dr. rosen received his ph.d. manchesterers from texas a&m, served as an officer in the united states army and was a captain in the u.s. army reserve. we thank you for your service. dr. rosen i believe you're join today by your wife ellen is that correct? >> no sir, she's not here. >> okay. we'll not have her stand. let me get to some questions right quick. yes, you have your testimony. >> thank you. good afternoon, mr. chairman. ranking member stabenow and esteemed members of the committee. it's my pleasure to be here today. i want to thank you for inviting me to testify on the challenges and opportunities associated with trade with cuba. i've been studying the cuban market for about 15 years. i've been there a number of time. we continue northern what happens in cuba and how that impacts u.s. agricultural exporters. in fact, our work at texas a&m indicates one u.s. job is created for every $76,000 in u.s. exports to cuba and we think that makes it worthwhile for to us stay engaged on this important issue. just a

. >> we have now a welcome to dr. rosen? joining us today from texas a&m university. dr. rossen is professor department head of agriculture economics department where his extension and research interests focus on international trade and international marketing. he however, is not responsible for texas a&m leaving the big 12 and going to that other football conference. dr. rossen received his ph.d. master's bachelor's from texas a & m. was an officer in the united states army, was a captain in the u.s. army reserve. thank you for your service. you're joined by your wife helen, is that correct? >> she is not here. >> we obviously will not have her stand. let me get right to some questions real quick. my gracious. oh, yes, you have your testimony. pardon me. >> thank you. good afternoon mr. chairman, ranking member stabenow, esteem esteemed members of the committee. my pleasure to be here. thank you for inviting me to testify on the challenges and opportunities associated of trade with cuba. i have been studying the cuban market for about 15 years been there a number of time

. >> dr. rosen you've worked on projects in mexico brazil argentina, australia japan, iraq, indonesia singapore, philippines, malaysia and thailand. did you sing that country sing "i've been every where man" and you taught at clemson university. you're a tiger as well as an agate. thank you for your testimony. you have an impressive background. we got an opportunity to expand our competitive position of u.s. agriculture in the cuban market that the distinguished chairwoman agrees with me and i know the senator from arkansas does as well. but when farmers and ranchers explore an expansion of their business opportunity they explore the benefits and potential costs. what are some factors that could weaken our competitive position of the agricultural products in the cuban market? >> well, from our standpoint in texasiá now is limiting factor in the movement of container cargo which would apply to a lot of the higher value food products. we don't really have service right now out of our local ports to mo