The Hagstrom Report says Cuba has reduced purchases of agriculture products from the United States because Cuba’s economy is struggling and the island nation can get credit in other countries. That speculation comes from Mark Feierstein, the National Security Council Senior Director for Latin America. However, some analysts contend that Cuba has actually increased agriculture purchases at some points and reduced them in others as part of an attempt to get the U.S. to change its policies toward Cuba. Feierstein attributes the decline to the fact that “they were in a better cash position” in the past than they are now. Cuba can now get credit from Brazil. Feierstein says he’s not aware of evidence showing that Cubans are using purchases to change US policies. His statement would attempt to bolster U.S. agriculture groups to convince Congress to reverse a law that prohibits a U.S. entity from granting credit to Cuba for purchasing agricultural goods.