Washington File. NewsMax.com. Thursday, July 20, 2000
WASHINGTON – Two U.S. trade experts are on a July 16-23 fact-finding trip to Cuba at the request of the U.S. Congress, examining the potential effects of lifting the 38-year-old U.S. embargo against Cuba, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).
The investigation, called the "The Economic Impact of U.S. Sanctions with Respect to Cuba," was requested by the House Ways and Means Committee in a letter received by the USITC March 15. The committee has jurisdiction on U.S. import sanctions against Cuba.
The experts intend to analyze the effect of U.S. sanctions on the U.S. and Cuban economies, such as in the agriculture, banking, telecommunications and service industries, said an official from the USITC, an independent, fact-finding federal agency.
The official said the trip has proved "very productive so far" in gathering information on the potential effects of lifting the embargo. The trade experts are meeting with Cuban government trade officials, as well as with farmers and foreigners doing business in Cuba.
The experts hope to get an indication, said the official, of whether Cuba would be able to export "a whole lot very quickly" to the United States if the sanctions were lifted.
In addition, the experts hope to learn which U.S. industries would benefit from an end to the embargo. The official said the experts will make a report on their findings, which will include a description of the Cuban economy, Cuban trade and investment policies, and trade and investment trends.
The USITC report will be submitted to the House committee in February.
A public hearing will be held Sept. 19 at USITC headquarters in Washington, where interested parties may express their opinions on the Cuban embargo. The USITC said requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than Aug. 29. Written statements are also accepted by the USITC. The
statements should be submitted no later than Oct. 4. More information about the hearing can be found on the USITC Web site at www.usitc.gov.
Supporters of the embargo on Cuba maintain it must remain in place to exert pressure on the Communist regime of Fidel Castro to permit a peaceful transition to democracy. However, opponents say the embargo has failed in forcing Castro to create a more open society.
(Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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