Thursday, June 19, 2025

Haiti Economy 6-19-25

Trump admin plan for Haiti in 2025

Based on the information available, the Trump administration's plan for Haiti in 2025 appears to focus primarily on 

immigration and security concerns.  

Key aspects of the plan include:

·       Restricting entry of Haitian nationals to the United States: This is based on concerns about visa overstay rates and a perceived lack of centralized law enforcement information in Haiti. The administration cites high visa overstay rates for Haitian visitors and students as justification for this measure.

·       Revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians: This affects hundreds of thousands of Haitians in the U.S. who were protected from deportation and allowed to work under the program. This decision was announced in February 2025 and is set to take effect on August 3, 2025, unless further extended. The administration cites improved conditions in Haiti and a need to return TPS to its temporary nature as reasons for this change.

·       Termination of the Humanitarian Parole Program: This program, introduced by the Biden administration, allowed Haitians and others to enter the U.S. with financial sponsorship and temporary work permits. The Trump administration is notifying beneficiaries that their permission to live and work in the U.S. has been revoked.

·       Designating Haitian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations: This signifies the administration's intent to combat gang violence and its impact on security in Haiti. However, this designation has raised concerns about its potential impact on aid to Haiti. 

In summary, the Trump administration's plan for Haiti in 2025 is largely characterized by a restrictive approach to immigration and a focus on addressing perceived security threats posed by Haiti. These measures have sparked concerns among Haitian immigrants and humanitarian organizations. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=trump+admin+plan+for+haiti+2025

In 2025, the United States imported approximately $641.77 million worth of goods from Haiti. The main categories of imports included apparel, both knit and non-knit, headgear, and other made textile articles. Other significant imports included beverages, essential oils, and various other commodities according to Trading Economics

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Apparel: Articles of apparel, both knit and non-knit, accounted for the largest share of imports, totaling $582.72 million, according to Trading Economics.

Other Textiles: Headgear and other made textile articles, sets, and worn clothing contributed another $26.70 million to the total imports.

Other Goods: Beverages, spirits and vinegar, essential oils, and other commodities made up the remainder of the imports, totaling $17.76 million.

The total value of U.S. imports from Haiti in 2025 was $641.77 million, according to Trading Economics

us imports from haiti 2025

Based on available information, here are the key US imports from Haiti in 2025:

·       Apparel: This is Haiti's largest export to the United States. In April 2025, the main US imports from Haiti were Knit T-shirts ($22.5M), Knit Sweaters ($6.64M), and Non-Knit Men's Suits ($4.84M). In March 2025, imports of these same items were $21.7M, $5.83M, and $4.57M respectively. Historically, in 2023, the US imported $373M worth of Knit T-shirts, $143M of Knit Sweaters, and $65.7M of Non-Knit Men's Suits from Haiti.

·       Fruit and other agricultural products: These include items like coffee, mangoes, and cacao.

·       Essential oils: Vetiver is an example of an essential oil imported from Haiti. 

·       Fruit and other agricultural products: These include items like coffee, mangoes, and cacao.

·       Essential oils: Vetiver is an example of an essential oil imported from Haiti. 

Recent trends (as of April 2025):

·       Total US imports from Haiti increased by 4.62% between April 2024 and April 2025, rising from $46.7M to $48.9M.

·       Imports of Knit T-shirts saw significant growth, increasing by 24.1% between April 2024 and April 2025.

·       Imports of Non-Knit Men's Suits and Non-Knit Men's Shirts also showed large increases during the same period, with 354% and 1530% growth respectively. 

Important considerations:

·       Haiti remains heavily reliant on the US market, which defines its export landscape.

·       Trade agreements like the HOPE and HELP Acts offer preferential tariff treatment to boost Haitian exports, especially for textiles.

  • However, potential baseline tariffs on Haitian goods could negatively impact exports.

The socio-political instability in Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince, has led to disruptions in seaport operations and supply chains, affecting trade flows and potentially impacting US imports.

https://www.google.com/search?q=us+imports+from+haiti+2025&

In March 2025, Haiti imported $118 million worth of goods from the United States, with refined petroleum, rice, and wheat being the primary imports, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. The United States, in turn, imported $48.9 million from Haiti in April 2025, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity

More details on Haiti's imports from the US in March 2025:

Refined petroleum: $51.4 million

Rice: $12.5 million

Wheat: $8.33 million

Overall: Haiti had a negative trade balance of $65.7 million with the US for March 2025, meaning they imported more than they exported. 

Other relevant information about Haiti's trade and economy:

US Exports to Haiti: In April 2025, the US exported $71.3 million to Haiti, resulting in a positive trade balance for the US for that month, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity

US Tariffs: There were reports in April 2025 of a potential 10% tariff on Haitian goods by the US, which could significantly impact Haiti's exports, according to an Instagram post

Remittances: Remittances from Haitians living abroad are a major source of foreign exchange for the country, even exceeding export earnings, according to Wikipedia

Food Imports: Haiti relies heavily on imports for a significant portion of its food supply, with imports making up between 50% and 85% of food depending on the crop and the situation on the ground, according to actionagainsthunger.org

Rice Imports: The US is a major supplier of rice to Haiti, and efforts are underway to improve local agricultural production, though Haiti is likely to continue relying on importsaccording to the USDA

AI Overview

While there are ongoing efforts to combat gang violence in Haiti, there's no specific, widespread information about a large-scale jailing of gang members in 2025. The situation in Haiti is complex and fluid, with gangs controlling significant territory and engaging in violent clashes with authorities. Recent events include a major jailbreak in 2024 where many inmates escaped. A Transitional Presidential Council is in place, and an interim Prime Minister is leading the government. However, the capacity to detain and prosecute large numbers of gang members remains a challenge. 

Here's a breakdown:

Gangs in Haiti: Gangs control large parts of the country, including the capital, Port-au-Prince, and are involved in violence and criminal activities. 

Escalating Violence: There have been numerous reports of gang-related violence, including attacks on police stations and infrastructure. 

Jailbreak: In 2024, a large-scale jailbreak from the main prison in Port-au-Prince resulted in the escape of thousands of inmates, including gang members. 

Government Response: A Transitional Presidential Council was established in April 2024, with an interim Prime Minister appointed in November 2024, according to Wikipedia. They are working to address the security situation, but the scale of the problem poses a significant challenge. 

Limited Information: There is no readily available information about large-scale jailing of gang members specifically in 2025. The focus seems to be on containing gang violence and restoring order. 

Is Haiti jailing gang members 2025

Yes, Haiti is working to combat and jail gang members in 2025. However, the situation is complex and challenging due to widespread gang violence and limited resources. 

Here's what the search results indicate:

Government crackdown: The Haitian government and police are actively trying to arrest gang members and dismantle their strongholds, with operations being conducted to disrupt gang activities.

International support: The Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission, authorized by the UN and led by Kenya, is in Haiti to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and restoring public order, including through operational support and capacity-building.

Challenges and ongoing violence: Despite efforts, gang violence remains a major problem, with high levels of killings, displacements, and other human rights abuses reported. Some reports indicate that gangs have even been able to free inmates from prisons.

Concerns about the effectiveness of efforts: Some observers suggest that the MSS mission may need to be strengthened due to ongoing violence and reports of it being underfunded and understaffed. 

In summary: Haiti is making attempts to jail gang members in 2025 with the support of the MSS mission, but the situation is difficult and complex due to the ongoing strength of gangs and the limited resources available. 

Comments

It appears that the US is continuing to trade with Haiti, but will continue to let the Haitian Government deal with the criminal gangs.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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