Louisiana Gov. seals trade deal with Cuba

MSNBC ^ | March 10, 2005 | Mary Murray

[varon]

The Louisiana state delegation signed four key agreements with Alimport, the Cuban government’s chief food importer, worth $15 million — some $5 million more than Alimport’s initial proposal to the Democratic governor. The agreement included a $2 million pledge to buy 10 thousand tons of milled rice from Louisiana Rice Mill and 160 tons of powdered milk from the AnPro Trading company.

I don't quite understand exactly how a State can enter into a trade agreement unless it owns the industry or products in question. Should not the sell - buy agreement be between the manufacturer/producer and the buyer?

I know some States have prison industries that in essence compete with private industry but usually produce goods used by State agencies.
Does the Sate of Louisiana own Louisiana Rice Mill and AnPro Trading Company?

[sportutegrl]

I still think Bobby Jindal won that election.

[seacapn]

This 'embargo' has more holes than tin cans on the plinking fence. Seems like the only people who actually get nailed by it are individual travelers who get caught by the treasury department.

Those people should visit countries like North Korea, Syria, Burma, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Iran, or others with no travel embargo in effect.

[Bonaparte]

"...concluding agreements is another."

According to Art I, only "treaties, alliances and confederations" are forbidden. AFAIK, other agreements, such as business contracts, are ok. Do I have this wrong?

[Bonaparte]

"...concluding agreements is another."

According to Art I, only "treaties, alliances and confederations" are forbidden. AFAIK, other agreements, such as business contracts, are ok. Do I have this wrong?

[Carry_Okie]

AFAIK, other agreements, such as business contracts, are ok. Do I have this wrong?

I am no lawyer, so maybe DG can straighten this out if I'm wrong. Business to business contracts among parties in different nation-states are obviously fine under the Constitution, but the State is not a "business." Contracts among nation-states are treaties (no matter what Congress thinks NAFTA is), because they are binding agreements among governments. IIRC, a foreign company operating in the US has to incorporate a US subsidiary or otherwise agree to be bound by American law. That subsidiary can then contract with a State.

[Bonaparte]

From AP...

Blanco is the fourth U.S. governor to travel to Cuba. The first, George Ryan of Illinois, came on a similar trade mission in 1999. Governors John Hoeven, of North Dakota, and Jesse Ventura, of Minnesota, also have led trade delegations here in recent years.

I'm no expert either, but I've got to wonder why the Cuban expats have not objected to these deals on constitutional grounds.

[Bonaparte]

From AP...

Blanco is the fourth U.S. governor to travel to Cuba. The first, George Ryan of Illinois, came on a similar trade mission in 1999. Governors John Hoeven, of North Dakota, and Jesse Ventura, of Minnesota, also have led trade delegations here in recent years.

I'm no expert either, but I've got to wonder why the Cuban expats have not objected to these deals on constitutional grounds.

[Bonaparte]

Just for the record...

Hoeven and Ryan stood for office as Republicans.
Ventura ran on the Reform Party ticket.

I'm still looking for any legal challenges to their deals that appeal to constitutional prohibition.

[Bonaparte]

Here is an announcement for a state of Utah trade mission to Moscow from about 2 years ago. Utah may be the most conservative state in the union.

Here's an article on a recent Utah trade mission to China. It would seem to be quite common for states to broker these trade deals with all sorts of foreign countries.

[Bonaparte]

Here's a letter from far-leftist Sheila Kuehl, arguing against Governor Schwarzenegger's foreign trade agreements. I would think that, if there were some constitutional issue, she would bring it up. But she doesn't.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I saw that note about Castro giving out a bunch of pressure cookers.....guess that is a rice cooker.

And looks like the Governor's agreement with Cuba may be legal. See posts above.

[Carry_Okie]

Whether a common practice is constitutional or not has little to do with its ubiquity or its duration. As examples, I give you lax border enforcement and anchor babies, both of which are clearly unconstitutional by the intent of those who ratified the original Constitution and the 14th Amendment, but both are both ubiquitous and upheld by the courts.

[Flux Capacitor]

----I still think Bobby Jindal won that election.----

In Louisiana, that's a pretty safe assumption about any Democrat margin of victory under five points.

Another pretty safe assumption, especially after this, is that KKKathleen Blanco is just about the dumbest bitch on the planet. Thank you, Ms. Bubbaneaux, this state really needed another black eye.

-Dan

[The Bronze Titan]

-"buying goods from communist China = good.
selling goods to communist Cuba = bad.

yep that makes sense."

-Good point. You tell 'em!

WHAT 'IS' THE POINT?

That there is no moral equivilancy with trading with a dictator that has been in power for over 45 years, holds his people hostage in one mass island jail, engages in 'tourista' aparthaid with the country's own citizens when they can't enjoying their own tourist hotels

[malakhi]

WHAT 'IS' THE POINT?

I didn't post the remark upon which you commented.