Castro will let U.S. boats bring food
New policy allows first U.S. food sales to Cuba in 40 years
Fidel Castro removed a major
obstacle to the first American food sales to Cuba
in 40 years, saying Saturday that U.S. ships or
vessels from other countries can bring the goods
to the communist island.
Havana
AP
MsnNbc
IN A 4½-HOUR speech that began late Friday night,
Castro said he would abandon his insistence that the food
be shipped on Cuban vessels. The United States had
rejected that proposal.
Castro said the American products could be picked up
by boats from other countries — including the United States
— and added that “we are pursuing the rest of the
paperwork for the purchases.”
Cuba’s plans to buy American food are certain to
please U.S. agricultural firms, which have been lobbying the
government here to make a symbolic purchase under a U.S.
law passed last year. The United States does not have
diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Congress approved food exports to Cuba in 2000,
easing a trade embargo imposed in 1961 — but watered
down the measure by prohibiting the U.S. financing of such
transactions. Enraged by that restriction, Cuba said it would
not buy any food until sanctions were eased more.
Cuba softened that stance after it was hit hard by
Hurricane Michelle. The government declined a U.S. offer
of humanitarian aid but proposed a one-time cash purchase
of American food and medicine in the wake of the storm,
which destroyed crops and destroyed homes on Nov. 4.
STOCKING FOR THE FUTURE
The purchase will allow Cuba “to immediately create
new reserves” of emergency food and medicine for any
future natural disasters, Castro said. He said Cuba
appreciates the U.S. aid offer and repeated his call for an
easing of the sanctions.
“We hope for a continual lessening of the obstacles that
exist and that one day the blockade will disappear,” Castro
said in his speech at a regional trade forum.
Cuban officials have presented a list of goods for
examination by U.S. officials and also have been in contact
with 15 agricultural companies and 15 firms that produce
either pharmaceuticals or medical supplies.
Cuba’s request to buy specific items still must obtain
final licensing approval from the U.S. government. Cuban
officials have said they would pay for the goods in cash.
Castro has not said exactly what Cuba wants to buy,
how much it will cost or when the U.S. products would be
brought to Cuba. Cuba has said it would pay cash for the
goods, whose value has been estimated at $3 million to $10
million.
The U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, which
monitors the trade situation between the two countries, has
said Cuba is seeking to purchase products such as wheat,
soy, flour, corn and rice, and possibly wood, baby food,
powdered milk, cooking oil, beans, antibiotics and
vaccinations.
Cuban purchases of U.S. medical supplies have been
legal since 1992.
