Newsline for May 10, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:06.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: THE U.S. IS A STEP CLOSER TO REOPENING TRADE WITH CUBA. BOB ELLISON REPORTS.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM SENATOR BYRON DORGAN.

STAND BY, THE STORY COME FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) A SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVED A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE SALES TO CUBA. THE UNITED STATES HAS A FORTY YEAR EMBARGO ON TRADE WITH THE COMMUNIST NATION AND NORTH DAKOTA DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BYRON DORGAN SAYS IT'S TIME FOR THAT TO END.

(DORGAN) WITHHOLDING FOOD AND MEDICINE SHIPMENTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO IMPOSE A PENALTY ON DICTATORS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WE'RE AIMING AT DICTATORS AND YOU END UP HITTING SICK PEOPLE, POOR PEOPLE, HUNGRY PEOPLE.

(ELLISON) DORGAN SPONSORED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD EXEMPT FOOD AND MEDICINE FROM U-S UNILATERAL TRADE SANCTIONS. HE SAYS UNILATERAL SANCTIONS HURT AMERICAN FARMERS.

(DORGAN) WITH RESPECT TO FARMERS IN OUR COUNTRY THEY ARE PREVENTED FROM ACCESSING MARKETS OVERSEAS IN THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE WE HAVE SANCTIONS. AGAIN FOOD SHOULD NEVER BE USED AS WEAPON.

(ELLISON) DORGAN SAYS HE HOPES HIS FELLOW LAWMAKERS AND PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL SEE THE BENEFITS OF EXEMPTING FOOD AND MEDICINE FROM UNILATERAL SANCTIONS.

(DORGAN) THIS IS GOOD FOR OUR FARMERS, IT'S GOOD PUBLIC POLICY AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT I HOPE WILL BE SUCCESS IN GETTING THIS TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK THIS YEAR.

(ELLISON) DORGAN'S AMENDMENT IS LIKE ONE PASSED BY THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT AMENDMENT HAS NOT MADE PROGRESS ON CAPITOL HILL.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.