CUBA: SHIPS CARRYING FOOD PRODUCTS FROM THE UNITED STATES ARRIVE COMPLETING FIRST DIRECT FOOD TRADE SINCE 1962

Record ID: 338277

  • Title: CUBA: SHIPS CARRYING FOOD PRODUCTS FROM THE UNITED STATES ARRIVE COMPLETING FIRST DIRECT FOOD TRADE SINCE 1962
  • Date: 18th December 2001
  • Summary: HAVANA, CUBA (DECEMBER 16, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. LV HAVANA BAY 0.03 2. MV PEOPLE SITTING ON DOCK; SHIP CARRYING AID ARRIVING; MV DOCK WORKERS (5 SHOTS) 0.30 3. SLV SHIP IN PORT; MV CUBAN OFFICIALS ON DOCK (2 SHOTS) 0.36 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF STATE-RUN ALIMPORT, PEDRO ALVAREZ, SAYING "The operation was made to restore the country's reserves after the damage suffered after the hurricane." 0.44 5. SLV SHIP'S CARGO DOOR OPENING 0.48 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND EXECUTIVE, LARRY CUNNINGHAM, SAYING "We are here to celebrate with our friends from Alimport the arrival of twenty four thousand tonnes of American corn that was shipped from the port of New Orleans on Friday afternoon." 1.01 7. SV MEDIA 1.04 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CUNNINGHAM SAYING "Archer Daniels Midland has long been an advocate for free trade with all countries including Cuba." 1.11 9. SV MEDIA 1.15 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CUNNINGHAM SAYING "It is our feeling that the best way to build relations between countries is to have them become trading partners." 1.22 11. SLV MEDIA AND OFFICIALS ON DOCK; SCU CUNNINGHAM AND ALVAREZ SHAKING HANDS (2 SHOTS) 1.30 12. SLV SHIP ARRIVING; SLV U.S. EXECUTIVES ON DOCK; DOCK WORKERS UNLOADING CARGO; SLV SHIPS IN PORT (8 SHOTS) 2.01 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 2002 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: HAVANA, CUBA
  • Country: Cuba
  • Reuters ID: LVAE5HWMTZTF300PG2Q2LRHEQTQS
  • Story Text: Ships carrying food product from the United States
    have arrived in Cuba, completing the first direct food trade
    between the two politically estranged countries since the
    United States slapped an embargo on the Communist-run island
    in 1962.

    The historic sale of U.S. food products to Cuba on
    Sunday (December 16) was prompted by Hurricane Michelle which
    devastated the Caribbean island's crops last month. It was
    made possible by a legal loophole, the result of a year-old
    law that exempts food and medicine from U.S. trade sanctions.

    The M.V. Express, a container vessel owned by
    Florida-based Crowley Liner Services, glided into Havana Bay
    with 500 tonnes of frozen chicken sold by a U.S. subsidiary of
    the French firm Louis Dreyfus Corp.

    A second ship carrying 24,000 tonnes of corn sold by U.S.

    agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland arrived later in the
    day.

    "It is our feeling the best way to build relations between
    countries is to have them become trading partners," said ADM
    executive Larry Cunningham.

    Both vessels left the United States on Friday (December
    14), with more shipments expected in the coming weeks as ADM
    and others make good on about $30 million (U.S. dollars) in
    contracts for 200,000 tonnes of U.S. wheat, corn, soybeans,
    rice and chicken.

    The sales come despite Cuban President Fidel Castro's
    pledge not to buy "a single grain of U.S. rice or aspirin"
    soon after the new law was signed.

    He claimed that it discriminated against Cuba because the
    United States still prohibited private and government
    financing, as well as the import of Cuban products.

    But Castro apparently changed his mind after Hurricane
    Michelle ripped across Cuba.

    The sales were expected to heighten debate in the United
    States between farmers and others who want the embargo lifted,
    and Cuban exile groups who demand even tougher sanctions.

    President George W. Bush has said he strongly supports the
    U.S. trade embargo against its neighbour 100 miles (160 km)
    south of Florida, but moves are under way in the U.S. Congress
    to further loosen the sanctions.

    U.S. agribusinesses have voiced hope for additional sales
    to Cuba, which purchases some $800 million (USD) in food
    commodities each year.

    But Castro last week attributed the sales to damage caused
    by Hurricane Michelle, insisting that he wants further changes
    to the embargo before engaging in more trade.


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