Blockade prevents Cuba from buying more in US

Cuba: Restrictions imposed by the US economic, commercial and financial blockade on Cuba reduced buys of food products to the United States in the last three years..

Greater obstacles from the White House and the ban on accessing credits limit Cuban imports more each day, after maintaining a rising volume until 2005, affirmed president of state Cuban importing firm Alimport president, Pedro Alvarez.

Such conditions compel to reori‚ntate imports to other more reliable markets, without restrictions to Cuban acquisitions and which offer credit, very decisive in moments when the economic crisis influences food prices, he said.

In statements made to Opciones weekly, Alvarez said with those inconvenients, volumes from the northern neighbor are reduced, despite the seriousness of their business people, the quality of their products and the geographic nearness.

The Alimport executive recalled that from the beginning of operations in December, 2001 until this date, Cuba has paid her US counterpart over 4.4 billion dollars.

It has also carried out negotiations with about 5,000 traders and signed contracts with more than 150 of them, to show the interest of the Cuban market for US entrepreneurs.

In general, the Cuban firm imported last year products foro ver 2.5 billion dollars, mainly to cover the basic family basket sold to the population at subsidized prices.

For US executives the incentive posed by the Cuban market nearer to negotiate godos and services, as building materials, medical equipment, electric home appliances and power generating units.

Alvarez said if the blockade and all its restrictions were to be lifted, normal trade between both countries is estimated in over 21 billion dollars only in the first five years, figure which could grow depending on the market at that moment. Havana, Prensa Latina