Welcoming members of the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for Cuba at the island's diplomatic representation in this capital, its Chargé d'Affaires affirmed that Washington's policy toward Havana “continues to be based on the prohibition of regular trade between companies of both countries.”
“The commercial, financial, and economic blockade, Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, and the inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism affect not only our economy but also have a direct impact on the daily life of the Cuban people,” Torres argued.
Before an audience that included California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters and other guests, the diplomat recalled the challenges in recent weeks.
She listed that Cuba faced “the failure of the National Electro-energetic System, two hurricanes that affected the eastern and western part of the country, and two earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 and 6.7 that shook the province of Granma (east) and the surrounding regions”.
In addition to the unfortunate human damages, the material losses were substantial and in the agricultural sector “exceeded 383 million pesos so far, with approximately 37 thousand hectares of crops and 381 agricultural facilities damaged”, he explained.
He clarified that the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 allowed the Caribbean nation, for the first time after the 1960s, to buy in the United States; however, “the onerous condition of having to pay in cash and in advance persists, preventing Cuba from accessing credit,” he warned.
He also emphasized that “it is neither fair nor beneficial for any of us to continue with a comprehensive system of measures aimed at depriving the Cuban economy and, consequently, its people, of basic resources. This relationship is not just about trade, it is about partnerships, mutual interests, and the future.”
We could work together to address some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as food security, sustainability, and climate change, the Cuban diplomat said.
In that regard, she commented that “Cuba could share its experience in organic agriculture and urban agriculture, while the United States could contribute technology and expertise in intensive food production.”
“We believe that this understanding is bipartisan, it should be natural and not depend on who is in the White House. But, to reach that goal, a change is mandatory, he concluded. 
