Haiti Trade Law Implemented

By Robert Miller on Mardi, mars 20, 2007.
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tradeToday, as prescribed in the Haiti HOPE Act of 2006, the President implemented preferential trade status for Haiti. Congressman Rangel, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade, had this to say:

“The HOPE Act will bring critical trade benefits to the impoverished nation of Haiti and strengthen ties between our nations. I want to thank President Bush, Ambassador Schwab, Ranking Member McCrery and all of their staffs for working to get this legislation implemented quickly. By welcoming Haiti into our trading circle, we are making an investment in their future that will only strengthen our opportunity and security in the Western Hemisphere.”

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek of Florida, a member of the Ways and Means Committee (and a member of Haiti Innovation's Advisory Council) went even further to say this:

“As one who has been working hard for years for Haiti trade benefits, this is a great day. The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE) is a positive first step toward revitalizing the Haitian textile industry.

“One tenth of Haitian GDP comes from garment exports.” [see my past blog here]. “The average Haitian garment worker earns $4 a day, while 77% of Haitians live on less than $2 a day. In 2004, the Haitian textile industry employed over 25,000 garment workers; today, the industry supports only 12,000 workers; and according to early estimates, the HOPE Act could result in the employment of 30,000 new Haitian garment workers – 30,000 badly needed jobs that will put the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere on the path toward improved economic development.”

I have long advocated on the behalf of preferential trade status for Haiti. While there have been critics [see my discussion on IJDH here], this is a first step. There is still much to do in Haiti, which can feel daunting at times. But let this minor triumph in Haiti’s economic stabilization be a reminder to us all that with hard work, perseverance, and faith, much can be accomplished.

Rob

Politics and Development

Soumis par Robert Miller le jeu, 04/05/2007 - 15:52.
Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for your recent post. You touch are some very contentious issues that are part of an ongoing debate into the involvement of the US in the coup against Aristide and the investigation into his public corruption of the police, judiciary, and telecommunications industry.

While we encourage dialogue and acknowledge politics is an inevitable part of development, this is not an appropriate forum to perpetuate libel or political rhetoric. You do, however, mention sweatshops, which very much involved the development of Haiti and I would love to hear more of your experience in the factories of Haiti.

I once lived in Ouanaminthe, where Levis has just opened a factory along the border. Many were concerned, like you, that Haitian labor would be exploited by not offering a fair wage. In fact, many townspeople, in truth or not (I don’t know), believed that Dominican workers in Santiago, DR were making more money in the Levis plant than Haitians were in Haiti.

This sets up a very important line of questions, what is the comparative value of labor on the island of Hispaniola? Is Haitian or Dominican Labor better? Are items produced in Haiti more expensive because of the lack of infrastructure (i.e. roads)? What is the comparative advantage to producing in Haiti opposed to the DR?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter, as it is a topic of heated debate. Thanks!

HOPE Act is Good, but...

Soumis par I Love Haiti (non vérifié) le mer, 04/04/2007 - 13:39.
The HOPE Act may be a good thing, but the most needed Act Haiti needs is "No-More-Republicans-Coup-Against-Elected-Haitian-Presidents Act" Give Haiti a break!. Papa Bush and Baby Bush engineered two Coups against the democratically and constitutionally elected president of Haiti Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and therefore caused the death of tens of thousands of Haitians. Aristide was uplifting te Haitian people with dignity. I don't see too much hope in the HOPE Act. Sweatshops remind me too much of slavery and exploitation. The HOPE Act is rewarding the coup plotters in Haiti like Andre Apaid, Baker & Co.

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