Major U.S. companies support new group that will lobby to lift sanctions against Cuba

Major U.S. companies support new group that will lobby to lift sanctions
against Cuba
NORA GÁMEZ TORRES
ngameztorres@elnuevoherald.com

Major U.S. companies like Cargill, Procter & Gamble and Caterpillar have
thrown their support behind Engage Cuba, a bipartisan coalition that
formally began operating out of the nation's capital on Tuesday and will
focus on lobbying Congress to lift restrictions on travel and trade with
Cuba.

"This is an opportunity to position ourselves in this unique moment in
history," said James Williams, president. "We feel that the wind is in
our favor and we are very excited."

Engage Cuba, which began organizing itself in April, has taken on
heavy-hitting issues such as helping negotiate an agreement between the
Florida-based Stonegate Bank and the Cuban Interests Section in
Washington to resume bank transactions from the diplomatic mission.
Banks had shied away from handling Cuba-related services due to tedious
and expensive requirements as a result of the embargo.

Among the list of members now known to be part of Engage Cuba are the
National Foreign Trade Council, the National Association of
Manufacturers, the Consumer Electronics Association, the Council of the
Americas and the American Society of Travel Agents. The coalition also
brings together academic and civic organizations that favor a policy of
rapprochement with Cuba, including CubaNow, Cuba Study Group and the
Center for Democracy in the Americas.

"We are proud to be part of this unprecedented coalition to fight for
Washington to finally remove all external barriers that impedes the
Cuban people from fully benefitting from the experience and ingenuity of
the American private sector," said Ric Herrero, executive director for
CubaNow.

A reception is scheduled for Tuesday in the capital. Among those
expected to attend are Senators Jeff Flake, Patrick Leahy, Mark R.
Warner, Angus King and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as, Representatives
Kathy Castor and Peter Welch.

Sanctions vs Closer Ties

Engage Cuba has sought support for a bill introduced by Senators Flake
and Leahy to eliminate restrictions on travel to Cuba, which has 40
co-sponsors in the Senate. The effort is accompanied by an ad campaign
called "Guess What?" that began to broadcast Tuesday on Fox News, MSNBC
and CNBC.

The announcement questions why Americans can travel to North Korea but
face limitations with Cuba and states that U.S. companies cannot compete
due to restrictions on trade with the island.

"It's been 50 years. Isn't it time for a change?," states the 30-second ad.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives recently passed several bills
allocating funds to U.S. government agencies and programs containing
restrictions on trade and travel to Cuba. Those bills are now making its
way through the Senate.

Critics say adoption is unlikely.

"We feel very good about where we are now. These are like the last gasps
of a defeated army that's in retreat. They are just trying to delay the
inevitable," said Williams, Engage Cuba, president. "The Senate will not
support those versions of the bill and the White House already has said
they would oppose it. So they zero chance of becoming law. "

Follow Nora Gámez Torres on Twitter @ngameztorres

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Source: Major U.S. companies support new group that will lobby to lift
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