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TO:Federal & State Elected Officials

Dear Elected Official:

I am writing to you to express my concern regarding the ongoing trade sanctions against Cuba by the United States. These sanctions have been in place since the early 1960’s. Their elimination is long overdue.

The current economic downturn in the United States could benefit by opening the doors to Cuba as a viable trade partner and political ally. Today the country of Cuba has 11 million people residents and is approximately the size of the country of Belgium. Like Belgium, Cuba’s biggest exports are specialty products and farm goods. The largest commodity is sugar. Tourism also provides substantial revenue for the country, generating $2.2 billion in revenues in 2001, ten times the 1991 level. Cuba’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2001 was just $19 billion and its total imports were $3.4 billion. If economic and political reform helped Cuba reach Belgium’s level of economic output, its imports could swell by more than $10 billion annually. If sanctions against Cuba were lifted some estimate that U.S. exports would immediately balloon by $2 billion annually.

Cuba’s weak imports, even if we assume that the estimate of more than $1 billion is correct, represent less than 2% of the U.S.’ overall food export. U.S. farmers contend that any new business is good business for them. Cuba could be a very important trading partner in this hemisphere. Many U.S. industries would benefit by a lifting of the embargo, including agriculture, biotech, mining and, especially, tourism. One of the oldest cigar makers in Havana estimates its sales would reach $25 million to $30 million if the United States trade barriers were removed. Airline industry revenues would climb by as much as $415 million annually, and U.S. economic output would increase by between $1.18 billion and $1.61 billion a year, if current travel restrictions to Cuba were lifted, according to a study released by the Center for International Policy.

I am concerned that the only reasons for sanctions at this point is to punish Cuba’s political leader, giving no consideration to the economic prosperity of the citizens of Cuba, who are ultimately the victims of these sanctions. I urge you to take an active role in eliminating these sanctions as they have served only to hurt innocent people.

Please acknowledge this message and let me know your position on this matter.

My personal message to you is:

Sincerely,

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