Once again efforts to open up trade with one of the United States' closest neighbors to the south have been resumed. Cuba was once an important trading partner with the U.S. until Fidel Castro took control over the island nation in 1959. Agricultural exports to Cuba have been extremely beneficial to American farmers in the past when at one point Cuba was the largest foreign buyer of our rice. According to the Delta Farm Press, Senator Max Baucus of Montana and fifteen other senators (several of which are from rice producing states) are trying to introduce legislation that will break down some of the trade barriers that have been erected over the latter half of the twentieth century. Agweb.com reported that the goals of the legislation are to:ease restrictions on agricultural exports to Cuba and to allow all U.S. citizens to travel there. The bill would also address issues surrounding how such exports are paid for, and would allow payments directly from Cuban banks to U.S. banks for the goods.
The USA Rice Federation Chairman Jamie Warshaw stated in Delta Farm Press that:
'Prior to the U.S. embargo, Cuba was the largest market for U.S. rice,' he noted. 'Were the provisions in today’s bill to become law, we would be well on our way to that position again. U.S. proximity to Cuba makes us natural trading partners and offers the Cuban people the opportunity to receive high-quality rice we know they want, at an affordable cost.'
The proposed legislation is not without opponents as Democratic senators from Florida and New Jersey have threatened to vote against any legislation that attempts to open travel or trade with Cuba.
Posted: 5/22/2009
