[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 132 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37495-37496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17741]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration


Notice of Meeting With Interested Public on the Sale of 
Medicines, Medical Products, Food and Agricultural Items to Cuba

    The Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) will hold a meeting on 
July 15, 1999 for those companies and organizations that have an 
interest in exporting medicines and medical products, food and 
agricultural items for sale to Cuba. U.S. Government officials will 
provide information at this meeting on how to apply for export of such 
items to Cuba.
    The meeting will be held July 15, 1999 at 10:00 a.m., at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 6800, 14th 
Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC.
    If you plan to attend, please fax your name and company or 
organizational affiliation to (202) 482-6088 or (202)

[[Page 37496]]

482-4094, Attn: July 15 Cuba Briefing. For further information, please 
contact John Bolsteins at BXA on (202) 482-3283 or (202) 482-4252.

Background

    In March of 1998 and January of 1999, the President announced 
certain new initiatives intended to aid the Cuban people in their 
transition to democracy and a market economy.
    Under the first initiative, the Department of Commerce and other 
agencies streamlined the review of license applications for the sale to 
Cuba of medicines, medical supplies and equipment. Prior to 1998, very 
few applications to export medicines and medical supplies and equipment 
for sale to Cuba were submitted to the Commerce Department. Now, since 
the March 1998 announcement, the volume of applications and licensed 
medical exports to Cuba has increased notably. These medical exports 
are monitored to ensure that they are for the use by the Cuban people.
    Under the second initiative, the Department of Commerce revised its 
Cuba regulations to provide for case-by-case review of applications to 
sell food and certain agricultural items to independent entities and 
non-governmental organizations in Cuba. This program is intended to aid 
the small but vital private sector in Cuba. In a corresponding action, 
the Treasury Department revised its Cuba regulations to provide for 
specific licensing of travel to Cuba to explore sales opportunities in 
these commodity areas.

    Dated: July 7, 1999.
James Lewis,
Director, Office of Strategic Trade.
[FR Doc. 99-17741 Filed 7-8-99; 11:52 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-33-P