U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis and Cheri Bustos to Participate in Upcoming Bipartisan Agricultural Trade Mission to Cuba
Statement
.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) today announced they will be traveling to Cuba as part of a bipartisan agricultural trade mission to establish new economic development and export opportunities for Illinois farmers. The upcoming trip, which is being sponsored by the Illinois Cuba Working Group, will include meetings and discussions with officials from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alimport (which coordinates all overseas purchases in Cuba), a tour of the Cuban marketplace, and several additional diplomatic meetings. Trade mission participants will include officials from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Growers, Illinois Corn, and AGCO.
Since 1960, the Cuban embargo has prevented most trade with Cuba. However, agricultural exports are exempted from that embargo. According to the Illinois Cuba Working Group, Illinois corn and soy exports to Cuba reached approximately $66 million in 2008. However, in 2014, it was just $24 million, a 63% decrease. Bustos and Davis will be engaging stakeholders from both nations on ways to increase Illinois' agricultural exports.
"We've allowed the sale of certain agricultural products to Cuba since 2000 but because of government restrictions we've put Illinois farmers, and the Cuban people, at a disadvantage," said Davis. "I'm looking forward to learning more about how improving agricultural trade with a country that imports roughly 70 percent of its food and is located just 90 miles from our coast can create greater opportunities for Illinois farmers."
"I'm excited to embark on this bipartisan agricultural trade mission because we need to work together to cut through the red tape that holds back Illinois' farming economy," said Bustos. "Illinois farmers have what it takes to compete and succeed on the global economic playing field. So I'm deeply concerned about how the Cuban embargo has limited their ability to grow and create jobs across our state. I'm looking forward to embarking on this Agricultural Trade Mission so we can build new relationships and develop new strategies to grow Illinois' agricultural economy by increasing our exports."
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