Leading players in the fashion sector are firmly in favour of the bipartisan proposal that US Congressman Greg Murphy and other representatives have filed, which calls for a 10-year extension of the nation’s trading relationship with Haiti.
The goal of the HOPE/HELP trade programmes, which are scheduled to end in September 2025, is to support US nearshore supply chains and contribute to increased Caribbean stability.
Murphy stated in a press statement that the two programmes have “proven to be mutually beneficial to the US,” shifting supply chains from China to nearby nations, which “provides stability for American consumers and businesses.”
To “provide predictability for US brands and retailers trying to do business in Haiti,” the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), whose president and CEO, Steve Lamar, urged Congress to swiftly enact the renewal legislation and sign it into law.
Marc Doyon, vice president of commodities at Gildan, also backed the bill, saying the wholesale firm was “pleased” with its introduction and that it “is essential to bolstering regional supply chains and preserving US textile jobs.”
The measure supports US manufacturing, encourages nearshoring, and keeps jobs in Haiti by increasing demand for American-grown cotton and yarns inside Gildan’s vertically integrated supply chain, he says.
