The trip is coincidentally happening just as Congress is considering whether to ease the 40 year old Cuban embargo of agricultural products. It would be a great honor to represent wheat growers in a newly opened market if Congress votes before our arrival in Havana. This is the 5th U.S. Wheat Associates trade mission to Cuba in three years. The potential wheat market is an attractive one. Total Cuban wheat and flour imports, according to the most recent USDA figures, are estimated at 950,000 metric tons.
Bread is rationed.
U.S. wheat has had no share in the market since Dwight Eisenhower was President. In 1959, when U.S. wheat was exported to 59 countries, Cuba was our 13th largest customer, importing 129,000 tons. We have the kind of wheat they need, and buying from the U.S. would save them about half of the transportation costs they pay to get shipments from the European Union. Since U.S. law permits sales to non governmental entities, the USW team is scheduled to confer with humanitarian organizations doing work in Cuba. While three organizations have previous experience in importing wheat, especially during periods of natural disasters, it is not their primary mission, nor do they currently have the resources to dedicate to wheat imports.