Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act
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The bill would extend duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel imports under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act through December 31, 2028, and would direct the President to restore tariff eligibility for certain articles that lost it due to later tariff schedule revisions.
It would also require Customs and Border Protection to refund duties on qualifying Haitian imports that entered the country between September 30, 2025 and the bill's enactment, aiming to preserve trade preferences seen as important to Haiti's garment industry and economic stability.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would extend, through December 31, 2028, special duty-free rules for apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, including tariff preference levels that allow a limited quantity of such apparel to enter duty-free. It would also direct the President to proclaim modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule needed to restore preferential treatment to articles that were eligible in 2006 but later lost eligibility due to tariff schedule revisions, with such a proclamation taking effect only after Congress is notified. The bill also provides retroactive relief: imports of Haitian articles entering the United States on or after September 30, 2025 and before enactment would be liquidated or reliquidated as if duty-free treatment applied, if importers file a request with Customs and Border Protection within 180 days of enactment, with refunds paid within 90 days without interest.
Key provisions
- 1Would extend duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act through December 31, 2028
- 2Would revise the applicable percentage and quantitative limitations governing tariff preference levels for Haitian apparel
- 3Would direct the President to proclaim Harmonized Tariff Schedule modifications restoring eligibility for articles that lost preferential treatment due to prior tariff revisions
- 4Would require congressional notification at least two business days before any such tariff proclamation takes effect
- 5Would require liquidation or reliquidation of Haitian import entries made between September 30, 2025 and enactment as though duty-free treatment applied, upon a timely importer request
- 6Would require Customs and Border Protection to pay any refunds owed within 90 days of liquidation or reliquidation, without interest
Who would be affected
Haitian apparel manufacturers and exporters, U.S. importers and retailers that source apparel from Haiti, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which would process refund requests. Haiti's garment sector, a major source of the country's export income and employment, is the primary intended beneficiary.
Why it matters
Without the extension, duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel would lapse, raising costs for U.S. importers and threatening jobs in Haiti's garment industry. The retroactive refund provision would let importers recover duties already paid on shipments made during a gap period, potentially amounting to significant sums for affected businesses.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, Section 213A (19 U.S.C. 2703a) (Sec. 2)
Revises the applicable percentage and quantitative limitations for tariff preference levels and extends duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel through December 31, 2028
Amends Tariff Act of 1930, Section 514 (19 U.S.C. 1514) (Sec. 4)
Overrides normal finality-of-liquidation rules to allow retroactive liquidation or reliquidation of qualifying Haitian import entries
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Extended duty-free treatment for Haitian apparel remains in effect
- Tariff schedule modification proclamation restoring eligibility
- Deadline to file requests for liquidation/reliquidation of covered Haitian entries
- CBP payment of refunds owed from liquidation or reliquidation
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 6504 would reduce federal revenues by $93 million over the 2026–2035 period, increasing the deficit by that amount, with no effect on direct spending.
H.R. 6504 would extend duty-free treatment for certain Haitian imports through December 31, 2028, and authorize refunds of duties paid after the authority expired on September 30, 2025. CBO estimates the bill would reduce revenues (money the government collects) by $93 million over the 2026–2035 period, of which $13 million reflects refunds for duties already collected after the authority lapsed; there is no effect on direct (mandatory) spending. Administrative costs to Customs and Border Protection would be less than $500,000 over 2026–2030 and are subject to appropriation. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
Customs and Border Protection would process refund claims from importers who identify or help reconstruct entries of Haitian articles made between September 30, 2025 and enactment, then liquidate or reliquidate those entries as duty-free and pay refunds within 90 days without interest. Separately, the President would work with U.S. Trade Representative and Customs staff to draft Harmonized Tariff Schedule modifications restoring lapsed Haitian apparel eligibility, submitting a report to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees before any proclamation takes effect.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Official CRS summary
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This bill extends through December 31, 2028, the special duty-free rules for various apparel products imported from Haiti, including the duty-free treatment provided for a limited amount (referred to as tariff preference levels) of certain apparel products assembled in and imported from Haiti.
The bill directs the President to proclaim such modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) that may be necessary to restore preferential treatment to articles that became ineligible for such treatment due to prior revisions to the HTS.
The bill also provides for the refund of duties (i.e., liquidation or reliquidation of entries) on covered articles from Haiti that entered into the United States on or after September 30, 2025, and before the date of this bill's enactment. A request for liquidation or reliquidation must be filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the request must contain sufficient information for CBP to locate the entry or, if the entry cannot be located, reconstruct the entry. CBP must refund any duties previously paid with respect to the entry within 90 days.
Legislative subjects
Caribbean area; Foreign Trade and International Finance; Haiti; Tariffs
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-418