Senate Democrats are pushing back against President Trump concerning Cuba, reviving a bill to lift the U.S. embargo. In mid-June, Trump rolled back former President Barack Obama’s historic opening to the island. The group of Senators, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2017, which would establish normal trade relations with the island nation, in addition to lifting the economic sanctions, according to Politico. Wyden says the embargo “only serves to shut U.S. exporters out of a natural market for American agricultural and manufactured goods.” The International Trade Commission estimated easing the U.S. restriction on Cuba could increase U.S. exports by $1.4 billion annually in the next five years, with even bigger gains possible. However, the bill faces stiff opposition from the Republican Party and the Trump administration.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.