A group of Democratic and Republican senators presented Monday a bill that would end the trade embargo/blockade on Cuba and maintain other laws that impose restrictions based on human rights.
The bill, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.), highlights the divisions over a policy that has been in place for more than six decades.
“I have long pushed to reform our relationship with Cuba, which for decades has been defined by past conflicts rather than looking to the future,” Klobuchar said.
“By ending the trade embargo on Cuba once and for all, our bipartisan legislation will turn the page on the failed isolationist policy while creating a new export market and generating economic opportunity for American businesses,” he added.
“The unilateral trade embargo on Cuba prevents our own farmers, ranchers and manufacturers from selling in a market located just 90 miles from our shores, while foreign competitors benefit at our expense,” Moran said.
In 2020, Cuba’s main imports were poultry meat, wheat, corn, concentrated milk, rice and dried legumes, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity. And its main importing partners were Spain, China, Italy, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
Although the United States is one of the main exporters of food to Cuba, current trade restrictions make it difficult for local farmers to export their food to the island, according to a 2021 report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
“I am proud to sign the Freedom to Export to Cuba Law. It is important for the United States to further our economic opportunities and increase market access for American-made products,” Marshall said.
“This legislation will expand market opportunities for US producers by allowing them to compete on a level playing field with other countries. It is time to amend our own laws to give American producers fair market access for consumers in Cuba,” Moran said.
Even though the economic argument may sway some Republicans, any relaxation of sanctions against the Cuban government is seen as a losing battle.
“We can expand opportunities for American companies and farmers to trade with Cuba while still holding the Cuban government accountable for its human rights record. This bipartisan legislation is a smart solution that will create American jobs and benefit the Cuban people,” Murphy said.
But if the bill is accepted by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), it will face two powerful opponents on both sides of the aisle: Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Bob Menendez (DN.J. ).
It is unlikely to come to a vote unless the leadership is convinced there is enough support to get 60 votes.
“It is time that we normalize relations with Cuba,” Warren said. “This legislation takes important steps to remove barriers to trade and relations between our two countries and moves us in the right direction by increasing economic opportunity for Americans and Cubans.”
