Cuba and US state of Vermont sign memorandum of understanding

CUBA’S food marketing company ALIMPORT and the US state of Vermont have signed a two-year memorandum of understanding to promote the sale of foodstuffs to the Island.

US Senator for Vermont James M. Jeffords and Pedro Alvarez, president of ALIMPORT signed an agreement for the purchase of products from that territory, in particular, livestock, milk and apples.

Jeffords, who has been in the Capitol for more than 30 years, stated that people in the United States want to be able to travel freely to Cuba, and that he will do everything within his power to lift the US government’s economic, trade and financial restrictions against Cuba.

Alvarez highlighted how trade relations with Vermont had been strengthened by last year’s visit by Brian Dubie and Steve Kerr, Vermont’s vice governor and agriculture secretary, respectively.

He pointed out that the new restrictive measures imposed by the White House against Cuba ignore the will of the US Congress, which authorized sales of food items to the Caribbean nation.

Since December 2001 Cuba has imported more than 4.176 metric tons of US foodstuffs, and has made punctual payments of more than $1.188 billion.