HAVANA - Raul Castro has met with seven visiting members of the Congressional Black Caucus, his first face-to-face discussions with U.S. officials since he became Cuba's president last year.

State television says that Castro met with the American legislators behind closed doors Monday.

The delegation is in Havana to discuss improving U.S.-Cuba relations amid much speculation that Washington is ready to loosen its 47-year-old trade sanctions against the communist-run island.