Last Friday, the Obama Administration announced the
next steps in further loosening the U.S. sanctions against Cuba, continuing the
process of normalization that the Administration hopes to make permanent before
leaving office. Americans have been authorized to bring back rum and cigars
from Cuba, for personal use. However, for agriculture, the excitement is in an
expansion of exports for goods such as farm equipment and pesticides.
According to the National Association of Wheat Growers, these new amendments
allow exporters to avoid cash-in-advance requirements for transactions
involving agricultural commodities that have caused significant barriers. The
loosening of restrictions in trade with Cuba provides an opportunity for
American wheat growers to take advantage of the available Caribbean market, in
the face of declining prices and market surplus.
With foreign competitors taking advantage of the Cuban wheat import market,
American growers welcome this announcement that will help decrease financial
barriers and regulations that have restricted US wheat access for decades. NAWG
President Gordon Stoner said that 'one of the solutions to boosting the sagging
farm economy is increased trade.'
The group supports efforts to liberalize trade with Cuba by loosening
regulations on products exported out of the country and encourages Congress and
the Obama Administration to continue on the path towards ending the embargo.