Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Trade & Economic Development Committee

SSJM 8029

Brief Description:  Petitioning to end restrictions on trade of agricultural products with Cuba.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles, Rasmussen, Swecker, Hewitt, Sheahan, Prentice, Honeyford, Hargrove, Spanel, Hale, Brown, Snyder, Haugen, McAuliffe and Kline).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Petitions the United States Congress to end restrictions with Cuba on trade of agricultural products.

Hearing Date:  2/25/02

Staff:  Chris Cordes (786‑7103).

Background:

Since 1961 the United States has imposed an economic embargo on Cuba under various laws, including the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (generally known as the Helms-Burton Act).  Some of the embargo restrictions were eased in the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000.  This 2000 law terminated existing, unilateral agricultural or medical sanctions with Cuba and other specified countries, with some exceptions.  It allows the Secretary of the Treasury to authorize, on a case-by-case basis, travel to Cuba for the commercial export sale of agricultural commodities.  However, the law prohibits payment or financing the sales of agricultural commodities to Cuba by United States persons or entities.

Summary of Bill:

The Washington Senate and House of Representatives petition the President of the United States and the Congress to end the policy of restrictions on trade of agricultural products with Cuba, and present the following information:

$Washington, as a leading agricultural state, has a historical and economic interest in promoting and expanding its agricultural market to Cuba.  The agricultural market is weakened without economic access to neighboring countries.

$Although Washington ranks twelfth in the nation for agricultural products, accounting for approximately $29 billion of the state=s economy, there are not enough apple, wheat, and potato markets in Washington.

$Federal law has liberalized sanctions on exports of agricultural commodities to Cuba, but full access is limited by continuing restrictions.

$An overwhelming majority of American people support normalization of relations with Cuba, according to polling results.

$The Washington Legislature is committed to working diligently toward the goal of full normalization or relations with Cuba.

Rules Authority:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule-making powers of an agency.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.