Kansas congressman seeks to expand trade with Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

February 24, 2010, 10:35AM
Kansas congressman seeks to expand trade with Cuba

TOPEKA, Kan.

Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran is co-sponsoring legislation he says would open markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers in Cuba.

Moran, a Republican, said Tuesday he introduced the measure with Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.

The bill would change the way Cubans pay for commodities bought from U.S. farmers and ranchers. The payments must now be made through foreign banks, which Moran says raises the price of U.S. goods.

The legislation would also let U.S. farmers and ranchers travel to Cuba to market their products.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9E2KEM00.htm

http://www.ncpanet.org.nyud.net:8090/gallery/images/gallery/fullsize/img_f48acdb72009legconf_0922.jpg

Rep. Jerry Moran

[Judi Lynn]

1. U.S. Rep. Peterson seeks boost in exports to Cuba

U.S. Rep. Peterson seeks boost in exports to Cuba

By Tom Karst

Key agriculture supporters in Congress are aiming to expand export opportunities in Cuba with the introduction of a bill that would relax banking regulations and make sales to Cuba similar to other trading partners.

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, garnered bipartisan support from Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., for H.R. 4645, the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act. All together, 30 members of the House co-sponsored the bill, which was introduced Feb. 23.

“This a way we think can expand opportunities for apple exports to Cuba,” said Nancy Foster, president of the Vienna, Va.-based U.S. Apple Association.

Apples are the leading fresh produce item shipped to Cuba followed by grapes and pears.
Foster said Feb., 23 the bill would change the way exports to Cuba are regulated, allowing sales without involving banks in other countries.

What’s more, the bill would revise regulations on payment terms.

It has been hard for Cuba to buy agricultural goods from the U.S. because current law requires Cuba to pay for U.S. goods well before the goods change hands. “Cuba wants to pay when the title of the shipment changes hands, but the way the regulatory requirements are now, payment has to be made in advance,” she said.

Even with current restrictions, apples have been exported to Cuba, Foster said. She said Cubans like apples and don’t have a commercial apple industry.

More:
http://thepacker.com/m/story.asp?sect=news&page=Top%20Stories%20from%20ThePacker.com&contentId=991959

[protocol rv]

2. Stupid US government

They should let the Cubans buy all the food they can pay for from US farmers. It's good for the farmers, and it will make the US look less like idiots. And maybe the Cubans will let US farmers invest in Cuba, and put in highly efficient farms to grow the food in Cuba, rather than ship it in. That would be really interesting, to see the Cubans feed themselves with private US farmer help. :-)

[Wilms]

3. But US trade would be inconsistent with Florida Republican's foreign policy. n/t

:)

[protocol rv]

4. US embargo is wrong headed

The US embargo is wrongheaded. But a lot of what the US does in foreign policy is wrongheaded, isn't it? I think they should lift the embargo, and then the Cuban government won't be able to use it as an excuse for their failures, which means they may change policies, be less communist, and then Cuba can be less of a load on Venezuela's finances.