President-elect Donald Trump says he will stop recent steps toward reconciliation between the U.S. and Cuba unless the island makes “a better deal,” says the Los Angeles Times. U.S. farm and food exports to Cuba flow under a 2000 law, separate from the executive orders used by President Obama to normalize relations with Cuba.
“From a legal standpoint, Trump could easily reverse Obama’s executive orders with little more than a signature,” said the Los Angeles Times. “Politically, however, renewed estrangement would be more complicated and would isolate the United States as the only country in the world that does not recognized the Communist-led government.” Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a query from the newspaper about what changes were wanted in Cuban trade.
Cuba purchased $169 million of U.S. food and farm commodities in the first nine months of this year, says the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, which monitors trade between the nations. The purchases made Cuba the 60th-largest market for U.S. ag exports.
John Kavulich, head of the U.S-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, said Feb. 24, 2018 — the day when Cuban President Raul Castro is to leave office — would be the most important moment in decades for relations between the two countries. Trump “will be the first U.S. president in 59 years to welcome a post-Castro Cuba,” said Kavulich, noting the 1996 Libertad Act says Castro leadership must end before full commercial, economic and political relations are possible with Cuba. There will be little motivation for Cuba to change course in the interim, said Kavulich.
U.S. farm groups see Cuba as a natural and nearby market with potential for large sales. The 2000 law that exempted food and ag sales from the U.S. trade embargo requires Cuba to pay cash. The Obama administration allows payment upon delivery. Its predecessor required payment before the cargo left U.S. ports.