Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran along with Minnesota’s Amy Klobuchar and Vermont’s Patrick Leahy, both Democrats, recently introduced legislation that would relax the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba. The senators noted the goal of the Freedom to Export to Cuba Act  is to open another avenue for profit for American farmers and ranchers.

“The unilateral trade embargo on Cuba blocks our own farmers, ranchers and manufacturers from selling into a market only 90 miles from our shoreline, while foreign competitors such as China benefit at our expense,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation will expand market opportunities for U.S. producers by allowing them to compete on a level playing field with other countries. It is time to amend our own laws to give U.S. producers fair access to market to consumers in Cuba.”

“Instead of looking to the future, U.S.-Cuba policy has been defined for far too long by conflicts of the past,” noted Senator Klobuchar. “As we work to rebuild our economy following the pandemic, lifting the trade embargo will open the door to a large export market and create jobs in the U.S. It’s time to turn the page on the failed policy of isolation by passing our bipartisan legislation to end the embargo once and for all.”

“This bill would do away with a misguided, failed policy of unilateral sanctions that harms the Cuban people and shortchanges American companies and American workers,” Added Senator Leahy. “It would never pass Congress today, but a tiny, vocal minority stubbornly opposes its demise. The consequence, besides blocking U.S. exports and income for America’s farmers and manufacturers, is that our competitors are reaping the benefits of our shortsightedness. It should be debated and voted on in the Senate.”

Studies by the U.S. Trade Commission show that lifting the embargo could potentially increase exports by 166% and bring an additional $800 million to the U.S. economy over five years.

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