CubaTrade-April2017-FLIPBOOK

in closing
Put America first
by lifting the
Cuban embargo
By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
Approximately 95 percent of the world’s consumers live outside
America’s borders. Markets in the United States will continue to
evolve to meet domestic consumer demand, but the vast majority
of the future growth in food and agriculture markets will be made
through exports. And the best way to boost prices for American
producers now and in the future is to export more of our agriculture
products to these foreign markets.
Our farmers and ranchers produce the safest, highest-quality
products in the world. Despite this advantage, we are in the
midst of one of the worst economic downturns for farmers since
the Great Depression, with farm income down nearly 50 percent
since 2013 and expected to continue its decline.
The 2016 harvest in Kansas and across much of the country
had record-breaking yields, but unfortunately, there are still large
piles of wheat, corn, and other grains sitting on the ground next to
grain bins that are filled to capacity. American farmers need more
markets to sell the excess supply of food and fiber they produce.
Meanwhile, only 90 miles from our shore, Cuba and its
11 million people offer a significant opportunity for increased
exports. As in years past, I am again championing legislation that
would lift our nation’s Cuba trade embargo so we can improve
the outlook for American farmers and ranchers.
Cuba imports the vast majority of its food. In fact, wheat is
Cuba’s second largest import, second only to oil. And when we
don’t sell to Cuba, another country does. While our unilateral
trade barriers block our own farmers and ranchers from feeding
this market, willing sellers such as Canada, France and China
benefit at the expense of American farmers.
To understand what we are missing out on, consider our
current trade relationship with the Dominican Republic (D.R.),
another nearby Caribbean nation with a comparable population,
income level, and diet. Between 2013 to 2015, the D.R. imported
an average of $1.3 billion in U.S. farm products. During the same
time, Cuba imported just $262 million. That difference represents
a billion dollars of exports that U.S. farmers are missing out on
because of our trade restrictions on Cuba. There is a clear and substantial
potential for increased exports if we lift the trade embargo.
My bill, the Cuba Trade Act, would amend our country’s
laws so American farmers can operate on a level playing field
with the rest of the world. As I often say, in Kansas we will try
anything once—and sometimes twice or even three times. However,
when we have been trying something for more than five
decades and it has yet to work, it is time to change direction.
The Cuban embargo was well intentioned when it was
enacted. Today it only serves to hurt our own national interests by
restricting American freedoms to travel and to conduct profitable
business. If we’re truly committed to putting America first, lifting
the embargo is an easy choice. I encourage my colleagues to
recognize the need for this change, and to join me in my effort to
open the Cuban market for the good of the American people. H
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently introduced Senate Bill S.472 to
lift the U.S. embargo against Cuba.
98 CUBATRADE APRIL 2017