Enzi joins effort to lift Cuba trade embargo

Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi (R) is co-sponsoring legislation to lift the Cuban trade embargo. The law would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba. Enzi said it would pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers by boosting U.S. exports. It would also allow Cubans greater access to American goods. “Over the last 50 years, our strategy of isolating Cuba hasn’t been very successful,” Enzi said. “But trade is very powerful. It can be more than just the flow of goods, but also the flow of ideas; ideas of freedom and democracy are the keys to positive change in any nation. It is time we moved on from the failed ideas of the past and tried a new approach to Cuba.” The Freedom to Export to Cuba Act of 2017 repeals the current legal restrictions against doing business with Cuba, including the original 1961 authorization for establishing the trade embargo; subsequent laws that required enforcement of the embargo; and other restrictive statutes that prohibit transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, and limitations on direct shipping between U.S. and Cuban ports. The bill is co-sponsored by Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, as well as Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona. Enzi said the legislation was endorsed by Engage Cuba, the Washington Office on Latin America, the Latin America Working Group, and Cargill.