U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) led a bipartisan congressional call on Thursday for President-elect Donald Trump to continue advancing normalization of trade relations with Cuba.
Emmer, a member of the Cuba Working Group (CWG), was joined by more than a dozen lawmakers in a letter urging the president-elect to support restoration of United States engagement with Cuba.
“The recent death of Fidel Castro represents a dawn of a new era in Cuban leadership and the United States must use this time to help chart a new course for Cuba’s future,” Emmer said. “I look forward to working with President-elect Trump to continue our efforts in Congress to empower the Cuban people, facilitate economic reforms, promote the expansion of civil and religious liberties, and strengthen our regional and national security abroad.”
U.S. exports of select agricultural and manufactured goods to Cuba could increase from $180 million recorded in 2015 to approximately $2.2 billion, according to a U.S. International Trade Commission report.
“Policies that improve commercial relations could potentially create thousands of jobs here in the United States and open valuable new markets for our exports,” the letter states.
“The restrictions the U.S. government imposes on American business activity in Cuba have not only stymied America’s economic potential, they have provided the repressive Cuban regime with an excuse on which to place blame for their own economic woes. Additionally, there is little credible evidence that sanctions have improved the human rights situation in Cuba, a top priority of the CWG.”
The letter also noted polls showing that 73 percent of American voters support renewed diplomatic relations with Cuba and 72 percent support ending the embargo. In addition, a Florida International University poll showed that 63 percent of Cuban-Americans in Miami want to see the embargo lifted.
“Global support for the normalization of our relations also remains overwhelming, particularly among some of our most important economic and security partners in Latin America,” the letter said.