H.R. 6504 — Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act

This section amends duty-free preferences for certain apparel articles imported directly from Haiti under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (i.e., the HOPE Act provisions at 19 U.S.C. 2703a, which allow duty-free entry for qualifying knit-to-shape and other apparel assembled in Haiti that meets specified U.S.-origin yarn, fabric, or value-added requirements). Specifically, it (1) defines the applicable percentage as 60 percent or more on and after December 20, 2017; (2) limits such preferences, after the initial one-year period beginning December 20, 2006, to not more than 1.25 percent of aggregate square meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the United States in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available; (3) applies preferences under subsection (b)(2) in any of the succeeding one-year periods (from each of the 16 succeeding one-year periods); and (4) delays termination of the duty-free treatment until December 31, 2028.

This section directs the President to proclaim modifications to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to restore eligibility for preferential tariff treatment under the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act (19 U.S.C. 2703a) for articles from Haiti or the Dominican Republic that were eligible on December 20, 2006, but became ineligible prior to enactment due to HTS revisions. (The HOPE Act provides duty-free treatment for certain apparel articles, such as those knit-to-shape, imported directly from Haiti or the Dominican Republic that meet labor standards and other requirements.) The proclamation takes effect no earlier than two business days after the President submits a report to the Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Ways and Means explaining the modifications and reasons therefor.

This section authorizes, notwithstanding the finality provisions of Section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514), the liquidation or reliquidation of entries of covered articles (i.e., articles from Haiti, including withdrawals from warehouse for consumption) made on or after September 30, 2025, and before the date of enactment, to apply duty-free treatment or other preferential treatment under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA; 19 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.)—which would have applied if entered before September 30, 2025—as though such entries occurred on the date of enactment, provided a request with sufficient information to locate or reconstruct the entry is filed with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 180 days of enactment. Amounts owed by the United States pursuant to such liquidation or reliquidation shall be paid, without interest, not later than 90 days thereafter. (CBERA provides duty-free entry for eligible products from designated beneficiary countries, including Haiti, to promote economic development and export diversification.)