Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the United States should open an agricultural office in Cuba and is hoping to get support for that through the 2017 ag appropriations bill. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson backs that effort. Johnson who visited Cuba on 8 trade missions while he was North Dakota’s Ag Secretary says having that office would help increase U.S. ag trade with Cuba.
He says having that office there would give the U.S. a leg up on our competitors for that market.
Johnson says it also would help the U.S. cultivate key relationships with the Cubans that would lead to increased trade.
Johnson says with an office in Cuba, the U.S. would gain firsthand knowledge of the country’s agricultural challenges and opportunities and would help develop programs for the mutual benefit of both countries.
