Opportunities for Illinois' agriculture and business sectors was the focus for state lawmakers who traveled to Cuba this week.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Chicago) was among the delegation that traveled with President Barack Obama. A motive of the trip was to advocate for lifting the decades-long trade embargo that separates the two countries.
Durbin says Illinois’ agriculture sector stands to benefit by exporting products in high demand, like corn, soybeans and meat. He also says opening trade with the island presents a unique opportunity to improve access to organic foods in the US market.
“Turns out, Cuba, because it has not been using chemicals for years, is in a position to move immediately toward growing organic food. And there’s plenty of market opportunity in the United States,” Durbin said.
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, who represents Peoria, says Caterpillar is in a good position to increase exports, if the embargo is lifted. The company last month signed a contract with a Puerto Rican dealer, Rimco, to sell Cat machinery to Cuba.
Bustos says American businesses stand to benefit from an expanded global marketplace, less than a hundred miles off America’s shores:
"There was a businessman who made a statement when we were meeting with some American business leaders down there, and he said 'if we don't lift the embargo, we will lose out every single day,'" Bustos said. "And I would see it the exact same way."
Durbin says he also supports shutting down Guantanamo Bay prison. He says it's “an expensive symbol.” Estimates from the Pentagon and White House say it costs nearly $4 million dollars per prisoner per year to detain them at Gitmo. 91 men are currently being held.
Both the closure of Guantanamo and the lifting of the trade embargo would require legislation from the House and Senate.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has openly opposed the idea and calls the President Obama’s trip to Cuba “embarrassing.”
