End to Cuba Embargo Urged by New Agriculture Lobby Coalition

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Bloomberg News

End to Cuba Embargo Urged by New Agriculture Lobby Coalition
By Carter Dougherty Jan 8, 2015 5:08 PM CT

A new agribusiness coalition is seeking an immediate end of the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba, prodding Congress to act as the Obama administration eases some restrictions in place for more than 50 years.

The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, with more than 25 companies and farm trade associations, was announced Thursday in Washington to urge repeal of a 1996 law that made permanent sanctions on Cuba after Fidel Castro seized power in a communist revolution.

“It’s going to take time for Congress to get comfortable with Cuba,” Paul Johnson, the president of Chicago Foods International LLC, a company that handles logistics for products sold to Cuba. “But we need to end this embargo.”

President Barack Obama last month used the limited flexibility allowed by the law to ease travel, trade and finance with Cuba. But the economic embargo, in place since the early 1960s, needs congressional action to remove the restraints.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-08/ending-cuba-embargo-urged-by-new-agriculture-industry-coalition.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. US farmers will push Congress to end embargo on Cuba

US farmers will push Congress to end embargo on Cuba

WASHINGTON (AP) -- At least 30 food and agriculture American companies and associations announced Thursday they will push Congress to end the embargo the United States imposed on Cuba in 1962.

Representatives of the companies said they want to take advantage of the recent rapprochement between the two countries to end the embargo. A year ago, the countries created a coalition called The U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC).

Devry Boughner Vorwerk, Vice President at Cargill and Chair of USACC, said at a news conference that "we will work with key stakeholders to build momentum that drives historical change."

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said President Barack Obama looks forward to engage with Congress "in an honest and serious debate on what we can do to promote positive change in Cuba. That is where the American farmers and ranchers come into play."

More:
http://www.wbal.com/article/ap?articleurl=http%3a%2f%2fhosted.ap.org%2fdynamic%2fstories%2fU%2fUS_CUBA_TRADE%3fSITE%3dWBAL%26amp%3bamp%3bSECTION%3dHOME%26amp%3bamp%3bTEMPLATE%3dDEFAULT%26amp%3bamp%3bCTIME%3d2015-01-08-15-54-22

[hack89]

2. Cheaper food would be a boon to Cuba. nt

[Xolodno]

3. Wonder how the Corn Industry...

..segment of this thinks of this. Or maybe they see the writing on the wall for corn syrup.