The Co-chair of the U.S. Ag Coalition for Cuba just returned this week following a three-day conference in the island nation. Paul Johnson says the Cubans want to trade more with the United States and his group is pushing Congress to lift the grain embargo and ease other trade restrictions.

He says the administration’s present policy with Cuba is not working and there’s the threat of even more trade barriers going forward.

Johnson says allowing Cuba to use credit to pay for commodities would be helpful but there’s so much more that can be done to enhance overall trade.

Johnson says Cuba imports up to $2 billion in food every year and American farmers and ranchers want a bigger piece of that pie.