U.S. food exports to Cuba drop 37 pct.

Exports of food products from the U.S. to Cuba dropped 37 percent in the first six months of 2015, despite the restoration of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington, a new report by the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council said Monday.

The total value of U.S. exports to the island in the first half of 2015 was roughly $119 million.

Topping the list of food exports was frozen chicken with 50 percent, followed by soybean oil with 25 percent and soy flour with 9 percent.

The council noted that one reason for the decline has been the "restoration or continuation" of Cuban trade relations with the governments of Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Mexico and Canada, among others.

It also attributed the trend to the "financial generosity" of the Chinese government, Havana's preference for buying products from government agencies that offer more favorable terms of payment, and the Cuban government's shortage of hard currency.

Meanwhile, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson will travel next month to Cuba, making him the first U.S. governor to visit the island since diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba were restored in July.

Arkansas is one of the leading states exporting farm products to Cuba, chiefly chicken, and now seeks to boost its rice sales to the Caribbean island.

"As they expand their markets and their tourist opportunities, which is going to happen in the coming years, there's going to be more demand for rice. Arkansas needs to be there at the table and be No. 1 in exports to Cuba and other global markets," Hutchinson, a Republican, said during the Arkansas Rice Expo in Stuttgart, Arkansas. EFE [Source : FOX News Latino]