Cuba Policy
Foundation Press Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wed. February 5, 2003; Contact: Brian Alexander:
202-321-CUBA (2822)
LIFTING CUBA TRAVEL BAN BENEFITS
AMERICA’S FARMERS
BETWEEN $126 AND $252 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL
U.S. AGRICULTURAL SALES TO CUBA EXPECTED ABOVE CURRENT LEVELS
Washington, DC, February 5, 2003 - An end to the ban
on American travel to Cuba would provide a boost for America’s farmers,
according to a new report produced for the Cuba Policy Foundation by one of
America’s leading agricultural economists, Parr Rosson of Texas A&M
University. Lifting the travel ban
would produce between $126 million and
$252 million in annual U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba, above current levels
of farm sales to the island, the report concludes, and such sales would create
between 3,490 and 6,980 jobs for Americans.
The full report, “Estimated Agricultural Economic
Impacts of Expanded U.S. Tourism to Cuba,” is available at www.cubafoundation.org. The report is premised on a forecast
of 1.5 million annual American visitors to Cuba on one-week stays. Some
forecasts project annual U.S. travel to Cuba would be as high as 4
million visitors in the first year, but more conservative estimates suggest
that 1.5 million on seven day stays would be reached by year three after
lifting the ban. Current U.S. law
forbids most Americans from traveling to Cuba.
“This report shows that there is
a clear link between lifting the travel ban and helping the U.S. farm
economy. Lifting the Cuba travel ban would be a significant boost for
America’s farmers,” according to Brian Alexander, Executive Director
of the Cuba Policy Foundation.
Farmers in America already
have begun to see some benefits of trade with Cuba. Since December 2001, over $150 million in U.S. farm products have
been sold to Cuba, sourced from at least 30 states, under an exception in the
in the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA) that
allows Americans to export agricultural products to Cuba. Based on this figure,
Cuba grew in 2002 to one of the United States’ top 50 agricultural
export markets, up from dead last of 228 countries in 2000. Cuban contracts for American food in 2002
reportedly topped $230 million, the delivery of some of which is still
occurring. Statements by the Cuban
buyers indicate that agricultural purchases from the United States in 2003
would be at least at 2002 levels.
In a separate study produced
for the Cuba Policy Foundation, it is demonstrated that the total potential
Cuban market for American agricultural goods is $1.24 billion annually, if the
embargo were completely lifted. “Lifting
the travel ban would put the U.S. one-step closer toward this figure,” Mr.
Alexander said.
In addition to benefiting
America’s farmers, lifting the travel ban would produce major gains for the
U.S. travel sector, particularly airlines, hotels and tour operators. A July 2002 study produced by the University
of Colorado at Boulder for the Cuba Policy Foundation concludes that lifting
the travel ban would produce over $1.7 billion and create 10,000 jobs for the
U.S. travel sector.
For more information, please contact Brian Alexander of the Cuba Policy Foundation. ###