Farm Sales To Cuba Increased Without Embargo Lift

Farm Sales To Cuba Increased Without Embargo Lift
POSTED 3:30 AM, MARCH 24, 2016, BY STAFF WRITER

With the President's historic visit to Cuba this week and his proposal
to end the U.S.-Cuba trade embargo comes some benefits to agriculture.
There is the possibility of increased trade of agricultural goods, which
farm groups like the American Farm Bureau are pushing for.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley isn't buying into the efforts to normalize
relations and he's less interested in ending the trade embargo, even if
it means more ag sales to Cuba. He says in the give and take part, Cuba
is more on the taking end.
And even without an end to the embargo, he says farm sales to Cuba have
increased, "There's already a provisions that have even been liberalized
beyond what they've been through maybe ten years for agricultural foods
to go there along with medicine, pharmaceuticals, medicinal things. So I
don't know whether we have to be so concerned just for agriculture."
The American Farm Bureau argues until the embargo is lifted, full trade
cannot be restored because of direct banking relations.
And election year politics, combined with strong opposition from
Cuban-American lawmakers, are keeping bipartisan legislation ending the
embargo from advancing.
Meanwhile, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is expressing support and optimism
for new opportunities in Cuba. Vilsack announced Research and Promotion
Programs and Marketing Order organizations may conduct research and
information sharing with Cuba. They represent U.S. beef, pork, corn, soy
and other commodities and are responsible for creating bonds with
consumers and businesses from around the world.

Source: Farm Sales To Cuba Increased Without Embargo Lift | whotv.com -
http://whotv.com/2016/03/24/farm-sales-to-cuba-increased-without-embargo-lift/