One of the amendments in the just passed Farm Bill allows the Department of Agriculture to use funds for Cuba-related trade activities. The provision was offered by North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. Paul Johnson, chairman of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba says the measure should help expand trade to Cuba.

He says passage of the amendment has the potential of leading to normalization of trade with Cuba going forward.

Johnson says his group’s next step is to continue to push Congress to realize the importance of lifting the trade embargo and opening up further market opportunities in the island nation.

Heitkamp’s amendment allows funding to go toward trade servicing, technical assistance, and trade promotion activities in Cuba.