[House Document 111-69]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



111th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 111-69

 
  CERTIFICATION OF HAITI'S COMPLIANCE WITH HOPE II REQUIREMENTS UNDER 
                            PUB. L. 110-246

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting

      TO MAKE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS FROM HAITI ELIGIBLE FOR 
PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT UNDER THE HAITIAN HEMISPHERIC OPPORTUNITY 
 THROUGH PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2008 (HOPE II), PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 110-246




  October 20, 2009.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
    The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership 
Encouragement Act of 2008 (HOPE II) (the ``Act'') (Public Law 
110-246), amended the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act 
(CBERA) to make certain additional products from Haiti eligible 
for preferential tariff treatment. Under HOPE II, these imports 
from Haiti will continue to be eligible for preferential 
treatment after October 18, 2009, if I determine and certify 
that Haiti has met certain eligibility criteria set out in the 
Act.
    Since enactment of HOPE II, Haiti has issued a decree 
establishing an independent labor ombudsman's office, and the 
President of Haiti has selected a labor ombudsman following 
consultation with unions and industry representatives. In 
addition, Haiti, in cooperation with the International Labor 
Organization, has established a Technical Assistance 
Improvement and Compliance Needs Assessment and Remediation 
(TAICNAR) Program. Haiti has also implemented an electronic 
visa system that acts as a registry of Haitian producers of 
articles eligible for duty-free treatment and has made 
participation in the TAICNAR Program a condition of using this 
visa system.
    In light of these actions and in accordance with section 
213A of CBERA, as amended, I have determined and hereby certify 
that Haiti: (i) has implemented the requirements set forth in 
sections 213A(e)(2) and (e)(3); and (ii) is requiring producers 
of articles for which duty-free treatment may be requested 
under section 213A(b) to participate in the TAICNAR Program and 
has developed a system to ensure participation in such program 
by such producers, including by developing and maintaining a 
registry of producers.

                                                      Barack Obama.
    The White House, October 16, 2009.