President Obama's announcement that the U.S. will start talks on normalizing relations with Cuba includes plans to allow more exports to that country. Some say that could offer new opportunities for Illinois farmers and businesses.
One of those people is William Delaney. He chairs the International Business Council for the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and reacted positively to the possibility of greater exports to Cuba being allowed.
"The impact would be direct, immediate and hugely beneficial for the state of Illinois."
Mark Albertson agrees. He oversees market development for the Illinois Soybean Association. The U.S. was the top supplier to Cuba of soybean meal and bean oil until 2007, when South America overtook it. Albertson says the current rules make it too difficult to do business with Cuba.
"There are so many hoops we have to jump through with financing issues and banking issues, it makes us not very competitive."
Albertson expects today's announcement will change that, and crack the door open a bit more to a country that already buys some 60 million dollars in U-S soybeans every year.
Adam Nielsen is the Farm Bureau's Director of National Legislation and Policy Development. He says Cuba will not be a top ten market for Illinois farmers, but it will be significant.
"They sure like rice out of the south, they like Illinois corn and soybeans and they like wheat out of the great plains states.”
Nielsen says Illinois farmers have difficulty competing with Brazilian soybeans, rice from Vietnam, and wheat from France. That’s because of restrictive credit rules that required third party credit since 2005.
Illinois’ senior U.S. Senator says the decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba is quote “long overdue.” Democrat Dick Durbin believes it will eventually lead to free and fair elections on the island.
"Once you say to your people living on this island, 'This is is what the world looks like, these are the circumstances in other parts of the world,' then they develop an appetite for change."
Illinois’ other U.S. senator, Mark Kirk, is against the move. In a statement, the Republican says President Barack Obama continues to treat U.S. enemies like friends and friends like enemies.
Editor's Note: Scott Cameron, Guy Stephens, Charles Schlenker and Patrick Smith contributed to this story.
