Cuba criticizes new U.S. rule on food shipments.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Vanessa Bauza and Rafael Lorente

HAVANA _ While stopping short of announcing a freeze in multi-million dollar U.S. agricultural purchases, Cuba's food importing agency, Alimport, said the Treasury Department's new rule requiring cash in advance of U.S. shipments is an obstacle jeopardizing trade.

The practice could put exports at risk of being seized as compensation for lawsuits brought by Cuban exiles against President Fidel Castro's government and signals a new step in the Bush administration's efforts to block Cuba exports and tighten sanctions, Alimport President Pedro Alvarez said.

"To purchase from the U.S. under the new measure would be highly unreliable, for the direct food sales to the Cuban population, including its children ... would be at risk," Alvarez said...

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