William Gibson | Sun Sentinel

A powerful coalition of 16 senators today introduced a bill to lift the ban on travel to Cuba and ease the sale of food and medicine to the island.

The bill was introduced on Cuban Independence Day. It reflects growing pressure from farm states to weaken the 47-year embargo and allow American farmers to expand the Cuban market for their products.

This bill is separate from another in Congress that would remove the travel ban. President Obama has lifted travel limits for Cuban-Americans, but many members of Congress want to move further to allow all Americans to visit Cuba and to ease other aspects of the embargo.

“It’s a fact that Cuba is one of our closest export markets,’’ said Max Baucus of Montana, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. ``It’s a fact that our current trade and travel sanctions aren’t working. And it’s a fact that our farmers and ranchers in Montana – and across the United States – need help selling their high-quality products in Cuba.’‘

Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2009

S.1089 Title: A bill to facilitate the export of United States agricultural commodities and products to Cuba as authorized by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba, to remove impediments to the export to Cuba of medical devices and medicines, to allow travel to Cuba by United States citizens and legal residents, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba, and for other purposes.

Facilitation of Agricultural Exports. The bill facilitates cash-in-advance agricultural sales to Cuba, which Congress authorized in 2000 through the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA). From 2001 until early 2005, under TSREEA, Cuban buyers wired cash payments for U.S. agricultural goods after the goods shipped from a U.S. port, but before receiving title or physical control of the goods. In 2005, however, the Treasury Department issued a rule requiring payment before the goods shipped from a U.S. port, which undermined the intent of TSREEA. If Cuban buyers pay for goods in U.S. ports, the goods could be subject to seizure to satisfy unrelated private claims against the Cuban government. As a result,Cuba has not purchased any U.S. agricultural products on a cash basis since the 2005 rule. Section 2 of this Act restores Congressional intent by defining cash-in-advance as payment before the buyer receives title or physical control of the goods.

Authorization of Direct Transfers Between U.S. & Cuban Banks for Agricultural Exports. In accordance with the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, Cuban buyers must route cash payment for U.S. agricultural goods through third-country banks, which make a commission off of each sale. Section 3 of this Act allows U.S. banks to receive payment directly from Cuban banks for TSREEA-authorized agricultural transactions.

Promotion of Agricultural Exports. Section 4 of this Act requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba and to offer technical assistance to U.S. entities interested in these transactions. Section 5 assesses an additional $1 tax on all international air travel to and from Cuba for five years, which would be used to pay for USDA’s agricultural export promotion activities.

Issuance of U.S. Visas Related to Agricultural Exports. Cuban trade and veterinary officials have expressed interest in visiting a number of our states to inspect agricultural facilities and make purchases. These visits are important for smaller producers unable to travel toCuba to market and sell their goods. But the State Department has rejected many of the visas that have been requested by Cuban officials. Section 6 of this Act expresses the Sense of the Senate that visas should be issued to Cuban trade officials and inspectors if they have a full itinerary of TSREEA-related activities.

Removal of Impediments to Medical Exports. The 1992 Cuban Democracy Act authorized medicine sales to Cuba, but required U.S. sellers to conduct onsite verification of the Cuban buyer’s receipt of the goods. This requirement made medical exports much more costly and difficult, particularly for small exporters. Section 7 of this Act eliminates the onsite verification requirement.

Removal of Travel Ban for U.S. Citizens & Legal Residents. Current law permits travel to Cuba for Cuban-Americans visiting family in Cuba and for other U.S. citizens and legal residents who are licensed to travel by the Treasury Department. But licensing can take months in many cases, which disrupts the legitimate travel of religious, academic, cultural, humanitarian and other groups to Cuba. Section 8 of this Act lifts all travel restrictions to Cuba by U.S. citizens and legal residents.

Adherence to International Intellectual Property Agreements. Section 211 of the FY 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Act bars U.S. courts from hearing claims by foreign nationals asserting rights to trademarks associated with expropriated property. It also bars the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from renewing such trademark registrations. In 2001, however, the World Trade Organization (WTO) found that Section 211 violates WTO rules because it applies only to foreign nationals, not to U.S. citizens. Section 211 also violates the Inter-American Convention on reciprocal trademark protections. Section 9 of this Act repeals Section 211 and brings the United States into compliance with its international intellectual property obligations.

Co-Sponsors of Senate Bill 1089

Other sponsors are Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Maria Cantwell D-Washington; Pat Roberts, R-Kansas; Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana; Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico; Blanche Lincoln, D-Arkansas; Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Patty Murray, D-Washington; Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas; Kit Bond, R-Missouri; Tim Johnson, D-South Dakota; Byron Dorgan, D-North Dakota; Ron Wyden, D-Oregon; Richard Lugar, R-Indiana; Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri.

The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council applauded this week’s introduction of a Senate bill that would open travel by all Americans to Cuba and further facilitate U.S. agricultural exports to that nation.

“This bill would help to address administrative barriers that have arisen and negatively impact U.S. dairy exports to Cuba in a way unintended by Congress,” said Tom Suber, President of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “The Cuban market holds significant promise for U.S. dairy exporters but has become increasingly difficult to supply within the past few years.”

“We believe that actions such as this legislation that serve to foster greater export opportunities for U.S. dairy products are the types of market building activities that our government should be working on in order to help expand the market for our dairy producers’ quality products,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

This is my signature - get yours in Your Control Panel. Go ahead and add a link to your site. Self promotion is permitted as long as it is beneficial to our community.

The saying “No man is an island” is accurate in this scenario. Being at odds with somebody will never resort to a positive development. We are all the same although with differing views.  But the mere fact that we are humans, cooperation, love and understanding should always be at the forefront and believe me warring attitude will be a thing of the past. Trading particularly food, medicine and all important basic needs should be conducted with a friendly gesture. This bill if only applied with love and care will be the start of a good and lasting relationship. If this is the case, “what a wonderful world it will be”.

hampers