• Submitted by: admin
• United States
• Politics and Government
• 06 / 29 / 2010

The US House Agriculture Committee will convene to create legislation to end the 50 year Cuban travel, trade ban

Nearly 50 years after the U.S. enacted the Cuban Democracy Act, which put an embargo on trade with Cuba and made it increasingly impossible for US residents to visit the island nation, the US House Agriculture Committee has decided to convene to create legislation that would end the travel ban and remove barriers to US agriculture exports.

“This is the moment for making a decisive change in Cuba policy; a change that will put money in the pockets of American farmers and workers, put better food on Cuban tables, and put more Americans on Cuban streets and in Cuban homes.

A policy that ends the travel ban and sells more food to Cuba puts our country on the side of the Cuban people, and we applaud the Committee for scheduling the legislation," said Sarah Stephens of the Center for Democracy in the Americas in a statement.

"It's time for a decisive change in Cuba policy. U.S. citizens want their right to travel restored. Rather than waiting another fifty years for Cuba to change, sending American food and tourists to Cuba will make life better for the Cuban people now.

We support Chairman Peterson in moving ahead with a vote in the Agriculture Committee on this legislation," said Mavis Anderson of the Latin America Working Group in a statement.

"Moving to end the travel ban and to sell more food to Cuba is not only good for Americans and Cubans, but also critical for restoring relevance to U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.

Engaging the Cuban people, as this effort would do, will enhance the U.S. image and our effectiveness in the region. This is welcome news to those who think it is long past time to change our outmoded approach to Cuba," said Anya Landau French of the New America Foundation in a statement.

"The Peterson-Moran bill takes U.S. Cuba policy in a sensible direction. It moves away from the unilateral sanctions we've imposed for fifty years, and expands travel, communication and dialogue, while opening up sales opportunities for U.S. businesses.

We're pleased that Chairman Peterson is moving the bill toward a vote," said Geoff Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America in a statement.

The embargo was established in 1960 to essentially punish Cuba when Fidel Castro came to power and nationalized private property held by US citizens and corporations.

By: Laura Clapper

Source: www.businessreviewusa.com/