Loss of Trade Benefits Sounds Death Knell for Haiti's Garment Industry

As large swathes of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince have succumbed to gang violence, resulting in surges of killings, kidnappings and sexual violence that have forced more than a million civilians to flee from their homes, the Caribbean nation is facing a humanitarian crisis like never before.

Now, with the expiration of U.S. legislation that helped create tens of thousands of jobs through duty-free benefits that attracted prominent American brands like Gap Inc., Fruit of the Loom, Hanes and Calvin Klein owner PVH Corp., it’s about to experience an even worse economic one as well.

With the lapse of the programs known as the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act on Wednesday, the Western Hemisphe