Klobuchar and Cargill push for end to Cuba embargo
WASHINGTON - With a thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations underway, a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and a broad coalition of agricultural producers wants Congress to lift the five decades-old trade embargo on the Caribbean nation.
At an event organized by the U.S. Agriculture Coalition on Cuba in Washington, Klobuchar said that lifting the embargo would give a boost to Minnesota's export sector.
"We see Cuba as a market of 11 million people; 11 million new customers that can buy American products and to me that means jobs in America," said Klobuchar.
Last month, President Obama took steps to resume diplomatic relations with the Caribbean nation but needs congressional approval to resume large-scale trade ties.
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The coalition includes almost all of the major farm and commodity groups active in agriculture policy and is led by Devry Boughner Vorwerk, an executive with Wayzata-based Cargill.
"The sanctions are harmful to the citizens of Cuba and harmful to our industry," said Vorwerk.
Klobuchar was joined by farm state Republican lawmakers in both the Senate and House who also back an end to the embargo.
But Republican leaders in Congress have opposed Obama's policy moves and so far there's no sign Congress will vote to end the embargo.