House eases restrictions on Cuba payments for US farm exports

Posted on Wed, Jun. 14, 2006

House eases restrictions on Cuba payments for U.S. farm exports
BY PABLO BACHELET
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House Wednesday approved an amendment to ease
restrictions on Cuban payments for U.S. agricultural exports, but
rejected two others that would have ended the trade embargo or eased
student travel to the island.

A separate amendment to overturn recent restrictions on religious travel
was presented by Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flake, an opponent of the
embargo, but then withdrawn, presumably because it would have been defeated.

The sole successful amendment, passed by a voice vote, seeks to overturn
a Treasury Department decision early last year that further tightened
restrictions on Cuban purchases of U.S. products. Currently, Cuba must
pay for the merchandise in cash and before the ships depart for Havana,
rather than upon arrival.

Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said the decision was ``only harmful to our
farmers.'' As a result, he added, sales of corn to Cuba fell 21 percent
since the rule went into effect, meat product sales dropped 26 percent
and wheat sales 17 percent.

All four amendments were attached to a larger Treasury, Housing and
Transportation spending bill. The White House reiterated Wednesday that
it would veto the bill if it included language weakening the embargo. In
the past, that threat has virtually guaranteed that the amendments were
later dropped.

The amendment to end the 4-decades-old trade embargo, presented by Rep.
Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., was defeated 245-181. The student exchange
initiative presented by Rep. Barbara Lee, R-Calif., lost 236-187.

Supporters of the embargo say the votes show Congress now firmly rejects
easing most trade and travel sanctions on Cuba. Until 2004, many
amendments seeking to overturn family travel restrictions passed on the
floor and were taken out only after Bush threatened to veto. Now,
embargo opponents are targeting the more narrow travel restrictions like
religious and student exchanges, and even those are being defeated.

``Obviously, the tide has turned,'' said Mauricio Claver-Carone, who
heads a U.S.-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee, which lobbies in
favor of the embargo.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14819014.htm