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Cuba, Texas sign Farm Trade Accord
Havana, July 11: Cuba and the Texas Gulf Port city of corpus Christi on Thursday signed an `historic` trade pact for the sale of US farm products to Cuba, officials of both countries announced here.
Havana, July 11: Cuba and the Texas Gulf Port city of corpus Christi on Thursday signed an "historic" trade pact for the sale of US farm products to Cuba, officials of both
countries announced here.
Ruben Bonilla, head of the Corpus Christi Port Authority, who signed the accord with Pedro Alvarez, president of Cuba's state enterprise Alimport, called it a first step toward abolition of the US trade embargo on Cuba.
The first direct sale of US products to the Communist island state was in November 2001, precipitated by devastation caused in Cuba by hurricane Michelle. That was the first commercial transaction between the United States and Cuba in more than 40 years. Since than, US sales to Cuba -- tightly controlled and on a cash-only basis -- have steadily increased to today's level of 480 million dollars, Alvarez told a press conference.
He said 11 US ports are now selling Cuba such farm products as cereal, rice, soya, vegetable oil and chickens.
Bonilla said US President George W. Bush, a former governor of Texas, "believes in free trade."
"Trade benefits both countries in a complex international situation, and Cuba is a close and natural market," he said. Alvarez said US exports to Cuba had increased in recent months over a comparable period last year.
He said the United States in 2002 became Cuba's principal provider of agricultural products after France and Canada.
Bureau Report
The first direct sale of US products to the Communist island state was in November 2001, precipitated by devastation caused in Cuba by hurricane Michelle. That was the first commercial transaction between the United States and Cuba in more than 40 years. Since than, US sales to Cuba -- tightly controlled and on a cash-only basis -- have steadily increased to today's level of 480 million dollars, Alvarez told a press conference.
He said 11 US ports are now selling Cuba such farm products as cereal, rice, soya, vegetable oil and chickens.
Bonilla said US President George W. Bush, a former governor of Texas, "believes in free trade."
"Trade benefits both countries in a complex international situation, and Cuba is a close and natural market," he said. Alvarez said US exports to Cuba had increased in recent months over a comparable period last year.
He said the United States in 2002 became Cuba's principal provider of agricultural products after France and Canada.
Bureau Report