April 15, 2004

Cuba Partially Lifts Ban On US Poultry Imports

Cuba, the U.S. poultry industry's eighth largest export market, said Wednesday it had partially lifted a ban on U.S. chicken imports, drawing applause from U.S. food industry representatives in Havana to negotiate sales.
 
Cuba imposed the ban in March after the appearance of the dreaded bird flu disease in a handful of states.
 
"We are resuming chicken imports from states where the avian influenza has not appeared," said Pedro Alvarez, chairman of Cuba's state food importer Alimport.
 
Alvarez said there were about 20,000 tons of chicken on order, with more contracts to be signed this week with the representatives of 150 U.S. companies in Cuba to sell food.
 
The communist-run Caribbean island has emerged as the 35th-biggest export market for U.S. agricultural products since Washington in 2000 loosened the trade embargo to allow food sales for cash.
 
Cuba purchased $256.9 million worth of U.S. agricultural products last year, including more than 74,000 metric tons of poultry valued at $37.2 million.
 
"This is great news," said Jack McGann, president of International Trading Group which represents Perdue Farms, among other companies.
 
McGann said he had 56 containers of chicken due for delivery to Cuba in March and April.
 
According to John Kavulich, president of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, Cuba was the poultry industry's eighth-largest foreign market in 2003.
 
Kavulich, whose organization monitors trade between the two countries, said Cuba was now an important customer for companies such as Tyson Foods, Perdue Farms and Gold Kist.