US embassy cable - 05QUITO2750

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS TO WHA/CCA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2015 
TAGS: ETRD, PREL, CU, EC, Regional 
SUBJECT: ECUADOR REVIEW REGARDING TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD 
ACT 
 
REF: STATE 207359 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jefferson T. Brown, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d 
) 
 
1. (C) In response to reftel request, Post provides the 
following information regarding trade and other relations 
between Ecuador and Cuba.  Trade between the two countries is 
not extensive.  In 2004, Ecuador exports to Cuba, mostly oil, 
totaled $14,437,920 (CIF) and Ecuadorian imports from Cuba 
totaled only $286,230 (CIF). 
 
2. (C) The vast majority of Ecuadorian exports to Cuba (60%) 
were crude oil exports.  The next largest exported product 
was tuna (4%), with other products each amounting to no more 
than 3% of the total.  Ecuadorian exporters include 
PetroEcuador (the state-owned oil company), Adelca (steel), 
Indurama (white goods), La Fabril (edible oils), Nestle (milk 
powder), several rose exporters such as Florisol, Rosas 
Unicas, Loveroses, Nevado Ecuador Roses, Cia. de Elaborados 
de Cafe Elcafe and Kavecafe (coffee), Pinturas Condor 
(paint), Ind. de Enlatados Alimenticios (canned goods), 
Farmacia Espinosa and Grunenthal Ecuatoriana 
(pharmaceuticals), Hilantex (textiles), and Corporacion 
Industrial Fishing Corp. (fish). 
 
3. (C) The bulk of imports that Ecuador received from Cuba in 
2004 (33%) were not classified into any category.  The 
largest amount of imports that were classified (22% of total 
imports) was vaccines.  The next largest category was 
synthetic plasma (18%). Each of the other imports accounted 
for less than 3% of the total imports Ecuador received from 
Cuba.  Among the importers were: Medicina Cubana, Novartis 
Ecuador, Laboratorios Bago, Muebles y Diversidades Muedirsa, 
NedtransEcuador and the following individuals, Carlos Garcia, 
Manuela Ribadeneira Q., Patricio Yepez, Carmita Marina Pineda 
Carrion, Mariuxi Johanna Rendon Meneses and Noralma Beatriz 
Vera Arrata. 
 
4.  (C) Cuba has also sent teachers and medical doctors to 
Ecuador.  Several months ago Vice President Alejandro Serrano 
made an official visit to Cuba, linked to a graduation 
ceremony for Ecuadorian medical personnel.  The GOE notified 
Post in advance of that visit. 
BROWN