Ag Weekly Online: Twin Falls, Idaho

Gov. Butch Otter is taking the unconventional route in his first trade mission as chief executive of Idaho, by setting his sights on Cuba.

For Otter to head into the lair of Presidente Fidel Castro, however, is hardly a surprise. The only question is what’s it really worth for Idaho?

In order for Idaho to begin trade ties with Cuba, Otter must first gain clearance from the U.S. State Department. Cuba has been under a U.S. trade and travel embargo for more than 40 years. That approval could come as early as this week. Otter is hoping to make a trade trip to the nation in the next month.

But Otter and Idaho Sen. Larry Craig established their diplomatic ties with Castro and Cuba four years ago, to the disdain of President George W. Bush. Since then, Otter campaigned and was elected to governor on a platform that included stronger foreign trade in Idaho’s economy. Otter also served a record 14 years as lieutenant governor with duties largely linked to economic development and trade.

Otter’s initial trips to Cuba did bear some successful fruit. Last year, Idaho exported $22,613 of frozen foods into that communist country. That’s only a drop in the bucket in the foreign trade game. Idaho’s largest foreign trade partner is China, which purchased $731.5 million worth of Idaho commodities. Canada was second with $561.3 million.

Obviously, the consumers of Cuba don’t have that much money to throw around. But for Otter, bulking up trade ties represents a sort of new Cuban revolution. In a 2003 meeting with the Times-News editorial board, then-Congressman Otter called the U.S. trade embargo an impediment to America’s weapon of capitalism.

“If we wanted to bomb Cuba,” he said. “We’d better off dropping Sears Roebuck catalogs out of the back of a plane.”

Perhaps that’s the real ambition within this kind of trade mission — to blaze a new path for free enterprise, not just spin potential profits for Idaho.

“I think it’s a little bit of both, but obviously he wants to open up markets to Idaho products into that communist country,” said Otter spokesman Jon Hanian. “It’s limited, and it’s very tightly controlled. Primarily we’re looking at agricultural goods, timber products, and medical supplies — anything from bandages to generic drugs.”

Pushing for Cuban trade won’t endear Otter to some arch-conservatives, but it sounds like a reasonable move on political principle.

To make the connection a valuable one, however, Otter has to show that Idaho will gain economic benefit. Ag groups may be doubtful about those benefits, considering how Cuba may want to dump sugar into American markets at sugar-beet producers’ expense. And if Cuba does open up in future years, it could be host to American companies wanting a location to cheap labor.

Otter has the right idea by reinforcing the vitality of Idaho goods on a global scale. But with Cuba’s limited buying power, the governor’s mission seems more like a seed plan for the future.

Comments »

Cubamartiano wrote on Jul 7, 2007 11:14 AM:

" Castro's promissed equality, Cubans cannot visit places that are designated for the rich, like Hotels, Beaches, Restaurants, Hospitals etc. They are all being treaated equal, like crap. "

Cubamartiano wrote on Jul 7, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Castro has followed the foodsteps of his Father and Granfather, only that instead of owning a plantation, he has transformed the Island of Cuba into his own Plantation, now he has delegated his powers to his Brother Raul making the Plantation a family owned enterprise, shame that there are many Cubans that are backing him up in this ordeal to the Island. "

marianao1936 wrote on Jul 7, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Morse, It is worse than that. When these American governors, senators, congressmen, mayors or whatever travel to Cuba, videos are taken of their "whereabouts" in the Island. Mostly in their bedrooms where very "young jineteras are sent to "please them". These videos are kept in a special area that is handy for fidel castro's use (now Raul his brother and others) to "threaten, abuse, and enforce" his rulings on these people. It sounds like an Agent 007 movie? Right. Now that Castro is bedridden the government continues implementing the same system. These "personalities" upon their returning have to "fight" for the benefits Cuba needs & requests of them in order to avoid scandals. This has happened to even Ambassadors and is a normal ruling for all foreigners and political figures. The embargo remains in Cuba. The Monthly Rations Book has been in effect since Castro's takeover. It will never end for the Cuban population. The Cuban people NEED the dollars the families in the U.S. send them in order to survive and be able to BUY in government owned stores with DOLLARS only. They are paid in worthless Cuban pesos but unless they have DOLLARS/EUROS they cannot go by their everyday living. Over 900' dollars are sent by Cubans abroad mainly in the U.S. to relatives in the Island. Also according to the law in the U.S. if these Corporations are not paid back by the Cuban government, the U.S. government would be liable to repay them. This is in reality the so-called embargo. Forcing Cuba to pay in advance of receipt of goods. Isn't it only fair rather than using our taxes to pay for the mismanagement the Castro's have implemented in the Island. Even in the U.S. there are businesses they own under other people's name. All over the world the riches of Cuba have been spread for their families. At the same time, they have never provided for the Cuban people. All these governors, Senators, congressmen, know the law in the U.S. but they keep trying to confuse the American people. It does not matter if it is a radical left Republican or Democrat. It's all politicians. One day the truth will be known to the American people and they'll be surprised who they elect to abuse whole countries with the lies of helping them. At present, as an example, Cuba owes Mexico 800 billion dollars. Never to be paid. Cuba owes, Canada, Italy, Spain and most other countries. No payments are in sight. Open your Eyes Americans!!!hwo5o "

melle wrote on Jul 4, 2007 3:42 PM:

" Doesn't Iowa trade with Cuba? perhaps it goes by another name but I believe Corn is being "sold" there. I support opening Cuba up to USA citizens- without us having to change their regime. Time for a little humility and goodwill. "

Scott wrote on May 28, 2007 5:38 PM:

" Thank GOD there is a human being out there willing to put this crap about Cuba and the U.S. behind and move toward a better future for ALL. If ONLY the rest would follow. Being an amercain traveling to Cuba for years and seeing their side, and hearing what WE americans DONT, or ARENT allowed to know( ya know Good old cencorship in the U.S.A. Free country my a**) Makes me sick, for both the U.S> especially Bush , LOSER !!!! And Castro. They are like two little boys fighting over an OLD unresiolved issue. Grow up congress ! A child can make this a better country if given the chance. I am ashamed to live here and vote. "

Ruben. wrote on May 7, 2007 8:03 AM:

" Please,don't send a thing to Cuba,cubans never going to see anything,just Castro's family and his hienas.I was born there, i know what i'm talking about. "

LOLA wrote on Apr 19, 2007 3:11 PM:

" Disgusted American you dont even know what your talking about. You are so focussed on emmitsburg that you missed the point. Mr Republican Disgusted American. The person wanting to do business with Fidel Castro the dictator is a REPUBLICAN. Mr. Otter from Idaho is a republican Governor. You are so brainwashed with this Pelosi Rosie O Donnel bull that you missed the point. Republicans want it both ways they want to say that democrats are soft of communism, dictators, etc. However, I have seen a number of Republicans having business and trade talks with Castro. For example, Mr. Otter from Idaho, Mr. Blake congressman from Arizona, Mr. Ryan ex Governor from Illinois,all are REPUBLICANS. There is a double standard, republicans need to adhere to the same standards they put on democrats. In my opinion there really isn't much difference between the two parties when it comes to Cuba or business with other rogue nations as China. The only thing that matters to both is El CASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. "

Disgusted American wrote on Apr 12, 2007 9:44 PM:

" Emmitsburg is quintessential proof that any idiot can get on the internet & post any type of hysterical wandwaiving nonsense without the slightest shred of evidence to back it up. IOW he's todays liberal democrat personified. Great job democrats maybe you guys should just hire Rosie O'Donnel to replace Nancy Pelosi.. oohh wait that would probably be a step up! "

Bill wrote on Apr 8, 2007 9:41 AM:

" Looks like Nebraska is leading the way with an intelligent approach to the US blockade of Cuba , methods we have used failed for the past 48 years. Today we stand as the worlds biggest bullies, Cuba this country of 11 million people has been abused by the USA a country of 300 million do the math, if this isn’t a sick situation created by our government then brutalizing human beings is doing Gods work. "

emmitsburg wrote on Apr 7, 2007 12:01 PM:

" This is a racist embargo imposed on a nation of 11 million people who are unjustly abused by the leadership of our nation. This colossus of the north with a population of 300 million has chosen for over 46 years to obstruct the basic human rights of the Cuban people. We supported the brutal regime of Fulgencio Batista and we want to re-impose it on them again, under his rule their was no diet, to poke fun at , because the Cuban people were treated worse then our blacks in the USA at that time. The raciest and fascists regime was only the tip of the ice burg, today we talk of installing democracy in Cuba, lets look back at or democracy from 1952 to 1959 this bastion of democracy was headed up by the undisputed fascist Batista and the other fathers of democracy Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano, Trafficante family and lets not forget the Bush family proud owners or the United Fruit Co. masters of human exploitation not just in Cuba but thought Latin America. The hooligans and thugs in Miami have done business with the Bush family long before the Cuban aristocrats came to the USA. The Bush administration just gave his friends in Miami an $80 million pay off in the form of creating another propaganda TV and radio station, I’m sure the Miami mafia will spread it around wisely. "

W.A.Pace wrote on Apr 7, 2007 11:51 AM:

Arzinia wrote on Apr 2, 2007 4:18 PM:

" You use the word lair to describe the government of Cuba..You must be writing for bigots and folks that never travel. Have you been there..I doubt it.The U.S. Lost 50,000 men and women and Viet-Nam, are losing scores in Iraq and planning to kill more in Iran..We have not lost anything in Cuba.. Racist and greed interest capitalism are causing the problem..In Gitmo the U.S. admits doing to all those brown people, what Bush and his lair are punishing the Cuban for..Wake Up and think. AZ "

marianao1936 wrote on Apr 1, 2007 1:13 PM:

" I believe that the embargo is definitely in Cuba. For over 54 yrs. the people in Cuba have lived with the burden of a MONTHLY RATIONS BOOK on their shoulders. 5 lbs. of rice per person per household is all they get. 1/2 lbs. of beans per person per househould all these are per month. It does not matter if Corporations in the U.S. sell to the Cuban system, the good food is delivered to resorts for foreigners, visitors and the top people in the regime but the Cuban people continues with the RATIONING> This by no means is the so-called U.S. embargo fault. It's the mismanagement and the system used by dictators of a socialist background that is applied to the people in the country. It's a shame that some people keep blaming the U.S. for Cuba's government injustices. If Corporations in the U.S. are to sell to Cuba free of charge, the Cuban people will continue living with the same lacks caused by the mismanagement and the MONTHLY RATIONS BOOK. mn8q5 "

Josh wrote on Mar 29, 2007 5:38 PM:

" My problem with dealing with Cuba is that the Cuban government hasn't shown itself to be about anything more than perpetuating its existence. The embargo is a failure that has given the anti-US Castro a boogeyman to rally against, but why should I want to trade with a government that imprisons its citizens for speaking out against it? We're already doing that enough with China. "

Byron Barksdale wrote on Mar 26, 2007 8:42 PM:

" Cuba just signed another huge multimillion dollar AG deal with Nebraska March 26 through 28, 2007. For more about Nebraska and Cuba (and how Idaho may proceed), see this link: http://www.cybercuba.com/nebraska.html good luck! "

don hughes wrote on Mar 20, 2007 2:01 PM:

" good for you MR. OTTER its time the U.S. ended the embargo CUBA is no threat to the U.S.freed trade should be established with CUBAno strings atached don hughes canada "

Morse wrote on Mar 19, 2007 3:20 PM:

" This man is a idiot . Wasting the people's money to go fishing and a day on a warm beach in Cuba . He is just wasting the taxpayers money on this project . Think Cuba has never been able to pay its way and a government supported by welfare of the ones that want , to use them as a thorn in our side only . This move will only cost the taxpayers of Idaho and the companies that fall in to this trap with greed . "

Byron wrote on Mar 17, 2007 8:02 AM:

" Hello from Nebraska...our governor is making another trade mission to Cuba this month. Nebraska has sold almost $70 million dollars of good to Cuba in the last 3 years. Idaho healthcare providers can help out in Cuba with my Cuba AIDS Project www.cubaaidsproject.com "

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