A number of ag interests speaking before the House Agriculture Committee on Thursday in support of the Travel Reform and Export Enhancement Act (HR 4645). This is the bill from Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran which would lift some U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba including the cash-in-advance requirement, the need for a third-country bank and travel restrictions.
American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman told the committee, “We have seen the promise this market holds…unfortunately, because of restrictions on U.S exports to Cuba, U.S. farmers have not been able to benefit from the full potential of the market.” Stallman says our competitors have an advantage right now but eliminating the restrictions would give U.S. farmers the advantage.
National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson, who has led eight trade missions to Cuba, noted current U.S. policy hampers our ability to be reliable suppliers. “Agricultural producers in the United States are well positioned to benefit from additional trade in Cuba,” said Johnson. “This will also assure Cubans a source for sustainable, high-quality food for its people.”
American Soybean Association Board member Scott Fritz of Indiana told the committee the sanctions have cost U.S. farmers and businesses billions of dollars in exports. “We can no longer sit on the sidelines and watch our competitors supply a market where we have a natural advantage.”
National Association of Wheat Growers president, Jerry McReynolds testified, “U.S. wheat producers and the industries that support them stand to gain up to $100 million in sales each year if trade and travel restrictions with Cuba are eased.”
John Wilson, senior vice president of marketing and industry affairs for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) said lifting the restrictions would help the U.S. dairy industry regain some of the ground lost in 2009. He cited a June, 2009 International Trade Commission study which found “that fully eliminating financing and travel restrictions on U.S. exports to Cuba would have boosted 2008 dairy sales to Cuba from $13 million to between $39 and $87 million.”
Most commented that increased travel to Cuba would mean increased income for the country and more money to spend on U.S. goods.
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about time. sanctions have been silly waste of our govt efforts for a long time. our citizens want to have commerce with Cuba, and it is cruel to subject the Cuban citizens to these rules.