"Since November of last year, Cuba has signed contracts to buy nearly $73 million in U.S. agricultural products. Future sales of grain to Cuba are put in jeopardy by the decision to revoke travel visas for Cuban officials who make grain purchasing decisions. While I have no illusion about the Cuban government's poor human rights record and its failed economic policies, the grain we export to Cuba feeds Cuban citizens," The Senator said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The letter was initiated by press reports that key Cuban officials had been denied travel visas by Otto Reich, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Senator Roberts noted that American agriculture depends on trade. Nearly one out of three dollars a Kansas farmer earns is the result of agricultural trade. America's competitors do not hesitate to sell their products, and often provide credit for and subsidize the sale to Cuba, he said.

He added farmers have suffered under recent trade actions. "The decision to impose tariffs on imported steel products caused retaliatory action against American agricultural products: a ban on poultry products by the Russian Federation, WTO consultation regarding U.S. soybeans by Brazil, and additional tariffs on a wide range of agricultural products by the European Union."

Senator Roberts has been a leading advocate in Congress for the removal of trade embargoes and travel restrictions on Cuba. He visited the country in two years ago to discuss the possibility of selling U.S. Agriculture products.

Recent grain sales to Cuba are the result of legislation passed two years ago that was co-sponsored by Senator Roberts.