Díaz-Canel: The United States agricultural sector “has always worked to find paths that break down walls”
Published on
February 19, 2024•
22:46by
René Tamayo León
It is a pleasure and a satisfaction to have you present in Cuba in such an important composition, with Secretaries of Agriculture from several states and representatives of the agricultural sector of the United States, stressed the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz. Canel Bermúdez, upon receiving the delegation of northern farmers that is currently visiting us.
This is a sector with which we have a long-standing relationship, he said. “A sector that has always had an understanding and sensitivity towards the Cuban people.” A sector – he added – “that has always worked to find paths that break down walls; paths of greater rapprochement and benefit for both countries.
The President emphasized that “if it were not for the blockade, we would have many mutual opportunities to work, to advance for the benefit of both peoples.”
We are a small country, but not a negligible market; We work to ensure the food of eleven million Cuban men and women, Díaz-Canel explained to the agricultural directors and recalled that between Cuba and US farmers there has been a permanent dialogue and delegations from that sector.
This is the first time that the National Association of United States Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) organizes a delegation to visit Cuba.
Attending the exchange were Ted A. MCKinney, president of NASDA; Megan McDonald, NASDA official; Donald F. Lamb, director of the Indiana Department of Agriculture; Bryan Paul Hurbult, Connecticut Secretary of Agriculture; Christine R. Clark, Montana Secretary of Agriculture; and Michael Strain, Louisiana Secretary of Agriculture.
Also participating were Blake D. Ramsey, NASDA Market Promotion Officer; Thomas E. Peterson, Minnesota Secretary of Agriculture; Ronald J. Karney, NASDA official; Amanda Beal, Maine Agriculture Commissioner; Hugh Weathers, South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner; Ernesto Barón, representative of the USAPEEC and USA Rice Federation associations; and Paul Johnson, co-chair of the US Farm Coalition for Cuba.
As is known, the US agricultural sector has been one of the most active and dynamic in favor of improving bilateral relations and lifting coercive measures.
The activism of US farmers was essential for the Congress of the northern country to approve the Sanctions Reform and Expansion of Exports law in 2000, which allowed the Island to buy food there, although under disadvantageous conditions. , by imposition of anti-Cuban sectors and against the will of American farmers.
According to the chronology of these links, they have supported bills to make blockade regulations more flexible, such as those opposed to the ban on travel to Cuba and those aimed at favoring the granting of credits and obtaining authorization for Cuban exports to the neighboring nation, today prohibited.
After the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, exchanges in the agricultural area were enhanced between both countries, including the signing of two memorandums.
There are multiple federal and state visits to the Island, in addition to the trip made to Cuba in 2015 by the US Secretary of Agriculture and in 2016 by the Cuban Minister of Agriculture. Also noteworthy are the individual visits of commissioners and secretaries of agriculture to the Greater Antilles.
In recent years, several agricultural conferences have been held between both sectors, both in Cuba and in the United States. During his two stays in New York, the President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, has held meetings with representatives of the sector, to whom he has ratified the will of our government to expand ties.
The current exchanges between the agricultural sectors of Cuba and the United States based on the trip organized by NASDA, illustrates the real potential for respectful exchange, cooperation and interest in advancing mutually beneficial projects that could characterize the relations between both countries. (Taken from presidency.gob.cu)
Newsessentials Blog 
Posted on June 13, 2024
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