Report: U.S. Food Sales in Cuba Increase

[Rose Siding]

HAVANA -- U.S. food producers significantly increased their sales to Cuba last year despite a long-standing trade embargo against the communist island, according to a Cuba-U.S. business group.

The New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said in a report released Monday that U.S. companies exported $392 million in products to Cuba during 2004, up from $257 million in 2003.

The sales -- including wheat, corn, rice, chicken and soybean oil -- pushed Cuba to No. 25 on a list of 228 foreign markets supplied by American food exporters.

Under an exception to the embargo passed in 2000, American agricultural goods can be sold to the island but on a cash-only basis.

Since then, the island has steadily increased its standing, from 144th place in 2001, 50th place in 2002, and 35th place in 2003.

"That's a spectacular increase," council president John Kavulich said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

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