Congressman Wants Louisiana To Pursue Commerce With Cuba

MONROE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana congressman says he wants the state to quickly become a trading partner with Cuba once the U.S. finishes normalizing relations with the island nation.

The News Star reports (http://tnsne.ws/1RxZJib ) that Republican U.S. Reps. Ralph Abraham of Louisiana and Rick Crawford of Arkansas are traveling to Cuba on April 6 with agriculture producers from both states.

Meryl Kennedy Farr, whose family is one of the largest rice growers in the state, is among those going. Farr says trade with Cuba has long been a top goal for the U.S. rice industry.

Abraham says Cuba is 36 hours away from the New Orleans port, and he wants to talk to Cuban officials about details of shipping and distribution.