VOA标准英语2010年-US Rice Farmers Push For Cuba Trade Op

US farmers in general support the bill before Congress that would open the way for the export of rice and other food commodities to Cuba

US agricultural organizations, state farm bureaus and the US Chamber¹ of Commerce have joined forces in support of a bill that would ease the current US embargo² against Cuba, allowing food to be exported to the communist-ruled Caribbean island nation. The bill, which was approved by the House Agriculture committee earlier this month, is opposed by many Cuban-American groups who fear the opening would bolster³ communist rule.

For third-generation Texas rice farmer Ray Stoesser, Cuba is a promising⁴ market and he does not want politics to get in the way. "It is just time to make friends and feed them,: he said. "I think that America needs to use the products that they have, like food, and make friends with the world."

Stoesser says half of the rice produced in the US is exported to other countries, mainly Mexico, and that farmers could produce more if the market were to expand to Cuba. "Here in southeast Texas, just like south Louisiana, we enjoy a climate that is conducive⁵ to grow rice. It is hot and humid, [there is a] longer growing season," he explained. "We can produce one crop and harvest that, turn around and water the stubble and have a second crop."

Stoesser says the overall price of rice is determined⁶ by the export market. If that price is too low, he says, it will not adequately cover the expense of fuel, fertilizer, herbicides and equipment.

 

Rice is a staple⁷ food in Cuba and the country consumes more than 700,000 tons of rice a year. But Cuba is not capable of producing more than a fraction of that amount in its own fields.

In the year 2000, the United States did ease the agricultural export ban to Cuba, but a later tightening⁸ of policy, to require advance cash payments, choked off Cuban purchases of US grain.  Cuba still imports some food from the United States, but the country is short on cash for a number of reasons including the damage done by hurricanes and a drop in tourism revenue.

Dwight Roberts is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston-based US Rice Producers Association. He says allowing US rice exports to Cuba would benefit both nations. "They import about 600,000 tons per year, some years a little more. Most of that is coming from Vietnam. The highest year that the US shipped rice, over these last 10 years, was in 2004; the US shipped 160,000 tons of rice, valued at about $65 million," he said.

Since 2008 the United States has not sold a single grain of rice to Cuba.

Many Cuban Americans say money should not be a factor in regard to the embargo as long as the Cuban government represses freedom and aggressively opposes US policies.

Roberts says Cuba is not alone in that regard. "We trade with a lot of countries around the world who are not necessarily overly friendly to US politics," he says, "but we have always felt that food and agriculture should be outside of the political arena⁹."

Roberts says US farmers in general support the bill before Congress that would open the way for the export of rice and other food commodities to Cuba.

"It re-defines the definition of a cash payment back to the previous terms of payment after the ship has been loaded; it allows for direct banking¹⁰. Right now, under the [current] terms, we have to use a third country bank," Roberts stated.

The bill would also ease travel restrictions¹¹ to Cuba, which, US farmers believe, would increase the demand for US food products, including beef and pork.

But the bill to open such trade still faces heavy opposition¹² in Congress and probably will not be debated until after the legislative¹³ body's August break.
 

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

3 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

8 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

9 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

10 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

11 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

12 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

13 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。