Some States Want to Open Cuba's Closed Doors.

• Position: Brief Article

Turning an eye toward helping their financially strapped farmers, several states want to thaw the Cold War with Cuba and create a new market for their crops. State officials estimate trade with Havana could bring farmers $25 million to $50 million a year.

Congress lifted trade sanctions on food and medicine in October 2000, but stipulated that no U.S. bank or federal, state or local government can give the country credit to buy that food or medicine. Sales have to be cash in advance.

"Although our country is opposed to the Cuba dictatorship and the suppression of human rights," says Illinois Senate Democratic Leader Emil Jones, "that should not be reason enough to punish a nation of 11 million people. It is time to reopen our doors and the lines of communication."

Jones sponsored a resolution--adopted during the 2000 National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Meeting--that supported the dissolution of the embargo on Cuba for food products and medicine. "Keeping the embargo in place after 41 years has hurt the Cuban people," says Jones. "Reopening the doors of trade will not only help the Cuban people, it will provide a new market for U.S. agriculture, agribusiness and other commodities."

Illinois Representative Monique Davis also supports opening relations with the country. "We should look forward to cultural exchanges with Cuba. It is time to open the doors of freedom in the new millennium."

The Illinois legislature passed the first resolution in the country encouraging a repeal of the embargo on food and medicine, followed by a second resolution this year seeking to repeal the entire embargo. Texas followed suit during the 2001 session by passing SCR 54, which urges Congress to remove the restrictions on Cuban...