To Thomas Lalime and Enomy Germain who still believe!
(For some time, the narrative seems to focus on the end of the HOPE Act as if it were the end of the world.) Yet, new paradigms exist today to think about development differently. These lines are part of a perspective of doing things differently (Touraine, 2007).
- The End of the HOPE Act: An Alarm Signal for the Haitian Economy
Adopted in 2006 by the U.S. Congress, the HOPE (Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement) Act aimed to stimulate Haitian exports to the United States, particularly in the textile sector. By offering customs duty exemptions, it sought to create jobs, attract foreign investment, and support economic growth in Haiti (Eugène, 2018). Its extension, the HELP (Haiti Economic Lift Program) Act, expanded these benefits to consolidate the Haitian manufacturing sector. However, in 2025, these preferential measures were not renewed by the U.S. Congress, jeopardizing nearly 90% of Haitian exports to the United States and tens of thousands of jobs (Haïti Libre, 2025).
The non-renewal of the HOPE Act marks a turning point for Haiti. This law, although essential for maintaining the textile industry, relied on a structural dependence on external decisions. In other words, the Haitian development model, heavily reliant on aid mechanisms or trade preferences, remains vulnerable to international political developments (Better Work Haiti, 2024). This dependence reveals the limitations of an extroverted economic model that struggles to create a sustainable national productive base.
- Endogenous Development: A Necessary Alternative!
In an unstable global context, marked by trade wars, climate crises, and the redefinition of value chains, it becomes imperative for Haiti to turn towards an endogenous development model. This paradigm relies on the mobilization of internal resources: human capital, local innovation, effective institutions, and regional markets (Romer, 1990). The theory of endogenous growth argues that sustainable prosperity results from investments in knowledge, technology, and internal productivity, rather than volatile external aid.
For Haiti, this implies strengthening technical education, valuing agriculture, developing SMEs, and creating local centers of expertise. Endogenous development does not mean isolation, but rather better control over internal levers before any commercial opening. It involves producing locally for consumption and exporting with added value, while building a resilient economic fabric.
- What to Do After the HOPE Act?
The disappearance of HOPE must be seen as an opportunity to reinvent national economic policy. First, Haiti must diversify its economy beyond textiles by stimulating agricultural and cultural sectors, as well as crafts and light industries. Second, it is essential to consolidate economic institutions and promote transparency to attract local investments. The diaspora, a key player in national financing, must be mobilized within this strategy through tax incentives and co-development projects (Casimir, 2020). Finally, Haitian economic diplomacy must focus on regional partnerships, particularly in the Caribbean and Latin America, to create new opportunities.
Conclusion
The non-renewal of the HOPE Act is not the end of a cycle, but the beginning of a new paradigm. Haiti must break away from a structural dependence on external aid mechanisms and invest in its own potential. Betting on endogenous development means believing in the country's ability to produce, innovate, and regenerate itself. Haiti's future depends less on foreign tariff preferences than on the national will to build an inclusive, resilient, and autonomous economy.
References
- Better Work Haiti. (2024). Report on the Impact of the HOPE Act. https://betterwork.org/haiti
- Casimir, J. (2020). Oppressed Culture. Port-au-Prince: C3 Éditions.
- Eugène, W. (2018). Unilateral Trade Preferences and Fragile Economies. Université du Québec à Montréal.
- HaïtiLibre. (2025, September). HOPE/HELP Act: Concern in the Textile Sector. https://www.haitilibre.com
- Romer, P. (1990). Endogenous Technological Change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), 71–102.
- Touraine, A. (2007). Thinking Differently. Fayard ed.
Yves Lafortune, Fort Lauderdale, October 19, 2025
