November 16,2005

Baucus Condemns Removal of Cuba Ag Sales Provision

Senator Vows to Keep Fighting to Open Cuban Market


(WASHINGTON, DC) – U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.), ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, denounced the removal of language in the Transportation Treasury Appropriations conference report that would have limited enforcement of an administrative rule that has dampened U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba.

“For the first time in fifty years, the United States faces an agricultural trade deficit,” noted Senator Baucus. “Instead of growing a promising new market, American farmers are paying the price for a short-sighted, ineffective approach on Cuba. That makes no sense to me, and it makes no sense to Montana farmers. I’ll continue to fight to open Cuba’s market to agricultural goods from Montana and other states.”