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Article: A new lens on Cuba; Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., is lending his voice to the bipartisan chorus of those who see the former Cold War enemy as a potential trading partner.(NEWS)(Capitol Connection: Minnesota's link to Washington)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- June 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Kevin Diaz; Staff Writer
If you go to Cuba, take your Visa or American Express card - unless, of course, you're a U.S. citizen barred from spending money there.
The U.S. trade embargo, now in its fifth decade, means that even though Visa charges exceed $180 million a year in Cuba, none of that business can be processed through U.S. banks.
For Al Christopherson, president of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, it also means that none of the corn, soybeans or hogs he raises on his farm in Pennock, Minn., is likely to find its way to Cuba's growing markets anytime soon.
That's the law of the land - barring an unexpected ...