Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Resolution Reaffirming the Economic Partnership between the United States and the Caribbean Nations", seeks to strengthen trade and investment between the United States and the Caribbean region, also known as America's "Third Border". The resolution recognizes the shared history and economic ties between the two regions, and the need for continued cooperation and support. It also acknowledges the challenges faced by the Caribbean, such as the recent events in Haiti, and commits to promoting sustainable and resilient economic development. The resolution calls for the President to prioritize trade engagement with the Caribbean, and to work with diverse stakeholders in the region to develop a shared trade agenda. It also affirms the importance of further enhancing trade and investment relations with the Caribbean, and of supporting economic efforts led by the Haitian people. The resolution also recognizes the importance of specialized trade preference programs, such as the Haiti Economic Lift Program and Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, and commits to strengthening these policies to ensure they benefit both Haiti and the United States. The resolution also highlights the need for a worker-centered trade agenda, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies of both the United States and the Caribbean. Overall, this legislation aims to strengthen the economic partnership between the United States and the Caribbean, promote sustainable development, and protect vulnerable communities.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could result in increased trade and investment opportunities between the United States and Caribbean nations, potentially leading to more jobs and economic growth in both regions. This could positively affect people by providing them with more job opportunities and a stronger economy.
2. The legislation could also prioritize worker-centered trade practices and promote economic ties with underserved communities, potentially benefiting marginalized groups and promoting racial equity.
3. The legislation could impact the relationship between the United States and non-market economies in the Caribbean, potentially reducing the influence of these countries and protecting the economic interests of the region. This could also impact the stability and security of the region, affecting people living in the Caribbean and those with ties to the region in the United States.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1047 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1047
Reaffirming the economic partnership between the United States and the
Caribbean nations and recognizing the need to strengthen trade and
investment between the United States and the Caribbean nations, our
``Third Border''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2022
Ms. Plaskett (for herself, Mr. Wenstrup, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Blumenauer,
Mr. Evans, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and Ms. Sanchez) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Reaffirming the economic partnership between the United States and the
Caribbean nations and recognizing the need to strengthen trade and
investment between the United States and the Caribbean nations, our
``Third Border''.
Whereas Congress commits to strengthening economic ties and cooperation with the
Caribbean people to promote equitable economic growth and development
across the region;
Whereas the Caribbean region has a population of approximately 44,000,000
people, millions of people have emigrated between the Caribbean and the
United States, and approximately 13,000,000 people in the United States,
or 4 percent of the United States population, share Caribbean ancestry;
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to support the
economic development of sovereign Caribbean nations and territories;
Whereas greater opportunities for mutually beneficial trade and investments
promote economic growth, development, poverty reduction, democracy, the
rule of law, civil rights, and overall stability;
Whereas regional and global integration with our Caribbean neighbors should be
strengthened to create decent jobs, boost economic growth in the
Caribbean and the United States, and eliminate barriers to trade and
investment in the Caribbean;
Whereas it remains the goal of the United States to support diversification of
Caribbean exports to the United States;
Whereas, in 1983, Congress launched the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) through
the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and expanded it in
2000 with the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
(CBTPA);
Whereas the United States shares a history of struggle with Caribbean neighbor
countries, including with our courageous sister nation of Haiti;
Whereas Haiti suffered destabilizing events in 2021, including severe
insecurity, a deadly earthquake, widespread democratic protests,
continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the assassination of
President Jovenel Moise, all of which have contributed to a governance
and humanitarian crisis that requires immediate further attention and
support from the United States and the global community;
Whereas specialized United States trade preferences with Haiti, including the
Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) and Hemispheric Opportunity through
Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE II) programs, aid Haiti's growing
textile and apparel manufacturing industry and are a critical source of
steady jobs for many Haitian people to support their families;
Whereas trade preference programs for the Caribbean and Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) countries, such as the Generalized System of Preferences, CBI,
and CBTPA have provided important economic benefits for Caribbean Basin
country economies, including by facilitating niche production and more
diversified exports, while also benefitting United States businesses and
workers, including by helping to add value for customers and supporting
United States jobs;
Whereas Caribbean people and their island nation economies have led globally by
exploring innovative economic strategies to produce collective benefits
for their communities, such as through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk
Insurance Facility, to reduce the economic impact of major disasters;
Whereas the United States seeks to prioritize and promote a worker-centered
trade agenda that facilitates trade and protects freedom of association,
fosters a sustainable environment and climate path, advances racial
equity and supports underserved communities, addresses unfair economic
trade practices, supports domestic producers, and promotes growth and
development around the world;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the public health and
economies of the Caribbean and the United States, which has also
contributed to inequality within and between nations, and further
excluded vulnerable groups from the benefits of trade and economic
development;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen supply
chain resilience and increase near-shoring in global trade;
Whereas the United States believes that free and fair trade practices, economic
growth, and stable domestic employment foster democratic principles of
good governance;
Whereas United States and Caribbean economic ties, including through Caribbean
services and manufacturing sectors, produce critical goods and services
for consumers and jobs for workers that strengthen their economies;
Whereas such economic ties serve strategic purposes by providing an alternative
to potentially predatory economic practices of other foreign
governments, including non-market economies, in the Caribbean that harm
national and regional interests in the Western Hemisphere;
Whereas climate change and natural disasters pose acute risks for Caribbean
people and island economies; and
Whereas the United States signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in
2013 with CARICOM to drive strengthened trade and investment ties
between CARICOM and the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) urges the President to prioritize trade engagement with
the Caribbean region that promotes sustainable and resilient
economic development;
(2) commits to engaging directly with diverse stakeholders
from the Caribbean, including CARICOM Trade Ministers,
policymakers, as well as labor, business, and civil society
representatives, to dialogue and develop a shared trade agenda;
(3) affirms trade engagement that strengthens the economic
relationship between the Caribbean and the United States and
produces economic benefits for people of all racial, ethnic,
gender, ability, economic, linguistic, and religious
backgrounds;
(4) recognizes the importance of further enhancing trade
and investment relations between the Caribbean and the United
States;
(5) commits to support economic efforts led by and for the
Haitian people to rebuild and develop their own economy for the
benefit of all Haitians; and
(6) commits to support critical trade policies and
preference programs, such as HELP and HOPE II, and further
strengthen those policies to ensure they advance sustainable
economic development, produce positive economic benefits in
Haiti, the Caribbean, and the United States, and protect our
most vulnerable communities.
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