Cuba Agricultural Exports Act

To modify the prohibition on United States assistance and financing for certain exports to Cuba under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cuba Agricultural Exports Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The United States has a long history of providing safe and reliable exports. Close proximity to Cuba lends itself to low transportation costs for United States goods exported to Cuba. The United States is geographically poised to be a significant trading partner in agricultural commodities. (2) Cuba imports approximately 80 percent of its food, with global agricultural exports to Cuba doubling over the past decade to $1,900,000,000. (3) In 2005, the United States Department of the Treasury published a final rule narrowing the definition of cash in advance (4) Recent action by the Obama administration reversed that change to the definition of cash in advance, but United States agricultural exporters are still not permitted to extend credit to Cuban buyers, a key disadvantage relative to other exporting countries. (5) In addition, there is no opportunity for United States agricultural businesses to trade directly with the Cuban people and there is no Cuban market; United States businesses have only one venue to trade with Cuba and that is through ALIMPORT, the state-owned and state-controlled entity described in paragraph (3). (6) Despite these restrictions, the United States has been the largest exporter of agricultural goods to Cuba over the last decade. However, the United States slipped to being the second leading exporter of agricultural goods to Cuba in 2013 and the third leading exporter of agricultural goods to Cuba in 2014. (7) While trade opportunities exist, Cuba remains an undemocratic autocracy that oppresses its own people and restricts freedom. (8) With these cautionary factors in mind, it is important to provide United States farmers and ranchers additional opportunities to benefit from trade with Cuba. 3. Modification of prohibition on United States assistance and financing for certain exports to Cuba under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 Section 908 of the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7207 (1) In the section heading, by striking and financing (2) In subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: (4) Exception for certain programs (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to— (i) exports to Cuba under section 202 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 ( 7 U.S.C. 5622 7 U.S.C. 5623 7 U.S.C. 5722 (ii) any obligation or expenditure of funds to promote trade with Cuba by Federal commodity promotion programs established in accordance with a commodity promotion law, as defined by section 501(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7401(a) (B) Restriction on certain recipients The exceptions under subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the recipient of the United States assistance would be an entity controlled by the Government of Cuba, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, and any subdivision of either such governmental entity. . (3) In subsection (b), to read as follows: (b) Financing of sales of agricultural commodities to Cuba (1) In general A person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may provide payment or financing for sales of agricultural commodities to Cuba or to an individual or entity in Cuba. (2) Definitions In this section: (A) Agricultural commodity The term agricultural commodity 7 U.S.C. 5602 (B) Financing The term financing . 4. Authority of persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to invest with respect to certain agricultural business in Cuba (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may make an investment with respect to the development of an agricultural business in Cuba if the Secretary of State and Secretary of Agriculture jointly determine that— (1) the agricultural business is not controlled by the Government of Cuba, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, the Ministry of the Interior of Cuba, or any subdivision of either such governmental entity; and (2) the agricultural business does not traffic in the property of persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States that was confiscated by the Cuban Government on or after January 1, 1959. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Agricultural business The term agricultural business 7 U.S.C. 1626 (2) Confiscated, Cuban Government, property, and traffic The terms confiscated Cuban Government property traffic 22 U.S.C. 6023 (3) Investment The term investment (A) entry into a contract involving the purchase of a share of ownership, including an equity interest, in the development of the agricultural business; (B) entry into a contract providing for participation in royalties, earnings, or profits in the development of the agricultural business; or (C) entry into, or performance or financing of, a contract to sell goods, services, or technology relating to the agricultural business.

Summary: Cuba Agricultural Exports Act This bill amends the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 to exempt from prohibitions against U.S. assistance to Cuba: (1) any exports under the market access program, the export credit guarantee program, and the foreign market development cooperator program; or (2) any obligation or expenditure of funds to promote trade with Cuba by federal commodity promotion programs established in accordance with a commodity promotion law. This exemption shall not apply if the U.S. assistance recipient would be an entity controlled by the Cuban government, including the armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior, or any subdivision of either governmental entity. A person subject to U.S. jurisdiction may invest in the development of an agricultural business in Cuba if the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture jointly determine that the agricultural business: is not controlled by the government of Cuba, including the armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior, or any subdivision of either governmental entity; and does not traffic in property of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction that was confiscated by Cuba on or after January 1, 1959. Certain language limiting financing of agricultural sales to Cuba is repealed.