By Carrie Muehling

PEORIA – Illinois Soybean Association District Director John Longley has seen firsthand the potential for increasing trade with Cuba.

The association is among many agriculture groups excited about the announcement that financial regulations on U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba will be eased as part of a plan to normalize U.S. relations with the country.

“It’s definitely a market that could grow. We talked to some people that were interested – they import soybeans to make soy yogurt, which they give to all of their children in school at a certain age because they are real concerned about child nutrition,” said Longley, who is from Aledo, Ill. “If they increase their livestock sector, they could have more soybeans. Or even, we could have them import more pork, which eats a lot of soybeans in the United States.”

Longley recently returned from a trip to Cuba with the Illinois-Cuba Working Group, which was established by the Illinois General Assembly. The group attended the Cuban International Trade Fair during the first week of November.

“We’ve exported soybeans to Cuba. I don’t think a lot of people realize that we actually do export, but everything has to be for cash. There’s no credit involved, so it makes a very complicated prospect, and the Brazilians and Argentinians are taking some of our business,” said Longley.

Longley said the association hopes the trade embargo will be lifted or at least further modified to allow for more trade between the U.S. and Cuba.

Carrie Muehling can be reached at [email protected].