USDA chief says farmers looking ahead to possible Cuba marketsLIMA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that farm officials want to lay the groundwork so American agricultural exporters can seize new opportunities in Cuba if the trade embargo on the country is lifted. The normalization of trade relations would allow U.S. farmers to use lower transportation costs to edge in on the European Union’s food exports to Cuba, Vilsack said. President Barack Obama has been using his executive powers to chip away at the half-century-old trade embargo, imposed on the communist-ruled nation in 1960, but cannot lift it without approval from Congress that is unlikely under current Republican leadership. “There are still preliminary steps that can be taken to prepare for that day,” Vilsack said in an interview in Peru. “When it happens, the United States will be in a very good position to reclaim a portion of the market we’ve lost.” Vilsack cited soybeans, rice, poultry and biofuels as new markets U.S. farmers could tap in Cuba, which in turn could sell organic products to its former Cold War foe. The Obama administration is asking Congress for $1.5 million for on-the-ground studies into challenges to agricultural trade in Cuba, from pests to a diplomatic void left by decades of hostile relations. “We have not had people on the ground,” Vilsack said. “We need to develop relationships with the people in Cuba so we know who to do business with and who actually makes the deals.” Vilsack, who visited Cuba last month, said state agricultural commissioners and secretaries have also been traveling to the island on trade missions. “They have been down to Cuba and they have come back with small contracts for commodities,” Vilsack said. Vilsack said farmers were the most excited about the reopening of relations with Cuba, once a global sugarcane powerhouse. The U.S. would aim to meet 50 percent of Cuba’s food and agricultural needs if trade resumes fully, up from less than 15 percent now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement to Reuters after the interview. Vilsack also said he was optimistic Obama would persuade Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal before the end of his term, despite the recent surge in anti-trade rhetoric in presidential campaigns. “The president is very committed to getting it done and he intends to work as long and hard as he needs to ultimately get it passed,” Vilsack said. politicsNews
usda chief says farmers looking ahead possible cuba marketslima reuters secretary agriculture tom vilsack said tuesday farm officials want lay groundwork american agricultural exporters seize new opportunities cuba trade embargo country lifted the normalization trade relations would allow farmers use lower transportation costs edge european union food exports cuba vilsack said president barack obama using executive powers chip away trade embargo imposed nation lift without approval congress unlikely current republican leadership there still preliminary steps taken prepare day vilsack said interview peru when happens united states good position reclaim portion market vilsack cited soybean rice poultry biofuels new markets farmers could tap cuba turn could sell organic products former cold war foe the obama administration asking congress million studies challenges agricultural trade cuba pests diplomatic void left decades hostile relations we people ground vilsack said we need develop relationships people cuba know business actually makes vilsack visited cuba last month said state agricultural commissioners secretaries also traveling island trade missions they cuba come back small contracts commodities vilsack said vilsack said farmers excited reopening relations cuba global sugarcane powerhouse the would aim meet percent cuba food agricultural needs trade resumes fully less percent department agriculture said statement reuters interview vilsack also said optimistic obama would persuade congress pass partnership trade deal end term despite recent surge rhetoric presidential campaigns the president committed getting done intends work long hard needs ultimately get passed vilsack said politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: USDA chief says farmers looking ahead to possible Cuba marketsLIMA (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Tuesday that farm officials want to lay the groundwork so American agricultural exporters can seize new opportunities in Cuba if the trade embargo on the country is lifted. The normalization of trade relations would allow U.S. farmers to use lower transportation costs to edge in on the European Union’s food exports to Cuba, Vilsack said. President Barack Obama has been using his executive powers to chip away at the half-century-old trade embargo, imposed on the communist-ruled nation in 1960, but cannot lift it without approval from Congress that is unlikely under current Republican leadership. “There are still preliminary steps that can be taken to prepare for that day,” Vilsack said in an interview in Peru. “When it happens, the United States will be in a very good position to reclaim a portion of the market we’ve lost.” Vilsack cited soybeans, rice, poultry and biofuels as new markets U.S. farmers could tap in Cuba, which in turn could sell organic products to its former Cold War foe. The Obama administration is asking Congress for $1.5 million for on-the-ground studies into challenges to agricultural trade in Cuba, from pests to a diplomatic void left by decades of hostile relations. “We have not had people on the ground,” Vilsack said. “We need to develop relationships with the people in Cuba so we know who to do business with and who actually makes the deals.” Vilsack, who visited Cuba last month, said state agricultural commissioners and secretaries have also been traveling to the island on trade missions. “They have been down to Cuba and they have come back with small contracts for commodities,” Vilsack said. Vilsack said farmers were the most excited about the reopening of relations with Cuba, once a global sugarcane powerhouse. The U.S. would aim to meet 50 percent of Cuba’s food and agricultural needs if trade resumes fully, up from less than 15 percent now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement to Reuters after the interview. Vilsack also said he was optimistic Obama would persuade Congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal before the end of his term, despite the recent surge in anti-trade rhetoric in presidential campaigns. “The president is very committed to getting it done and he intends to work as long and hard as he needs to ultimately get it passed,” Vilsack said. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: usda chief says farmers looking ahead possible cuba marketslima reuters secretary agriculture tom vilsack said tuesday farm officials want lay groundwork american agricultural exporters seize new opportunities cuba trade embargo country lifted the normalization trade relations would allow farmers use lower transportation costs edge european union food exports cuba vilsack said president barack obama using executive powers chip away trade embargo imposed nation lift without approval congress unlikely current republican leadership there still preliminary steps taken prepare day vilsack said interview peru when happens united states good position reclaim portion market vilsack cited soybean rice poultry biofuels new markets farmers could tap cuba turn could sell organic products former cold war foe the obama administration asking congress million studies challenges agricultural trade cuba pests diplomatic void left decades hostile relations we people ground vilsack said we need develop relationships people cuba know business actually makes vilsack visited cuba last month said state agricultural commissioners secretaries also traveling island trade missions they cuba come back small contracts commodities vilsack said vilsack said farmers excited reopening relations cuba global sugarcane powerhouse the would aim meet percent cuba food agricultural needs trade resumes fully less percent department agriculture said statement reuters interview vilsack also said optimistic obama would persuade congress pass partnership trade deal end term despite recent surge rhetoric presidential campaigns the president committed getting done intends work long hard needs ultimately get passed vilsack said politicsnews