U.S. rice group reports new Cuban sales near

 delegation of U.S. rice-state members of Congress and rice industry representatives completed its trip to Cuba with no new sales of U.S. rice. But industry leaders were told new purchases of U.S. rice by Cuba were likely later this year.

The congressmen, who included Reps. Marion Berry, D-Ark., and Rodney Alexander, R-La., and rice industry leaders were in Havana for the 2007 U.S.-Cuba Trade Round, hosted by ALIMPORT, the agency that oversees food imports for the Cuban government.

“This is only the beginning of increased trade with Cuba,” said Berry, who spoke at a ceremony marking the arrival of a shipment of U.S. milled rice in Cuba. “We are committed to increase rice sales to Cuba. (He and Alexander were among a group of five lawmakers attending the trade round.)