Congresswoman Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, this week applauded the passage of a bipartisan bill she introduced to reauthorize the U.S. Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act. The legislation, HR991, passed the House by a unanimous voice vote.
The legislation extends the U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act through 2030.
The CBTPA is a preferential trade agreement that provides for duty and quota-free access for apparel products manufactured in designated beneficiary Caribbean Basin region countries. CBTPA also requires that Caribbean Basin countries use U.S. formed yarns, fabrics and thread.
The CBTPA was first enacted in 2000 and is currently authorized through Sept. 30, 2020. Eligible CBTPA countries include Barbados, Belize, Curacao, Guyana, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St. Lucia.
“As the lead sponsor of the legislation to reauthorize the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, I am thrilled that Congress is taking action on this issue before the program expires at the end of the month,” Sewell said. “CBTPA is such an important economic tool for the United States and each of our partner countries, and it is critical to our continued diplomatic relationships in the Caribbean Basin. The bipartisan effort to reauthorize this program will allow us to export more American-made goods and strengthen Western supply chains, while contributing to economic development and job creation in Haiti and other countries throughout the Caribbean Basin region. I am grateful for its passage by unanimous voice vote in the House, and I urge the Senate to take up this bill before the September 30th deadline. ”
“I am incredibly grateful for Congresswoman Sewell’s commitment to economic prosperity in the Republic of Haiti and the Caribbean region,” said Ambassador Herve Denis. “The Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), H.R. 991, which has received bipartisan and bicameral support, is a testament to Congress’ unwavering support for working families in Haiti and CARICOM countries. This legislation has created countless jobs and generated billions of dollars in revenue over the past decade.”
“Furthermore, CBTPA would play a crucial role in strengthening the supply chains for PPEs and textiles in response to COVID-19, making America less dependent on nations outside the Western Hemisphere,” Herve said. “With the issues regarding China, Haiti hopes and expects to benefit from the ‘Near-Shoring’ concept introduced by Congress. Together, we can continue to strengthen bilateral trade relations between two of the oldest republics in the Americas.”
“I’m proud to support our nation’s trade preference programs, which bolster further economic expansion in developing nations and support jobs here in America — a true win-win scenario,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, the Republican lead co-sponsor. “In particular, our bipartisan bill to extend the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act accomplishes that goal in the Caribbean, providing trade benefits to eight Caribbean nations, most notably Haiti. I want to thank Congresswoman Terri Sewell for partnering with me on this important legislation and urge the Senate to consider it without delay.”
The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act and the CBTPA are collectively known as the Caribbean Basin Initiative. The two acts work together to facilitate the development of 17 independent countries of the Caribbean Basin region.
Eligible CBERA countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
On Sept. 4, the National Council of Textile Organizations and National Cotton Council sent a letter to the chairs and ranking members of two key congressional committees voicing their support for passing the reauthorization of the CBTPA.
Sewell represents Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. She has no Republican opponent in the Nov. 3 general election.
