Dec 21, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, USA Rice helped to organize and lead an end-of-year advocacy day on Capitol Hill on behalf of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC). USA Rice staff joined representatives from the wheat, soy, dairy, pulse, and other industries to check-in with Congressional staff regarding Cuba-related legislative efforts for the new Congress in 2023.
Staff visited with a bipartisan group of four Senate offices and five House offices with past history of support for advancing the U.S.-Cuba relationship. The USACC also is contemplating whether there are any potential 2023 Farm Bill provisions that could make incremental progress toward expanding U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba.
Currently, Cuba can legally buy U.S. rice, or other agricultural products, if the importer pays cash up front and uses a third-country bank to provide the initial credit and serve as an intermediary. Legislation is needed to allow for U.S. banks to directly provide financing for Cuban buyers and help U.S. exporters better compete with the generous credit terms offered by other origins.
“Generally, there is a continued sense of support for expanding the U.S.-Cuba business relationship among those who have previously sponsored or co-sponsored pro-Cuba legislation,” said Peter Bachmann, USA Rice vice president for policy & government affairs. “It’s our job to educate new members in the next Congress on how the benefits of a more open relationship with Cuba far outweigh a hard line in the sand, continuing the more than 60-year-old embargo. Rice exports stand to gain more than most, given the reliance of Cuba on rice imports and the logistical advantage U.S. rice exporters have for shipments to the island.”
Following the Congressional meetings, a number of USACC members and Congressional staff participated in a reception held at the Cuban Embassy in honor of the U.S.-Cuba agricultural relationship.