Perdue supports expanded trade with Cuba

USDA Secretary designate Sonny Perdue is an exceptionally qualified nominee to lead the USDA. Mr. Perdue has long been an advocate of expanding trade with Cuba's $2 billion agricultural import market. We're very optimistic that Mr. Perdue will be confirmed by the Senate and will continue to support American agribusiness by advancing efforts to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba.

In an exchange with committee member Senator John Boozman from Arkansas, Perdue said, "with respect to Cuba, for those of you on the Gulf Coast and those along the East Coast as well as those who have been mentioned by your colleagues in the upper Midwest, I think we would love to have Cuba as a customer in many things.

As Mr. Perdue notes, American producers are able to sell their products to Cuba. However, they are unable to offer private financing for the sale of agricultural commodities to Cuba. As a result, American farmers have consistently lost market share in Cuba's market every year since 2009. While this restriction is codified in law and would require an act of Congress, Mr. Perdue went on to announce his support for legislative efforts to remove these financing restrictions.

"So I think we have the product they need and they would like the product. The real issue I heard regarding Cuba was the financing part and certainly that would come probably under another area, not the USDA, but I would support their efforts if we could get private financing," Perdue said, referring to the bipartisan Cuba Agricultural Exports Act which would remove restrictions on offering credit for the export of agricultural commodities to Cuba.

That bill has been introduced by Congressman Rick Crawford from Arkansas in the House and Senators Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota and John Boozman from Arkansas.

Williams is president of Engage Cuba