Cuba

Minnesota’s government and businesses are actively engaging in Cuba in areas like agricultural trade.  This comes despite a rollback in trade relations by President Trump.  Reuters reports that Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith is leading a trade delegation to the country as the first state representative to make a trip since Trump undid an Obama-era move to normalize trade relations betwee

A recent study says any rollback of Obama-era moves to normalize relations with Cuba will harm U.S. Agriculture.  The study by Engage Cuba, a coalition of private companies seeking an end to the Cuba embargo, says any new regulations on exporting agricultural commodities to Cuba could cost $1.5 bi...

Over 100 U.S. agriculture groups are urging President-elect Donald Trump not to undo the changes that President Obama made in relation status between the U.S. and Cuba.  Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says they also want the President-elect to give his own stamp of approval on normalizing relations between the countries.  The grou...

Changes in restrictions on U.S. trade to Cuba are progressing slowly, and don’t currently have a clear benefit to agriculture yet.   American Farm Bureau Trade Specialist Dave Salmonsen said changes in travel restrictions with cigars and run, and financing have minimal impact on ag.   “...

The House Ag Committee held a hearing last week on possibly removing trade barriers to Cuba.   Representative Dan Newhouse said there was a good conversation and there will continue to be work done towards potentially opening up the borders, something he says could be good news for Central Washington.  ...

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said that a USDA official will be soon housed at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.   Vilsack hopes they can lay down some groundwork before a possible lifting of the trade embargo against the island nation.   “It’s incredibly important in terms of opening up opportunities and trade in agriculture. This is a over $1.8 ...

On Thursday, the Department of Transportation proposed to select eight U.S. airlines to begin scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba.  While not directly impacting agricultural trade between the two nations, it will allow for easier travels by agriculture groups promoting U.S. p...

House and Senate bills continue the stalemate over easing U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba, and ultimately lifting the trade embargo.  The Senate’s Financial Services bill is expected to move out of committee this week.  It would remove some restrictions on financing for U.S. farm exports...

Cuba’s agriculture minister says the country wants to increase food production to cut food imports in half.  Cuba currently imports $2 billion of food per year, but it needs medium and long-term credit to buy U.S. equipment to achieve that goal of cutting food imports in half, according to the Hagstrom Report.   C...

A trade delegation from Cuba is visiting the United States this week to see the advantages of purchasing U.S. coarse grains and co-products.   The delegation includes grain importers and officials from Cuba, which has purchased corn from the U.S. s...