WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce called last night’s agreement between Rep. George Nethercutt (R-WA) and House GOP leadership to permit the sale of food and medicine to Cuba under certain circumstances, "a positive development and a good first step to ending a 38-year old failed foreign policy."

Bruce Josten, Chamber Executive Vice President for Government Affairs, applauded Nethercutt’s efforts, saying, "this represents a good beginning on the road to ending these senseless unilateral sanctions."

The Chamber will continue its efforts in the Senate, Josten said, where strong support for ending the ban on sales of food and medicine was voiced last year.

"The fact remains that 38 years of failed policy on Cuba doesn’t justify a 39th," Josten said. "Using food and medicine as a weapon is immoral, plain and simple. America is better than that.

"The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has long believed that engaging countries through trade and free enterprise is the best, most proven, method to bring about change in odious political systems," he concluded.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

# # #

00-105