National Potato Council joins US Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC)

Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of Cuba (Courtesy: USACC)

juli 25, 2016

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National Potato Council / U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba

The National Potato Council has joined more than 100 prominent national grower organizations, state grower associations, and agribusiness members as part of the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, whose goal is to reestablish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and ag exports.

The Coalition believes that expanding agricultural trade between the U.S. and Cuba is the foundation for building successful and enduring relations between both countries.

As a member, NPC will help cultivate momentum between key stakeholders, especially in potato growing, and assist in ending the long-standing embargo.

John Keeling, NPC Executive Vice President and CEO:

“We are committed to this Coalition and its goal of liberalizing trade between our countries.”

U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba

Coalition Background

Prominent members of the U.S. food and agriculture community agreed to officially form a national coalition to address liberalizing trade between the United States and Cuba. The coalition’s primary focus is on ending the embargo and allowing open trade and investment to occur.

Under current sanctions, U.S. food and agriculture companies can legally export to Cuba. However, financing restrictions limit the ability of the U.S. industry to competitively serve the market. Foreign competitors such as Canada, Brazil, the European Union and Argentina are increasingly taking market share from U.S. industry because those countries do not face the same restrictions on financing.

Cuba is a logical market for U.S. food and agriculture exports with 11 million consuming citizens only 90 miles off the coast of the United States. Normalizing trade relations between the United States and Cuba will enhance Cuban citizens’ access to affordable food while providing the U.S. farm and business community with new market access opportunities. Liberalized trade will drive growth in both countries and allow the U.S. farmers, ranchers and food companies to efficiently address Cuban citizens’ food security needs.

Coalition Purpose

The purpose of the coalition is to re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports.

Coalition Approach

We will achieve our purpose by advancing a constructive dialogue in the United States on U.S.-Cuba relations. We will actively engage to end the long-standing embargo. We will work with key stakeholders to build momentum that drives historical change. We will take public platforms and explain the moral imperative of liberalizing trade between the two countries.

Coalition Membership

Agriculture Organizations