Media contact: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu
WASHINGTON – Though the U.S. has a trade embargo with Cuba, food and other agricultural products can be exported to Cuba. These opportunities and other topics will be the focus of an April 8 “Doing Business with Cuba” workshop in Washington, D.C.
The half-day event will be held at the Rayburn House Office Building located at Independence Avenue and South Capitol St. in Room B-340.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance are co-sponsoring the event.
“This program will help export service providers, food processors and distributors, as well as agricultural producers and policy makers better understand the Cuban market for U.S. agricultural food products and associated regulations,” said Dr. Parr Rosson, AgriLife Extension economist and head of the department of agricultural economics at Texas A&M University.
Participants will also learn how to receive a license to travel and export to Cuba, and requirements for export inspection.
“They will be briefed on recent changes in Cuba and which products have the most potential in the Cuban market,” he said. “U.S. companies exported about $450 million to Cuba in 2012, but the market has potential to grow even more in the future.”
Rosson will present “The Cuban Market for Food and Agricultural Products.” Other speakers include Anthony Christino III, director of the foreign policy division of the U.S. Department of Commerce-Bureau of Industry and Security. Attorney Robert Muse will present “Payment and Travel Regulations,” while Ernest Bezdek, director of trade development with the Port of Beaumont, will present “Views from Cuba.”
There is no cost for this event, but seating is limited. Registration is required by April 3 and can be made by calling Cynthia Thomas, president of the Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance, at 972-527-7505.
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