US farm groups, ag leaders form Cuba trade coalition

Nearly three dozen farm groups and agribusinesses announced a joint effort as the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba “that seeks the end of the U.S. embargo on Cuba and to advance trade relations between both nations. The USACC seeks to advance trade relations between the U.S. and Cuba by re-establishing Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports,” says the group’s Web site.

The Obama administration announced last month that it would normalize relations with Cuba and would remove onerous rules on food sales to the island. Sales have been legal for years but hampered by requirements to receive payment before ships leave U.S. ports and to route payments through third-party banks. Both of those rules would end. Farm groups have long regarded Cuba as a nearby and natural market for U.S. exports.

“USACC chair Devry Boughner Vorwerk said the group will now be working on Capitol Hill to get the president’s agenda approved,” said Agri-Pulse. Members of the coalition include the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, Corn Refiners Association, International Dairy Foods Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Chicken Council, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, USA Rice Federation, Cargill, CoBank, American Soybean Association, and North American Meat Institute.

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