HAVANA - (AP) -- President Fidel Castro says Cuba is awaiting offers from American pharmaceutical companies
                      for U.S. medicine and medical supplies after signing contracts for $35 million in American food -- the first
                      commercial sales of U.S. agricultural products to Cuba in nearly four decades.

                      ''We could still buy an amount similar to what we have acquired in food,'' Castro told reporters after the
                      inauguration of an international book fair here. As for food products, ``we have acquired almost all the food for
                      this year.''

                      Cuba has said it would entertain new offers for American medicine and supplies to restock its reserves following
                      Hurricane Michelle in the same way it has bought American agricultural products to restock its food supplies.

                      The 40-year-old U.S. embargo against the communist country allows sales of American medicine and medical
                      supplies, but prohibits U.S. financing for those transactions.

                      Some vendors say the accompanying rules and regulations are onerous.

                      A U.S. law passed in 2000 allowed direct purchases of U.S. food, but barred Cuba from obtaining financing from
                      the U.S. government or private sector.

                      Because of those financing restrictions, Cuba refused to take advantage of the law until Hurricane Michelle caused
                      heavy damage to the island in early November.

                      Castro said Cuba imports nearly $1 billion in food each year. ''We are not a large market, but . . . we import large
                      amounts of wheat, large amounts of rice,'' he said.

                      As for American medicine, ''the offers still aren't there,'' he said.

                      Castro said that prices for U.S. medicines are much higher than those worldwide, but said that American
                      pharmaceutical companies ``have talked about analyzing well the offers they could make.''

                      Illinois Gov. George Ryan pitched his state's medicine and medical supplies last month during a visit here with
                      Castro. It was the second visit here by Ryan, who in 1999 became the first American governor to visit Cuba since
                      the 1959 revolution that brought Castro to power.