Kansas Wheat Commissioner Doug Keesling, who farms in central Kansas, testified in front of the Senate Ag Committee this week on normalizing trade with Cuba. He says U.S. farmers would benefit greatly if the legislation under consideration in the Senate Committee would be passed lifting trade restrictions with Cuba.
Keesling says despite recent loosening of restrictions brought about the President, more is needed so U.S. wheat can flow freely to Cuba. He says another measure that would help enhance trade would be loosening of financial restrictions.
Currently Cuba buys almost all of its wheat from Canada and Europe even though the country is much closer to U.S. gulf ports. It’s estimated the U.S. is missing out on a $ 200 million opportunity to ship U.S. wheat there.
