The Department of Transportation Thursday proposed to select eight U.S. airlines to begin scheduled flights between the United States and Cuba.
While not directly impacting agricultural trade between the two nations, it will allow for easier travels by agriculture groups promoting U.S. products in Cuba. In a statement, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the move creates “opportunities for American businesses of all sizes.” The proposal comes nearly one year after the United States and Cuba reestablished diplomatic relations in July 2015. Still hindering agriculture trade though are limits on financing. Earlier this year, the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba urged Congress to take action to allow private financing for agricultural exports to Cuba. The coalition says that while channels are open for shipping agricultural commodities to Cuba, “those sales have made it difficult to compete with our foreign competitors in the Cuban market.”
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service