Americans to Attend Trade Talks in Cuba

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Dec. 13, 2004

Americans to Attend Trade Talks in Cuba

VANESSA ARRINGTON
Associated Press


HAVANA - Two years ago in December, fewer than 30 U.S. business representatives came to Havana to sign agreements with Cuban officials to export food to the Caribbean island. This week, Cuba expects more than 340 people - primarily producers of American farm goods - to attend the latest round of talks, in which communist officials hope to sign deals worth about $100 million.

"This shows a great interest on the part of American businesses," Pedro Alvarez, chairman of the Cuban food import company Alimport, said Monday.

With that growing interest has come increased pressure on the U.S. government by the American companies and even members of Congress to lift trade and travel restrictions against Cuba, Alvarez said.

"There is a marked and growing interest in continuing to improve relations with Cuba," he said.
(snip/...)

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/breaking_news/10409341.htm

[Mika]

1. Interesting observation by Pedro Alvarez

Yet Alvarez was optimistic that President Bush in his second term will start heeding requests from U.S. business interests and lawmakers - particularly those from farm states - to ease restrictions.

Red States!!

[tsuki]

2. Could not speak to Cuba for forty years, but have one Corporation sniff

a profit, and all is forgiven.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Whoopee, Money!

Right now it appears most of the people involved in plain sight are food producers since only that window is open, at the moment.

However, Republican Rep. Jeff Flake from Arizona ALWAYS sponsors an ammendment to end the travel ban at least once yearly. If you check his campaign contributors, he has a HUGE contributor in Del Webb, who has a gigantic business in creating retirement communities in Arizona, California, Texas, Florida and Nevada.... points beyond....

It only takes a moment to see "Florida" and make the connection to the island which draws a respectable tourist trade from countries all over the world. Just not the U.S. Tropical climate, close to Florida. Really attractive, wouldn't you think to a guy wanting a whole new place to build homes for retirees? Yikes!

http://www.delwebb.com/Default.aspx

I think big business guys see Cuba in a totally different way from ordinary citizens.



Damned pity. All that's left in their minds, no doubt, is figuring out how to cut it all up. I hope fate provides a much more respectful solution.

[tsuki]

4. I've heard that Europeans love vacationing in Cuba. It clean, the people

are friendly and there are no Americans.

[Judi Lynn]

6. I've heard that, too. From a Canadian,and some posters from Latin America.

I've heard there are TONS of Europeans who go there regularly.

When Jimmy Carter was visiting, at the invitation of the Cuban government, he went to the beach to look around, followed by the American press. One of the people they recognized as being non-Cuban they stopped for a brief interview to find out what he was doing there, and it was an AMERICAN who asked that they not use his name. He had gone there illegally. They didn't get him in trouble, simply did the story without his name.

[fshrink]

5. Exactly. The Maffia did

just that under Battista, And our bosses probably love cigars as much as dons.