Trade between U.S. and Cuba on the rise

MIAMI, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba increased in 2007 after two straight years of decline and were at their highest since 2000, El Nuevo Herald reported Friday.

Sales last year to the communist island reached $437.7 million, up from $340.4 million in 2006 and $350.2 million the previous year, according to the U.S. Trade and Economic Council in New York.

Cuban claims to have purchased some $600 million in goods from U.S. companies in the last year, a figure that includes transportation charges and other fees payable to U.S. companies.

Agricultural products sold to Cuba are exempted from the U.S. trade embargo as humanitarian goods.