October 30, 2000

The Cuban government kept up its fierce criticism of a new law aimed at allowing U.S. food and medicine sales. REUTERS says Vice President Carlos Lage told reporters his government would "totally reject this measure."

"We wouldn't trade with the United States or anyone else in conditions (like these) that hurt the dignity of our country and its people," Lage added, according to REUTERS.

The legislation, signed this weekend by President Clinton, grew out of strong votes in both the House and the Senate to ease longstanding sanctions on sales to Cuba. Farm groups have pressed for an end to the embargoes on Cuba and other countries, arguing they do more harm than good. But the politically active Cuban exile community in south Florida has strongly resisted liberalized trade, and the final product was substantially different from the version that gained initial approval in the House and Senate appropriations committees.

In the end, the legislation allowed commercial sales but required that they be financed through banks in third countries, not U.S. financial institutions. And it codified current regulations that restrict American travel to Cuba.

The United States has imposed sanctions on trade with Cuba since 1962. Advocates of the sanctions argue they have not had sufficient time to work.