WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/25/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) believes in the importance of building relationships in foreign markets on behalf of Minnesota farmers—and farmers across the country—which is why today she again pressed the Department of Agriculture’s top trade and foreign agriculture official for more information regarding our nation’s trade with Cuba.
Two years ago as Lieutenant Governor, Sen. Smith led an agricultural mission from Minnesota to Cuba. But since taking office President Trump has imposed several new restrictions on business with and travel to Cuba, making it even more difficult to build a strong trade relationship with Cuba going forward. When Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinny testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee—on which Sen. Smith sits—she pressed Mr. McKinney on the President’s ban on additional connections.
“When you testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I asked you if you agreed that the President’s ban on additional connections between the U.S. and Cuba will make it harder for Minnesota agriculture producers to access the Cuban market. You responded first by saying that ‘. . . there is still agriculture product flowing. Now, it may have slowed. We have not checked with everyone.’ When I asked you again about your thoughts on the possibility of these additional barriers negatively impacting trade expansion in Cuba, you said that ‘. . . trade is still flowing, and so far as I know, it has not slowed. I am still checking on that,’” wrote Sen. Smith in her letter to Under Secretary McKinney.
Sen. Smith continued: “I write to ask again what the impact of these restrictions has been on trade with Cuba. To follow up on your response in the Committee, what is the current status of agriculture products traded between Cuba and the United States? What specific products are being traded? What was the total amount of agriculture trade between Cuba and America between January 2015—when the Obama Administration begin to normalize relations—and June 2017? What is the total amount of agriculture trade since the Trump Administration reinstated restrictions on Cuba in June 2017?”
In addition to the hearing, last month Sen. Smith discussed the ag mission she led to Cuba while she served as Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor with the Star Tribune Editorial Board, and the need for strong trading partnerships. You can access the piece titled “New rules on Cuba will only hurt the U.S.” here.
You can read a copy of the letter below:
July 25, 2019
The Honorable Ted McKinney
Under Secretary Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250
Dear Under Secretary McKinney,
Thank you for the work you do to build relationships in foreign markets on behalf of American farmers. It is especially crucial work given the recent uncertainty of this current trade climate. I write today to follow up on the questions I asked you regarding trade with Cuba when you testified before the Agriculture Committee on June 13, 2019.
In this time of global trade uncertainty, increased trade with Cuba has the potential to provide some relief for Minnesota agriculture producers. As you know, Minnesota and Cuba are natural trading partners. Cuba makes chocolate and coffee that Minnesotans want to buy, and Minnesota grows corn and soybeans that Cubans want to buy. In 2017, when I was Lieutenant Governor, I led a Minnesota state trade delegation to Cuba to promote foreign purchases of Minnesota-grown and Minnesota-made products. The delegation arrived in Cuba just after President Trump reinstated restrictive policies on trade and travel to Cuba, a decision that harmed a potentially valuable export market for Minnesotans.
On June 4, 2019, President Trump announced even more restrictions on travel to Cuba, banning “people-to-people” trips, which include educational and cultural group tours. These travel restrictions will make it even harder to build a strong trade relationship with Cuba in the future.
When you testified in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I asked you if you agreed that the President’s ban on additional connections between the U.S. and Cuba will make it harder for Minnesota agriculture producers to access the Cuban market. You responded first by saying that “ . . . there is still agriculture product flowing. Now, it may have slowed. We have not checked with everyone.” When I asked you again about your thoughts on the possibility of these additional barriers negatively impacting trade expansion in Cuba, you said that “. . . trade is still flowing, and so far as I know, it has not slowed. I am still checking on that.”
I write to ask again what the impact of these restrictions has been on trade with Cuba. To follow up on your response in the Committee, what is the current status of agriculture products traded between Cuba and the United States? What specific products are being traded? What was the total amount of agriculture trade between Cuba and America between January 2015 – when the Obama Administration begin to normalize relations — and June 2017? What is the total amount of agriculture trade since the Trump Administration reinstated restrictions on Cuba in June 2017?
Again, thank you for your work on behalf of Minnesota farmers. I look forward to your response and our continued conversations on this very important topic.
Sincerely,
English