JEFFERSON CITY: The US government revisits its diplomatic relations with Cuba following President Barack Obama’s decision last month; Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said he hopes to increase the state’s relations with the country.
Nixon visited the Missouri Farm Bureau to discuss his agricultural trade mission with the communist country he announced last week during his State of the State address.
“My job is to be governor of the state,” he said. “The Senate and president have some issues to work out, and they have to maintain a strong position for the United States so that we get the human rights things that need to be done and the financial matters clarified so that the dollars can move in a predictable way, and there are a number of defense issues. But at the same time, there’s nothing but a green light for us to sell food and fuel and the substances that they clothe themselves with.”
More plainly, Nixon said: “I’m a governor, they’re folks in D.C.”
Nixon said he began working on his Cuba plan within days of Obama’s announcement last month. Ahead of his State of the State address, Nixon went to Washington, where he met with other state officials to launch the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba.
Last year, Missouri alone exported $14 billion worth of agriculture products. Nixon said he believes Cuba, which has the capacity to import $4.3 billion in food and agricultural products each year, presents an opportunity for Missouri farmers.
“In a competitive world, we cannot ignore 11 million potential customers for our products just 90 miles from our border,” he said.
Nixon said Obama’s decision to soften relations with Cuba is part of a longstanding tradition of American leaders to try to make amends with former foes. President Richard Nixon did it with China, Nixon said, just as President Bill Clinton did with Vietnam.
“Today, trade with Vietnam and China are the norm, and soon it will be the same with Cuba,” he said. “We’ve been presented with a historic opportunity, one which we won’t let pass by.”
