US farmers slam Trump’s clampdown

Trump's decision could derail huge increases in farm exports

CHICAGO: US farm groups criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to retreat from his predecessor’s opening toward Cuba, saying it could derail huge increases in farm exports that totalled $221 million last year. A trade delegation from Minnesota, one of the largest US agriculture states, vowed to carry on with its planned visit to Cuba next week. Trump signed a presidential directive on Friday rolling back parts of former President Barack Obama’s opening to the Communist-ruled country after a 2014 diplomatic breakthrough between the two former Cold War foes. Farm groups saw the move as a step backward in what had been an improving trade relationship between the two countries, which are just 90 miles (145 kms) apart, even though agriculture is not directly targeted.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2017.

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