The recently signed Farm Bill contains a provision that repeals part of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba and lays the groundwork for comprehensive trade between the U.S. and Cuba. The provision codifies the ability of U.S. farmers receiving USDA market promotion grants to direct those funds toward marketing their products in Cuba. U.S. Wheat Associates Steve Mercer says it’s very positive for America’s wheat growers.
He says the overall trade embargo must be lifted for U.S. wheat growers to gain full access to that Cuban market.
Mercer says while the farm bill helps increase funding for MAP and FMD for markets in Cuba, Congress has the opportunity to increase that even further.
Mercer says U.S. wheat farmers are in a position to supply high quality wheat at a lower cost than Cuba pays now to import European and Canadian wheat.