Maine agriculture trade mission to Cuba brings back contracts

[MaineDem]

AUGUSTA, Maine — Cuba has agreed to purchase up to $10 million worth of farm products including potatoes, apples, and dairy cattle from Maine producers, Gov. John Baldacci said Thursday.

"This agreement shows the importance of increasing our reach across state and national boundaries to enable Maine agricultural producers and other businesses to gain new markets," Baldacci said in a written statement.

Baldacci announced the agreement during a breakfast speech to Maine business hosted by the World Affairs Council. The announcement came at the end of a trade mission to Cuba involving representatives from the state´s potato, apple, dairy, cattle and maple syrup industries.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D870T5501-350.shtml

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Good! I hope Dumbyass doesn't screw it up.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. Thanks for posting Mainedem

I hope they are able to close the deal and get their money.

http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-04-10-2503.htm

WASHINGTON -- Some companies that sell food and agricultural products to Cuba are reporting that payments are not being credited to their bank accounts in the United States, according to a representative of a group that tracks business between the two countries.

John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council Inc., said Tuesday that fewer than half a dozen companies have contacted his organization recently about such problems.

He said banks have confirmed receipt of payments from Cuba but have not credited the accounts of exporters on instructions from the U.S government.

A spokeswoman for the Treasury Department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces the economic embargo against Cuba, is looking into the matter. OFAC, she said, has been asked to clarify the government's policy regarding payments. She wouldn't say who requested the clarification.

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