Senators seek easing of U.S. - Cuba Food Sales
February 15, 2005
A bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation seeking to clarify the current law on U.S. agriculture sales to Cuba, and facilitate additional transactions. Twenty Republican and Democratic senators, including Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT); Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID); Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS); and Sen. Richard Luger (R-IND) are hoping to prevent the Bush administration from further impeding U.S. - Cuba business dealings.
The Bush administration has been contemplating a law that would impose cash-in-advance payments on Cuba for any U.S. shipment of food. "The Agricultural Export Facilitation Act (2005) will ensure that (agricultural producers ... all over the country) can keep the market and continue to sell their products to Cuba as they have done without incident for several years," commented Senator Max Baucus, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. Adding to the 2001 Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act, the new bill would also allow direct payment between U.S. and Cuban banks.
Since December 2001, U.S. sales of agricultural products to Cuba total $714.5 million.
