[:es]U.S.Senator Calls for Ending the Ban on Agricultural Credits to Cuba[:]

The legislator from Arkansas, who participated yesterday in a panel held in Washington DC on the potential of agricultural trade with the Cuba, wrote on his Twitter on Friday that removing this restriction would be beneficial to both sides.

I will continue to fight to make it a reality,’ added Boozman, who at this Thursday’s event recalled that U.S. farmers are in a difficult situation when all prices of their goods are low, while in Cuba there is a market that can be supplied with U.S. products.

The senator, who was accompanied on the panel by three other Red Party legislators (Representatives Rick Crawford, Tom Emmer and Roger Marshall), felt that something different should be done about the relationship with the Antillean territory. During yesterday’s meeting, held at the McDermott Will & Emery headquarters, members of Congress agreed on the importance of increased agricultural trade between Cuba and the United States and the need to reverse Washington’s failed policy towards the island.

Like Boozman, Crawford referred to the inadequacy of the requirement that Cuba pay in advance and in cash for U.S. agricultural products.

In this regard, he stressed the need to allow private financing for the granting of loans, as stated in his draft Law on Agricultural Exports to Cuba, which currently has 64 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

Attendees also made specific reference to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the Caribbean country more than 55 years ago.

Marshall stated that when that siege is lifted and normal relations are established, it will be a win-win situation for both sides; and Emmer said that with that policy the U.S. government has been on the wrong side of history.

I thought the idea was to help the Cuban people,’ the legislator agreed, adding that that’s not what really makes this policy fail, but what it makes it fail is that it hurts Cuban people. (Prensa Latina)