| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional negotiators on Tuesday
were poised to approve a landmark shift in four decades of U.S. policy
toward Cuba, easing an embargo on exports of food and medicine to the
communist nation.
Senate and House negotiators were to consider the Cuban embargo as part
of talks late on Tuesday afternoon on a $75 billion agriculture spending
bill.
House aides were to have a last-minute look at the language on Tuesday
morning to help ensure it moved smoothly through the conference committee.
"I suspect they will work this out before we meet," said one
congressional source.
Supporters of the move contend the embargo against President Fidel
Castro's Cuba has done little to further democracy, and that U.S. sales to
Cuba's $750 million food market may be a more powerful tool for change.
The move would please American farmers and huge agribusinesses such as
Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM.N) in politically important Midwestern
states.
But the influential Cuban-American community, which wields clout in
Florida politics, has fought any change in the embargo, insisting that
Castro must first adopt economic and political reforms.
Republican leaders the House and Senate have responded coolly to any
easing in sanctions. They agreed to it only under duress earlier this year
when a clear majority of members in both chambers threatened a public
challenge.
LOTT SEES ADOPTION
U.S. economic sanctions were imposed on Havana in the early 1960s as
Cuba accepted Soviet assistance. But aided by the saga earlier this year
of child shipwreck survivor Elian Gonzalez, legislative momentum has
shifted toward a potentially historic easing of the embargo.
For a change in the embargo to become law, it must be accepted by
congressional negotiators, passed by both chambers in Congress and signed
by President Clinton.
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said he was confident that the Cuba
provision would be adopted.
"A reasonable compromise has been worked out and will not delay
the bill any further," Lott said, referring to negotiations between
House and Senate leaders. "I assume that senators and House members
from farm states are reviewing that and will be comfortable with it."
Under language favored by House Republican leaders, food and medicine
would be exempt from unilateral U.S. embargoes, a change aimed at Cuba but
also benefiting Libya, Iran, Sudan and North Korea, where sales are
allowed on a case-by-case basis.
However, no public or private U.S. financing would be allowed for food
sales to Cuba, although
U.S. banks could act as intermediaries in deals arranged by foreign
banks. Similar rules are in place regarding sales to Iran.
DISAGREEMENT ON TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
One of the knotty issues remaining to be resolved is agreement on U.S.
travel restrictions to the island just 90 miles (144 km) off the U.S.
coast.
Republican leaders in the House want to write the current set of travel
restrictions into law while creating a new category of permitted travel,
for people pursuing agricultural sales. Some senators, however, prefer to
simply let the travel restrictions die.
North Dakota Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan intends to ask for a vote on
language allowing U.S. banks to finance food sales and making no change in
travel rules, an aide said.
Farm groups have said they prefer an approach like that.
While the Cuba provision has become a rallying cry for many farm state
lawmakers, experts cautioned that there is no bonanza for U.S. exporters
in the short-term.
Some consultants have estimated U.S. food sales to Cuba may be lucky to
muster $25 million, if U.S. financing is denied to exporters. Before the
embargo, Cuba was the single biggest buyer of U.S. rice exports.
Havana has little cash available, and the Castro government may favor
its long-time suppliers over U.S. companies, according to industry
analysts. |