Associated Press

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Despite a much-publicized agreement signed last year for the government of Cuba to buy $10 million in goods from South Carolina companies, little has been done since then to implement the deal.

Three state officials, including Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and then-Agriculture Commissioner Charles Sharpe, and two shipping executives returned from a controversial trip to Havana with a deal that included the officials agreeing to urge the state's congressional delegation to push for more open trade with the communist nation.

Three years ago, the United States loosened its 42-year-old embargo on trading with Cuba to allow shipments of food, agricultural goods and medicine to the island nation of 11 million.

"There were some people who were unhappy, but we weren't endorsing (Cuban leader Fidel) Castro," said Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, who went on the trade trip.

Increased political tensions between Cuba and the United States could be to blame for the deal falling through.

"For trade to flourish, we have to get the political situation better," Limehouse said. "It seems like every foot we go forward, we take a step or two backward."

Others said the deals have fallen through in part because Sharpe was indicted by federal investigators about six months after returning from the trade mission.

"There were things that possibly could have advanced if (Sharpe) had been in a situation to follow up on some of the personal contacts he made," said Wayne Mack, assistant marketing commissioner for the state Agriculture Department. "I followed up on some of the interests, but to my knowledge I have not received any response from them."

Mack said the Cuban officials may have dropped the idea because of Sharpe's legal problems. Sharpe pleaded guilty last month to extortion and is awaiting sentencing.

Sharpe's newly appointed replacement, Hugh Weathers, is trying to decide whether a trade relationship with Cuba is a priority, Mack said. There are continuing concerns about the country's human rights violations and whether exporters can count on getting paid for their goods.

"We are in a position that if there's a feeling from the commissioner's standpoint that he would like to move forward with it, we can reopen that book," Mack said. "But particularly with Cuba, we have a lot of exporting concerns."