Steve Lamar, President and CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) welcomed the signing of the extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBTPA) by President Trump this weekend. The bill extends the act to September 30, 2030.
According to Lamar, The CBTPA supports trade with Haiti and supports thousands of American and Haitian jobs in the textile and apparel sector. By extending the program for 10 years, the Trump administration has provided the industry with certainty to promote growth in the region and secure these jobs.
CBTPA supports 30 percent of Haitian exports to the U.S., and has strong support in the apparel industry. AAFA has been calling for the extension of the program for some time, including letters to Congress in April and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in August, while more recently calling on the Senate to pass and the President to sign the bill.
