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Bush administration reviews
Cuba trade
The
Washington Times,
December 3, 2004.
Washington, DC, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The Bush
administration has temporarily halted the
transfer of money to U.S agricultural firms
selling goods to Cuba.
Congress Daily reported Friday that the
move, apparently aimed at discouraging trade
with the communist nation, comes amid a
review of existing law to investigate whether
Cuba is required to make advance payments
for U.S. farm products.
Although the farming community has embraced
trade with the country to the tune of $400
million a year in sales and there is strong
support on Capitol Hill for examining the
traditionally adversarial U.S. policy stance
on Cuba, the Bush White House has taken
a tough stance against the Castro regime,
cracking down on travel and remittances
to the country.
Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., Sam Farr,
D-Calif., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., have
written outgoing Treasury Secretary John
Snow to protest the actions, while Sen.
Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., has written outgoing
Secretary of State Colin Powell asserting
that there is "no justification"
for asserting that cash must be paid before
products are shipped.
Copyright
2004 United Press International
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