Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Disappointed with Current Trends in U.S.-Cuba Relations

New Orleans, October 9 (RHC)-- With the decrease in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba, any hope of exporting Louisiana goods is shrinking. State Agricultural Commissioner Mike Strain says working on the issues between the two nations is of top priority.

In an interview quoted on the website of radio station WWL in New Orleans, Strain said there is a need to make sure that the ambassadors and trade representatives of the two countries make this work.

A year ago, Governor John Bel Edwards and Strain led a delegation from Louisiana to Cuba to strength the relationship between the Bayou State and the island nation.  Recently, Washington ordered 15 Cuban diplomats out of their embassy in Washington. Strain said that's disappointing to see.

Louisiana’s Agricultural Commissioner said that if the U.S. economic blockade on Cuba is lifted it could mean millions of dollars for the state and its agricultural industry, and that he was hopeful that normal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba could be restored.