For the first time, the 2018 Farm Bill allows for the use of USDA Foreign Agricultural Service market promotion funding to conduct export development activities in Cuba. In the past, U.S. agricultural trade organizations have used private funding to promote trade with Cuba.
Despite the fact that many financial and banking restrictions remain in place, this is a win for U.S. agricultural trade. The U.S. Dry Bean Council will conduct an initial market scoping exercise in the second quarter of 2010, with the goal to put together a trade mission to the island in late 2019 or early 2020.
