On February 7, U.S.Senator Amy Klobuchar (Dem.,MN) introduced a bill in the Senate to end the U.S. embargo (blockade) of Cuba: S.428: A bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba. The bill has two initial cosponsors: Patrick Leahy (Dem., VT) and Michael Enzi (Rep., WY) and was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, … Continue reading New Bill To End U.S. Embargo of Cuba
On February 10, 2016, another U.S. event was held to promote U.S.-Cuba reconciliation. This one at Washington, D.C.’s National Press Club was hosted by the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, whose launch a year ago was covered in a previous post. [1] Now we look at an overview of its recent Annual Celebration Event followed … Continue reading Another U.S. Event Promoting U.S.-Cuba Reconciliation
The November 25th death of Fidel Castro has prompted comments from President-Elect Donald Trump and his aides, the Obama Administration, U.S. Senators and Representatives, U.S. editorial boards and columnists and U.S. business interests and others. All of this has fueled speculation about the future Trump Administration’s policies regarding Cuba. These topics will be explored in this … Continue reading U.S. Reactions to the Death of Fidel Castro
As noted in a prior post, on September 12, 2015, the U.S. and Cuba established an agenda for their bilateral commission to address various issues relating to normalization of relations. Since then there has been limited progress on that agenda. On September 18, the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce issued new regulations to ease … Continue reading Developments in U.S.-Cuba Normalization
As discussed in a prior post, this February the Minnesota Orchestra announced that it would be playing two concerts in Havana, Cuba on May 15 and 16. At the invitation of the Cuban Ministry of Culture, Music Director Osmo Vänskä and the Orchestra will play Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy with the Cuban National Choir and Cuban pianist Frank Fernandez as well … Continue reading Minnesota Orchestra Goes to Cuba This Week!
On March 1-4, the United States Agricultural Coalition for Cuba sent a delegation of 90-plus agricultural leaders to Cuba to meet with Cuban officials and farmers. [1] In announcing the visit, the Coalition’s Chair, Devry Boughner Vorwerk of Minnesota-headquartered Cargill Incorporated, said it would be a “learning journey” to expand knowledge of Cuban agriculture. It … Continue reading U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba Sends Delegation to the Island
A June 12th post reviewed the status of appropriations bills relating to Cuba in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now we look at what happened last week in Congress on these and other measures. National Defense Authorization Act FY 2016[1] On June 18, the Senate passed its version of the spending authorization for the Department … Continue reading Update on Congressional Actions Regarding Cuba
This month two major U.S. groups have reiterated pleas to Congress to promote U.S. trade and travel with Cuba. They are the United States Agricultural Coalition for Cuba and Engage Cuba. Here is a report on those efforts. U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba On June 8, 2015, the Agricultural Coalition, an association of more than … Continue reading Two Major U.S. Groups Urge Congress To Promote U.S. Trade and Travel with Cuba
On January 8th the United States Agricultural Coalition for Cuba, whose purpose is “to re-establish Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports,” was publicly launched at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Agricultural Coalition’s Basics To achieve this purpose, the Coalition’s mission is “to strive to turn Cuba from an … Continue reading Launching the United States Agricultural Coalition for Cuba
On July 28 Representatives Tom Emmer (Rep., MN) and Kathy Castor (Dem., FL) introduced the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 (H.R.3238) to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The bill is cosponsored by Republican Representatives Ralph Abraham (LA), Justin Amash (MI), Charles Boustany, Jr. (LA), Reid Ribble (WI) and Mark Sanford (SC).[1] According to Emmer, … Continue reading Bipartisan Bill To End Embargo of Cuba Introduced in House of Representatives
