The first agricultural trade show in Cuba in 40 years ended yesterday with a variety of deals, several of which involve Iowa. Cuban officials have agreed to contracts worth more than 90-million dollars in ag products, including 5-million for soybeans and corn through a West Des Moines commodities trading company. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s a “very healthy development.” Grassley says many politicians and diplomats -wrongly- think they’re the keys to bringing world peace, while he says their efforts are a “spit in the ocean” compared to long-lasting relationships businessmen build among one another. Grassley says countries that trade rarely war with each other.Among the deals, Cuba agreed to buy more than 17-million dollars in corn, soybeans, turkey and other products from Minneapolis-based Cargill Corporation.
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