U.S. Congress Passes Haiti-Led Trade Agreement Between America And The Caribbean
By Onz Chery
The U.S. Congress has renewed the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, an agreement that allows countries in the region to continue importing and exporting goods with America.
Haiti, under the leadership of Haiti’s Ambassador to the United States Hervé Denis, led the way in advocating for the renewal of the CBTPA on behalf of the Caribbean region this year. He testified before the House Subcommittee on Trade of the Ways and Means Committee as part of those duties in September. During that Capitol Hill hearing, held virtually, Denis cited that the U.S. had gained a $7.4 billion trade surplus in 2018 alone, among the reasons for extending the CBTPA.
On Sept. 30, the U.S. Senate authorized the 10-year renewal and it was signed into law over the weekend of Oct. 10-11.
“It will save 60,000 [jobshttps://haitiantimes.com/2020/10/10/as-haiti-burns-government-adds-kindling-or-turns-blind-eye/">numerous killings, including that of infants, and general fear for safety across the country.
Economically, Haiti is also now dealing with a rise in its currency, the gourde (G), that may have unintended consequences. Textile industry leaders recently warned that the gourde’s appreciation threatens about25,000 jobs in that sector.
In a public statement calling for the renewal of the CBTPA, the embassy said the agreement provides duty-free eligibility for textiles and apparel made from U.S. yarns and fabrics. They said this will enable eligible countries to compete with China and other Asian apparel suppliers.
“Haiti’s garment industry is the industrial foundation of the country’s economy, and its existence depends on the preferences granted under CBTPA and the additional HOPE/HELP programs,” the embassy said.
The CBPTA was first passed in 2000 as Public Law 106-200, the Trade and Development Act of 2000. It has been renewed every 10 years since then.
CBTPA Highlights
The latest available CBTPA report, dated December 2019, details the trade activities for each member country and the expectations and consequences for participation.
Highlights from the report related to Haiti include:
- Haiti has been the largest beneficiary of trade preferences in recent years.
- Haiti has been the second leading source of U.S. imports since 2009.
- In May 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act that expanded existing preferences for apparel and established new preferences for certain non-apparel textile goods.
- U.S. imports under the CBI tariff preferences increased for a second consecutive year to $1 billion in 2018, up from $960 million in 2017 and $871 million in 2016. Cotton T-shirts from Haiti was one of two main reasons for the increase.
- U.S. imports from Haiti consisted mostly of textiles and apparel. In 2018, such imports amounted to $297.4 million under CBI provisions and $649.1 million under the HOPE Acts.
- In 2018, petroleum related products accounted for approximately 30 percent of imports under the CBI preferential program.
CBTPA Embassy of Haiti factories Herve Denis textile U.S. Congress
U.S. lawmakers demand Trump administration support free, fair elections in Haiti
October 15, 2020 05:44 PM,
Miami Congresswoman Frederica Wilson is calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to clarify recent comments by a top State Department official on elections in Haiti that have been widely criticized as an attack on the country’s opposition and civic groups, and a dismissal of widespread concerns about the legitimacy of the process.
Last month a senior State Department official warned political opponents of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and members of civil society that they could face “consequences” if they stand in the way of the electoral process. The official’s comments was in response to a question by the Miami Herald during a Sept. 16 State Department briefing about the refusal of Haitian opposition parties and civil society groups including the Catholic Church, Protestant Federation and human rights organizations to designate representatives to a temporary electoral commission being formed by Moïse.
“I am deeply concerned by the State Department’s response to the unfolding political crisis in Haiti,” said Wilson, who represents one of the fastest growing Haitian American communities in her congressional district. “The Haitian people must be able to make their voices heard and choose their representatives through a legitimate, democratic process.”
The Democratic lawmaker added: “Haitian civil society has raised legitimate concerns about a climate of political intimidation and a rush to construct an unconstitutional electoral process. The U.S. State Department should help elevate these voices, not threaten domestic political actors, and I sincerely hope that Secretary Pompeo clarifies the recent remarks made by a senior State Department official on this topic.”
On Thursday, Wilson made her concerns about the State Department’s response known in a bicameral letter to Pompeo signed by 25 other members of Congress.
Lawmakers said they are alarmed by the Trump administration’s calls for elections in Haiti without broad civil society involvement and despite widespread concerns about the legitimacy of the current electoral process. The letter, which was led by Wilson and fellow Democrat Edward Markey, urges the administration to support free and fair elections in Haiti.
“While it is imperative that we support a return to full democratic order in Haiti, U.S. policy should not push for hasty elections that may further destabilize that nation’s fragile political system,” the lawmakers said. “We urge you to ensure that U.S. foreign policy toward Haiti does not legitimize undemocratic behavior. The United States, through its statements, policies, and programs, must support an electoral process that adheres to the Haitian constitution and recognizes the critical importance of participation by civil society in any democratic process.”
This is the second time in a week that members of Congress have publicly expressed concerns about Haiti’s overdue and still unscheduled legislative and local elections.
Last week, California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who isn’t among the signers on the Pompeo letter, issued her own letter to U.S. Ambassador Michele Sison in Port-au-Prince asking her “to oppose the organization of elections in Haiti until such time as the widespread politically motivated attacks against government critics in Haiti have ceased.” Sison, Waters said, should use her “considerable diplomatic experience and influence with the government of Haiti to promote respect for the rule of law and basic human rights.”
Haiti, Waters warned, is in a downward spiral of chaos and violence. She noted several concerns — as the Pompeo letter does — about the legality of Moïse’s controversial appointment of nine individuals to a new Provisional Electoral Council. Critics and legal scholars have said the appointments and the election entity’s mission to also prepare a constitutional referendum are not constitutional.
“When the Haitian Supreme Court refused to swear in Moïse’s hand-picked CEP members, Moïse installed them anyway, which is also a violation of the constitution,” Waters wrote. “ These disturbing events are taking place against a backdrop of unconscionable threats, intimidation, and violence targeting critics of the government of President Moïse.”
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of extending the mandate of its special political mission in Haiti for another year with 13 votes in favor, and Russia and China abstaining, amid concerns over the lack of progress in the country.
Meanwhile, events in Haiti are increasingly being raised in the U.S. political arena ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential vote. Earlier this week, 82 Florida organizations and leaders active in the Haitian-American community endorsed a letter asking for a virtual meeting with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris. The group said they want to discuss a list of urgent community priorities they would like to see a Biden-Harris administration promptly pursue if elected.
Some of those priorities were mentioned in a one-pager the Biden campaign issued ahead of a campaign stop Biden made in Little Haiti last week to court Haitian-American voters. Among them is a commitment to halt deportations of non-criminals back to Haiti during his first 100 days in office due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigration activist Steve Forester noted that there has been a sharp uptick in deportations to Haiti, with six such flights landing in Port-au-Prince since Friday. While he welcomes the deportation suspension, Forester said there are equally pressing concerns Haitian Americans have.
“There are 10 separate issues in the letter, most of which are not addressed in the one-pager,” Forester said. “The one thing that is clearly addressed is reinstatement of Haitian family reunification.... But there are a whole slew of issues we just want to bring to his attention and hope to urge him that these are things he should commit to now and that a Biden administration should do.”
Dr. JEAN-CLAUDE FOURON - GREAT HAITIAN SCIENTIST, FOUNDER OF THE FIRST UNIT OF FETAL CARDIOLOGY IN CANADA
Dr. Fouron is a senior investigator whose career started in 1967. Since then, he has constantly been involved in experimental and clinical research activities. In both cases, his main field of interest has been the physiology and pathophysiology of the fetal and neonatal cardio-circulatory system, more recently using ultrasound Doppler technology.
Jean-Claude Fouron, a native of Haiti,was a pioneer of fetal cardiology who arrived in Quebec in 1960. In 1989, he founded the first unit of fetal cardiology in Canada.
His main contribution to physiology has been the introduction of the concept that the aortic isthmus, not the ductus arteriosus, is the sole arterial shunt within fetal circulation. This concept has since been included in text books on fetal medicine. Presently, Dr Fouron is conducting detailed experimental and clinical investigations on the cardio-circulatory impact of an increase in placental vascular resistance as observed in the majority of fetuses with intra-uterine growth restriction. He also examines mechanisms and possible treatments for fetal cardiac disorders, prenatal physiopathology of the transposition of the great arteries and factors controlling postnatal closure of the ductus arteriosus.
Dr Fouron's projects have been financially supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundations of Québec and Canada, the Toronto SickKids Foundation, the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec and the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center. His works have lead to over 165 articles in international peer-reviewed journals as well as 10 chapters in pediatric and fetal cardiology books. He is also regularly invited to speak in conferences on fetal cardiology both in North America and in Europe.
Jean-Claude Fouron is a world leader in the field and a pioneer in the use of fetal ultrasound.
He has worked on many innovative projects, one of his most significant being the identification of the aortic isthmus as a single fetal aortic shunt, which has had a major influence on the improvement of infant health.
During his distinguished career, this University of Montréal Emeritus Professor trained many doctors from around the world. He also put his skills to work in his native country of Haiti to improve the health of mothers and children. A fervent ambassador of his university, his hospital and his city, this great scientist is recognized as a humanist physician and a talented pedagogue, who communicates his knowledge with humility and humor.
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