Sacramento, February 3 (RHC)-- U.S. wine producers who took part at a forum in Havana called First Symposium of California Wine said they are interested in increasing Exchange with Cuba, despite the US economic blockade of the island.

The forum was held at Havana´s Conventions Center with the attendance of over 200 wine experts and owners of some 50 wine production companies from California, and 200 Cuban specialists, some of whom attended a similar forum in the western U.S. state.

Darius Anderson, executive director of US Cava Export, which sponsored the forum, expressed his hope that the new US-Cuba relationship favors this kind of exchanges and that American companies may do business with Cuba with less restrictions.

“We need patience, and expect the consolidation of this process,” Anderson said.

Similarly, Linda Reiff, president and executive director of the Napa Valley Producers Association said that US unilateral sanctions on Cuba should have been lifted long time ago. Reiff expects that the Treasury and the Department of Trade lift some restrictions on trade with Cuba.

The most recent measures adopted by the White House with respect to Cuba went into effect on January 27 allowing the granting of credits to Cuba to purchase authorized products and they also ease travel restrictions to the island by US citizens, though the economic, financial and commercial blockade, which Washington insists in calling trade 'embargo,' is maintained.