WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) last night introduced a bill, H.R. 1339, in the House of Representatives to end recent payment restrictions on American producers’ agricultural trade to Cuba, a major export market for U.S. rice.  The bill mirrors a proposal in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), S. 634.

 

In the past, Cuba has been able to pay cash on delivery of U.S. agricultural shipments.  New Treasury rules mandate payment in advance for such exports to Cuba.  The Emerson and Chambliss bills would restore the law by which shipments could be made to Cuba, then paid for by that government.

 

“Cuba is a major export market for American agriculture,” Emerson said, “but the government cripples our ability to sell our farmers’ products there.  We need to be aggressive on behalf of our farmers and start finding ways to reduce America’s enormous trade deficit.  If we can look past political problems to give China Most-Favored-Nation trade status so we can import goods from them, I don’t see why we cannot find a workable way to export our products to Cuba.”

 

The U.S. trade deficit soared 25 percent to an all-time high of $665.9 Billion in 2004, a recent Commerce Department statistic showed.  By another measure, China now owns nearly $200 Billion in U.S. Treasury securities.

 

“By playing politics with food, we aren’t making any strides for democracy with the Cuban people.  We have a unique opportunity to make inroads for freedom with a neighbor 90 miles off our coast, and instead the Treasury is making it harder for our farmers to sell their harvests.”