In many states, a trip to Cuba by the governor could turn into a lightning rod for controversy.

Gov. Baldacci’s trip, which begins Saturday and ends Monday, isn’t likely to ruffle too many feathers.

Baldacci won’t be meeting with dictator Fidel Castro. Nor will he be meeting with members of the political opposition. The trip is, instead, about expanding trade between Maine and Cuba.

The United States barred direct trade with Cuba in 1960, although the total prohibition has been loosened in recent years. Now, trade of agricultural products, drugs and humanitarian shipments is allowed.

Through high-level contacts between the Baldacci administration and the Cuban import agency, Alimport, about $10 million worth of trade agreements have been opened. The trade mission will seal some of those deals.

Before 1999, it had been 40 years since a sitting U.S. governor had visited Cuba, a country that remains beset by a dictatorial leader who leads an oppressive regime that treats its opposition and an independent media harshly. That year, then-Illinois Gov. George Ryan visited the country. Since then, others have followed, including then-Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco. They all conducted similar missions: to open up new markets for products from their states.

Since Congress liberalized the trade embargo on Cuba in 2000, at least 38 states have sold the country materials. The definition of agricultural products goes beyond what might be obvious and can include some forestry products, in addition to food and livestock. It could also include such products as copier paper, which can be loosely defined as a forestry product for trade purposes.

Foreign trade offers great benefits to Maine businesses. And while $10 million in deals doesn’t sound like a lot in terms of the state’s overall economy or exports, a handful of million-dollar contracts can make a huge difference for individual companies and the people they employ.

Trading with Cuba isn’t an endorsement of Castro’s leadership, just as trade with China or Vietnam doesn’t endorse communism.

The trade mission is worthwhile for its immediate payoff and for future opportunities it might make possible.