U.S. companies sign $100 million in Cuba food deals

U.S. companies sign $100 million in Cuba food deals    U.S. business representatives from 25 states Wednesday signed contracts valued at $100 million with the Cuban Food Imports Co. (Alimport), according to media reports out of Cuba and China.
   The contracts concluded three days of talks in Havana between representatives from 114 U.S. companies and officials from Alimport.
   Reports said the discussions also focused on ways to ease trade restrictions against Cuba. Alimport director Pedro Alvarez reportedly told the U.S. contingent that Cuba would probably triple its imports from the United States if restrictions were lifted.
   Cuba imported some $500 million in primarily staple foods last year. U.S. trade restrictions limit U.S. exports to Cuba to agricultural products, led by rice, beans, corn, cereal, eggs and chicken. The main sticking point under current rules relates to trade financing: Cuba has to pay for U.S. goods in advance and U.S. banks are prohibited from financing any trade deals.
   Alvarez said in late 2006 that Cuba has begun shifting its total import spending to other nations as a result of the restrictions.