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More than four decades ago the United States, in an effort
to topple communist dictator Fidel Castro, cut off trade between the small
island country of Cuba and the United States. Today, 43 years later, Castro
is still in power and pursing trade and commerce with virtually every
country but the United States. If stripping Castro and his communist cohorts
of power was our goal, then our sanctions policy is working about as well as
honey to keep away flies.
The reality of the situation is that our sanctions policy
hasn't promoted change in Cuba. Instead, the US farmer remains on the
sidelines and out of the world market.
If the failed sanctions policy isn't reason enough for the
US to consider a strategy of economic engagement, consider who wins and
loses under the embargo. The US farmer loses because when we shut off trade
with Cuba, the farm lost a vital and important market for US trade. For
instance, in the 1960's Cuba was the number one market for US rice; in the
70's, it was Iran and in the 80's, it was Iraq. Embargoes against all of
these countries closed those markets to our producers. Despite our policy,
the countries survived because other countries were ready and willing to
sell their products. The lesson we have learned is that the embargoes failed
-- and at the same time failed our farmers.
America's decision to use food as a weapon of foreign policy
has had a significant impact on the United States. America's economy is
losing up to $1.24 billion a year in agricultural exports because of the
embargo, and up to $3.6 billion more a year in associated economic output,
according to an independent report by Texas A&M University. The top ten
states listed as having the most potential to export products to Cuba are
Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Mississippi,
Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri. Similarly, products that could be exported
included rice, soybeans, wheat, chicken, meat, softwood logs, corn,
fertilizers, beef and pork.
Over the last several years small steps have been taken to
reclaim a market within Cuba. In 2000, Congress passed the Trade Sanctions
Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. The legislation allows U.S.
farmers to export agricultural commodities to Cuba for the first time since
1962 and opens the door for sales of U.S. agricultural commodities through
third-party financing to Cuba and several other countries.
Last November, following the aftermath of Hurricane
Michelle, our legislative efforts began to pay off. Cuba made the first of
several purchases of agriculture products such as rice, wheat and soybeans.
Most recently they have made other purchases like peas, lentils, apples and
chicken. To date, Cuba has purchased more than 238,000 metric tons from more
than 30 US States -- and paid the US more than $72 million in cash.
While opening our markets is good for our farmers, it is
also a way to introduce democracy into a communist society. We have seen it
to some degree in China and the Soviet Union and with a persistent US
presence, we can see it in Cuba too. As a member of the House leadership
once said when speaking of a US presence in communist China "T reach them we
must be there, on the ground, spreading our values and the knowledge that
there is a far better, nobler form of government than communism . . .
Expanded trade, which increases interaction with American values, is
essential to changing a closed society."
Although critics may disagree, there is a growing movement
in Congress and across America toward a more pen and responsive attitude
toward Cuba policy. Recent surveys from independent pollsters show 71
percent favor allowing American companies to sell food to Cuba. The most
telling statistic of all is that an overwhelming 84 percent of
Cuban-Americans in Miami-Dade believe the U.S. embargo against Cuba has
failed - a sentiment shared by many of their family members I met who are
living and suffering in Cuba today.
By establishing better relations with Cuba now, America can
guide Cuba toward a steady and permanent landing to democracy. But the
longer America waits, the longer the Cuban people suffer -- and the longer
the American farmer suffers right along with them.
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