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Reuters: U.S. bill seeks to expand farm exports to Cuba

By Adriana Garcia
Thu Jun 21, 7:24 PM ET

Four lawmakers seeking to boost U.S. farm exports to Cuba unveiled legislation on Thursday that would lift some of the Bush administration's restrictions on trade with the communist island.

The companion House of Representatives and Senate bills, by two Democrats and two Republicans, are similar to past plans that unsuccessfully sought to make it easier to sell U.S. farm goods in Cuba, which has faced a wide U.S. embargo for more than 40 years.

Since 2000, U.S. agriculture exports to Cuba -- which enjoy an exception to the embargo -- have added up to $1.4 billion. Farm groups believe that could be far higher if the Bush administration would lift restrictions in place since 2005.

"The Cuban economy continues to grow despite the U.S. embargo, and American exporters are forced to sit idly by while Chinese and Canadian companies take advantage of opportunities in our backyard," Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement.

"This legislation does not lift the embargo, but it is an important first step toward modernizing our Cuba policy."

Joining Baucus in the proposal were Sen. Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a Missouri Republican,

"The backwards American policy on Cuba hurts U.S. producers a lot more than it hurts Fidel Castro," Emerson said.

"When we consider our relationships with China, with Venezuela and with Iran ... it's clear that we are holding the Cuban people to an unreasonable standard."

While the bill is sure to encounter opposition from anti-Castro lawmakers, the U.S. agriculture industry applauded the measure.

The American Farm Bureau Federation "will continue its work with Congress to pass legislation to eliminate these costly restrictions," said Bob Stallman, president of the largest U.S. farm group.

The legislation would:

-- lift all restrictions on travel to Cuba, presumably clearing the way for more U.S. trade missions;

-- allow U.S. exporters to be paid by Cubans directly, rather than having to go through foreign banks;

-- require the agriculture department to promote U.S. farm goods in Cuba;

-- secure visas for Cubans who want to inspect U.S. food facilities.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070621/pl_nm/usa_cuba_embargo_dc_1&printer=1;_ylt=ArthJEUnTNpJCXw2k...