By Anita Snow, Associated Press Writer
HAVANA, 24 (AP) - Encouraged by signs Cuba may be ready to buy more U.S.
products, the head of a leading American agricultural firm said Thursday his
company is willing to sell the communist country as much food as it wants.
Illinois Gov. George Ryan arrived here Thursday with drug company
representatives keen to do business with Cuba.
"The embargo robs us in Illinois and in the United States of a vast
consumer market of 11 million people,'' Ryan said, referring to the four-decade
old U.S. trade sanctions against Cuba. "It's time to end the embargo and
welcome Cuba into the international marketplace.''
The high-profile visits by Minnesota agribusiness giant Cargill, Inc., and
the Illinois delegation come as Cuba woos Americans who oppose long-standing
restrictions on U.S. trade with the Caribbean island.
"It is our sincere hope that the success of this initial commercial
transaction will lead to a further improvement in U.S.-Cuban relations,''
Cargill chairman and CEO Warren R. Staley told a news conference Thursday in
which he announced the arrival of 25,000 metric tons of American corn his
company sold directly to Cuba.
While hopes for a trade thaw between the two countries are high among Cuban
officials and American firms, one expert warned against excessive optimism. Most
U.S.-Cuba trade is barred by a 40-year-old embargo, and Cuba bought American
food for the first time in nearly four decades only after a November hurricane.
"The relationship between the United States and Cuba has never been
reflected in one moment, but rather a series of moments, some more important
than others'' said John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba
Trade and Economic Council.
Nevertheless, people on all sides of the trade debate took notice this week
when Pedro Alvarez, president of Cuba's food import enterprise, said his
government could buy more American agricultural products if it receives
encouraging signs from Washington.
It was the first time that a Cuban official had declared the communist
government would consider buying more American food. Appearing at Cargill's news
conference, Alvarez repeated his assertion Thursday.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro earlier had said that $35 million in food
contracts signed late last year with U.S. companies were a one-time deal.
Deliveries are being made this month and next month.
Before Hurricane Michelle, Havana had refused to take advantage of a U.S.
law passed in 2000 allowing the direct food sales because it prohibits American
government or private financing.
Now that the first sales have been made, American agribusiness hopes more
will follow.
"Cargill would hope to sell everything that Cuba would buy if the
financing restrictions are lifted,'' said Staley. And Alvarez said lifting the
financing restrictions is among gestures that could persuade Havana to buy more.
"We will respond from our side to a positive gesture,'' Alvarez said. "And
Cargill would be one of the first companies we would contact for possible new
contracts.''
While the focus on U.S. trade with Cuba now centers on food, drug companies
also want to do business, said Mark Rasenick, director of Biomedical
Neuroscience Training at the University of Illinois' College of Medicine.
The embargo has never barred sales of U.S. medicine and medical supplies,
but "a lot of American companies just give up because it is so hard to get
the licenses,'' Rasenick said by telephone.
Ryan arrived Thursday afternoon, accompanied by representatives of the
Illinois firms Ferris Manufacturing, Medline, DMS Pharmaceutical, JLR
International and Century Healthcare.
After Hurricane Michelle swept across Cuba in early November, Havana
politely rejected the U.S. government's offer of humanitarian help and said it
preferred to make direct purchases of U.S. food and medicine to replenish its
reserves. While Cuba has signed contracts for food, no contracts have been made
for medicine and medical supplies.
U.S.
Department of the Treasury - U. S. Embargo
The U.S.
Embargo and Health Care in Cuba: Myth versus reality / | 
