Castro Meeting Sparks Hopes for U.S. Rice

April 16, 2001

USA Rice Federation Chairman David Van Oss, Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), George Nethercutt (R-WA), and William Delahunt (D-MA), met with Cuban leader Fidel Castro and after the meeting Van Oss said he was hopeful the United States could gain access to a multi-million dollar Cuban market.

"Trade sanctions reform passed last year represented a significant and historic change regarding the Cuban embargo," Van Oss said, just before boarding a plane to return to the United States Friday. "We came to Cuba to exchange views and encourage that the next steps be taken. The Cubans were very receptive and willing to listen. Now we are encouraging Cuba to buy U.S. rice, a critical step for permitting further trade sanctions reform on Capitol Hill. U.S. rice growers desperately need a new export market like Cuba."

Van Oss said the U.S. rice industry has lost approximately $3 billion in export sales to Cuba since sanctions began. The country of 11 million consumers now imports 350,000 metric tons of rice from U.S. competitors every year.

Before trade sanctions were imposed, Cuba was the top rice export market for U.S. producers. Van Oss believes American rice would do well in the Cuban market, due to a high quality crop and close proximity to U.S. ports--resulting in low transportation costs.