House votes to ease rule on food sales to Cuba

House votes to ease rule on food sales to Cuba
Reuters
Wednesday, June 14, 2006; 8:37 PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday
to make it easier to sell U.S. farm products to Cuba by overriding a
Bush administration requirement to pay in cash before the ship leaves
harbor.

By voice vote, the House adopted language allowing payment to be made
before the goods change hands, a more common approach for cash sales
that also speeds delivery. It became part of a Treasury funding bill
passed on a 406-22 vote.

Representatives killed two other proposed amendments aimed at revising
U.S. relations with Cuba, including one to end the U.S. economic embargo
in place since the early 1960s.

In an exception to the four-decade-old embargo, Congress authorized food
sales to Cuba in 2000 as long as Havana paid in advance. The Treasury
Department announced in February 2005 that payment must be made before
the ship sailed.

"What happened in February 2005 makes no economic or commercial sense,"
said Kansas Republican Jerry Moran, sponsor of the amendment on food
trade. "At least in the agricultural world, there is an understanding
that unilateral sanctions don't work."

The House and Senate adopted similar amendments last year but Republican
leaders deleted them during negotiations over a final version of the
annual Treasury funding bill. The White House threatened a veto unless
the language was dropped.

Moran and other critics said the White House's 2005 interpretation put
roadblocks in the way of U.S. sales. Havana has to pay for the time that
ships sit idle after loading while waiting for payment or pay a fee to
use a letter of credit.

In an interview, Moran said his amendment had "broad support" in both
chambers.

On the two other Cuba-related amendments, the House:

-- defeated, 245-183, an amendment to end the U.S. economic boycott.
Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, unsuccessfully tried similar
amendments in the past.

Rangel called the embargo a "failed policy" that has not improved human
rights in Cuba, "while causing injury to ordinary Cubans, as well as
Americans whose freedom to travel and to pursue business opportunities
on the island are restricted."

--rejected, 236-187, amendment that would have made it easier for
students to study in Cuba.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/14/AR2006061402094.html