[NYTr] Senators Crapo, Baucus announces Cuba trade legislation
 
Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 13:23:23 -0400

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
[As reported earlier, an amendment easing agricultural trade
restrictions was passed by the House. The language easing travel
restrictions was removed. See the following from June 28, 2007:
"House Passes Modest Change in Agro Sales to Cuba, Nixes Travel Changes"
http://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20070625/064846.html
This article deals with the Senate equivalent legislation.

Ag News  - Jun 30, 2007
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2007/06/30/news/ag_news/news24.txt

Senators Crapo, Baucus announces Cuba trade legislation

BY Ag Weekly

WASHINGTON--Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Finance
Committee with jurisdiction over certain foreign trade issues, joined
with Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., to introduce legislation
on Thursday to ease trade and end travel restrictions between the U.S.
and Cuba. The legislation aims to better enable U.S. producers to
export to Cuba and enhance U.S. and Cuba political and economic
opportunities.

“Unfortunately, Idaho products have made up very little of the $1.5
billion in U.S. agricultural products sold to Cuba since the initial
easing of trade restrictions,” Crapo said in a press release. “That is
due to the continued difficulty and additional obstacles that have been
placed on exporting to the country. Cuba represents an important
opportunity for agricultural exports, and fuller U.S. engagement in
Cuba is essential to bring positive change to the country. Our
legislation will ensure that unnecessary government regulations do not
hinder that progress.”

A trade embargo in place since 1962 was eased in 2001 to allow for the
export of some food and medicine. Removing further barriers to
exporting to Cuba will broaden the market opportunities for Idaho
potatoes, wheat, peas, beans, barley, lentils, dairy, beef, pork, wood,
medical supplies, and other products. Many of those products are
presently the country’s leading imports, the press release said.

Crapo joined Baucus, U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman
Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and Representative Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., of
the Appropriations Committee for the announcement.

Provisions of the legislation include the following:

* Clarifying congressional intent regarding payments for agricultural
purchases.

* Streamlining bank-to-bank payments between Cuba and the United States
for transactions.

* Eliminating travel restrictions and encouraging better access for
Cuban trade officials and inspectors to visit the United States for
purchases.

* Increasing activities relating to the export promotion of U.S.
agricultural products to Cuba

* Easing restrictions currently complicating the sale of U.S. medicines
and medical devices to Cuba 
       
                                *
================================================================
.NY Transfer News Collective    *    A Service of Blythe Systems
.          Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us         .
.339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012     http://www.blythe.org
.List Archives:   https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/
.Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr
================================================================