The HOPE Act (Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act) is a series of statutes providing enhanced duty-free trade preferences for apparel imported from Haiti. Together with the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act of 2010, these programs are the most generous unilateral preferences the U.S. extends to any country.
Three components:
- HOPE I (2006) — Pub. L. 109-432, provided duty-free entry for apparel meeting flexible value-added rules
- HOPE II (2008) — Pub. L. 110-234, expanded the rules with tariff preference levels (TPLs) and a value-based "3-for-1" earned import allowance
- HELP Act (2010) — Pub. L. 111-171, enacted after the 2010 earthquake, added new TPLs and extended the program
Key features:
- Most Haitian apparel enters duty-free regardless of the origin of the yarn or fabric
- Co-production with the Dominican Republic is permitted
- A separate provision allows brassieres (a major Haitian export) to enter duty-free
Status. The current HOPE/HELP authorization runs through September 30, 2025. Haiti is also a beneficiary of CBERA, CBTPA, and the Caribbean Basin Initiative, giving importers multiple preference pathways. Importers typically claim under whichever program is most advantageous for a given shipment.
Claims use Special Program Indicators "P," "P+," "D," or "R" depending on the specific provision invoked.