AFP

The Republican governor from the US farm state of Nebraska, Dave Heineman, arrived in Cuba with a trade delegation hoping to secure export deals for his state’s agricultural products.

Heineman and a 10-member delegation, including business executives, are due to remain in Cuba through to Wednesday. The US delegation will hold talks with officials from the Cuban state importer Alimport.

“The state of Nebraska is well-known for good quality agricultural products and Alimport hopes to advance commercial relations,” Alimport said in a statement.

The US delegation will also be exploring opportunities to sell medical equipment to the Communist-ruled Caribbean island despite President   Fidel Castro’s thorny relations with Washington.

The United States has had an embargo against Cuba for 40 years, but the administration of President George W. Bush in 2001 exempted food and medicines.

A statement on governor Heineman’s website said potential purchases of corn, soybeans, wheat, pork and beef would be discussed.

The US exported 400 million dollars in agricultural products to Cuba last year.