News

Rice farmer disappointed by Trump Cuba policy changes

President Trump has put new U.S. sanctions on Cuba and prospects of better ag trade with that market have greatly dimmed.

Mark Isbell, an Arkansas farmer and member of USA Rice, tells Brownfield Ag News he was encouraged by changes to Cuba policy in the Obama administration that opened up the possibility of trading with Cuba again, “Unfortunately, the current steps that the Trump administration have taken, have just taken us backwards. Doubling down on a failed policy is just a way to double down on failure. And, unfortunately, that seems to be the ‘m.o.’ with the current administration with regard to trade.”

No rice is going to Cuba – because of the cash-in-advance policy – but Isbell says there seemed to be support for changing that in Congress, “Unfortunately, the resolve of some of the politicians that even were advocates for Cuba seems to be waning and I want to make sure that they know that farmers out here in the farming community NEED these markets. We need these opportunities.”

Isbell says the Trump administration’s stance on Cuba appears to be politically motivated at the expense of U.S. farmers and businesses and the Cuban people.

He says it risks driving Cuba to more hardline countries who aren’t necessarily friends of the United States. Trump threatened a full embargo on Cuba earlier this week if it does not withdraw from Venezuela.

Isbell was Rice Farmer of the Isbell was Rice Farmer of the year in 2016 Year in 2016.