U.S. farm sales to Cuba highest since 2000
Posted on Fri, Feb. 15, 2008
By WILFREDO CANCIO ISLA
El Nuevo Herald
After two years of shrinkage, U.S. sales to Cuba of agricultural goods
during 2007 bounced back to $437.7 million, the highest annual total
since such sales were authorized in 2000.
The 2007 total represented a strong increase over the $340.4 million
recorded in 2006 and the $350.2 million recorded in 2005, according to
figures compiled by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, a New York
group that monitors bilateral trade.
The $437.7 million made Cuba the United States' 37th largest trading
partner for the year, according to the council, which obtains its data
from the U.S. government.
Since Washington first authorized such sales to Cuba as a humanitarian
exemption to the U.S. trade embargo, Havana has bought nearly $2 billion
in those goods from U.S. companies.
The Cuban government reported last month that it had bought $600 million
in goods from U.S. companies in 2007. Cuba claims its figures include
transportation, banking and other charges associated with the purchases,
but the council's report notes that Havana's figures are ``suspect.''
Cuba has tried to use its U.S. purchases as a way of pushing U.S.
providers to lobby Washington to ease trade sanctions on the island.
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