Madrid/Agricultural exports from the United States to Cuba have grown by 17% between January and July of this year when compared to the same period in 2024, a fact that shows that the business overcomes tensions. The data came to light at the Cuba-United States Agricultural Conference that is being held these days in Havana. “Regardless of the Administration or political changes, we all have to eat,” PJ Haynie summarized to the state press.
Director of Haynie Family Foods – a company dedicated to corn, soy, rice and wheat – the agricultural businessman is on the Island promoting “sustainable techniques with Cuban producers to increase yields and ensure quality rice,” he says. “We want to ensure that we consume products of the best quality possible,” he stressed.
He is not the only one of the participants in the event who insisted on that line. Andrés Schade also did so, highlighting the trip’s ability to strengthen alliances and help the Guajiros achieve more efficiency by cultivating local varieties.
“We want to make sure we consume products of the best quality possible,” he stressed.
Paul Johnson, president of the bilateral Agricultural Coalition, for his part, mentioned the drawbacks of Cuba’s presence on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism prepared by the White House, but believes that “commercial diversification” and memoranda between universities and productive entities allow room for improvement, in reference to the agreement signed in 2024 between the Agricultural Center of Louisiana State University, the Department of Agriculture of the United States and the Ministry of Agriculture of Cuba.
Food is, as the deputy director of the United States department in the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johana Tablada, stressed in the previous edition of this event – when the aforementioned agreement was signed – “the only significant window” in the midst of the sanctions, although it only allows sales to the United States and not to Cuba.
“Today we know that the regulations, laws and decisions of the US Government do not seem to go in the direction of making the relationship with Cuba more flexible or allowing trade relations. We even know that for the non-state (Cuban) sector there was a lot of talk about changes, but there have not been any. Hopefully,” the official said in 2024, despite the fact that the Island has serious problems exporting due to the inability to produce, with the exception of a few items such as lobster, charcoal or rum.
According to Cubatrade data, last july –the latest for which there are published figures– Cuba imported agricultural and food products from the United States worth 42.3 million dollars, 34.6% more than the same month of the previous year, with 31.4 million.
So far this year, the value of purchases from the neighboring country reached 285.7 million dollars, compared to 242 million in the same period of 2024.
So far this year, the value of purchases from the neighboring country reached 285.7 million dollars, compared to 242 million in the same period of 2024. Among the products highlighted by the commercial entity, wheat stands out, for an amount of 1.7 million dollars, followed by eggs, with just over half a million, and corn, with only 12,000 dollars. Peanuts, soybean oil and some industrial inputs are also mentioned, although on this occasion chicken has been omitted, which usually stands out for being, by far, the most purchased product in the United States.
The exemptions to the embargo, introduced in 2000 to cover food and health products paid in advance and in cash, will remain in place at least until September 14, 2026, since they have been extended – as has been the case since their entry into force – by the current president, in this case Donald Trump.
In recent years, an exemption authorized by the Joe Biden Government – that of vehicle sales to companies authorized by the State Department – has been in the spotlight of these operations, since exports They have entailed, as expected, a high volume of trade in economic terms. So far, the Trump Administration has not spoken out either in favor or against the continuation of these permits, although Florida has indicated that the magnifying glass will be put on on all companies that maintain exchanges with the Island to guarantee that they comply with the law.
