, giving Haitian businesses stability and predictability as they plan their operations. Without this extension, Haiti's special trade status would have expired, making their products more expensive to import and less competitive in American markets.

Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023

Wenstrup, Brad R.

Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act of 2023This bill extends through FY2035 the special duty-free rules for Haiti. It also extends through FY2035 the duty-free treatment provided for certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.The bill directs the President to&nbsp;proclaim such modifications&nbsp;to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore special tariff treatment to articles that lost such treatment due to prior&nbsp;modifications to the HTS.