04/29/05 Craig pushing for Cuban trade exports

It's a newly formed group, the US-Cuba Trade Association and it wants to protect American trade with the island nation, even expand it. Idaho's Larry Craig and Montana's Max Baucus are sponsoring US Senate legislation to do just that. Craig says Congress intended that trade with Cuba be expanded, especially for agricultural and medical products. CRAIG "36 states sold nearly a billion dollars in the last couple of years to the nation of Cuba. Cuba is now the second largest importer of US rice and poultry products." On Wednesday the new association hosted its first meeting for the chairman of the Cuban entity that signs all contracts with US firms. More than 30 companies, state agencies and organizations are charter members of the trade association. Craig has been complaining for months that the federal has thrown up roadblocks to Cuban trade and travel. CRAIG "Delays in the authorization of licenses to our producers, withholding cash payments to our exporters, a whole combination of things." Craig and Congressman Butch Otter have made trips to Cuba, meeting with Fidel Castro and other top officials in an attempt to open the door to Idaho ag exports. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott