Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer just got back from a trade mission to Taiwan, and now he wants to go to Cuba.

While he has no firm plans for his next trip, Bauer sees potential for South Carolina farmers and manufacturers to put their wares on Cuban shelves.

“Cuba is looking to spend money,” Bauer said. “We have vendors who can sell many things to Cuba. To me, that’s economic development.”

Bauer said he has been talking with Charleston’s Jack Maybank, whose barge this July became the first U.S.-flagged commercial vessel with an all-American crew to enter Havana’s harbor since the U.S. broke relations with Cuba in 1961.

Maybank wants to explore more business opportunities in Cuba, Bauer said. Maybank could not be reached for comment earlier this week.

When and with whom Bauer visits is still undetermined, but he said he would likely go with Maybank. The idea is still in its “embryonic stage,” chief of staff Randy Page said.

But he said Cubans and the Taiwanese have similar interests.

“They are desperate for agriculture exports (from other nations) and expanding manufacturing opportunities,” Page said.

Taiwan paid for Bauer’s 10-day visit there in October. With state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Sharpe and state Rep. Liston Barfield, R-Horry, Bauer talked with officials about how South Carolina and Taiwan can expand their relationship.

Bauer said taxpayers likely would not pay for his trip to Cuba, either. “If I have to, I’ll pay for it. I may use money I have in my own (political) account.”

The United States forbids pleasure travel to the Communist island nation 90 miles south of Florida, but states, industry associations and businesses can visit and promote exports.

If Bauer and others go, they would have to get a license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The United States broke off diplomatic relations with the Soviet-backed country in 1961, at the height of the Cold War. The next year, the U.S. banned all trade with Cuba.

Trade restrictions were eased some under President Carter in the 1970s, and in 2000, Congress voted to allow U.S. companies to sell food and medicine to Cuba on a cash-only basis.

Then a congressman, Gov. Mark Sanford sponsored legislation to open up travel in Cuba, but it did not become law. Sanford also visited Cuba twice while he served in the House.

Although the federal government still frowns on it, business leaders and other states see new trading opportunities on the horizon.

North Carolina, for example, did at least $48,000 in business with Cuba last year, according to Export.gov, a U.S. government Web site.

The same site shows South Carolina sold nothing to Cuba that year.

Reach Talhelm at (803) 771-8339 or jtalhelm@thestate.com