Paul Johnson and Arturo Lopez-Levy, The Hill
Photo Credit: Chrlie Neilbergall/AP
It has been nearly 17 years since Congress passed a law involving Cuba. The last time was in 2000 when the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act allowed food products to be sold to Cuba on a cash only basis as an exception to the comprehensive embargo.
The act opened a decade and a half of hope and sales but today, it is anachronistic. Its prohibition of credit hinders further U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba. After some important reforms of Cuba’s economy, there is a need for new legislation allowing U.S. agriculture a chance to compete with other nations who have been trading with Cuba for decades.
