U.S. experts canvass Cuba on embargo impact

[Judi Lynn]

Source: San Diego Union/Reuters

U.S. experts canvass Cuba on embargo impact
By Marc Frank
REUTERS

7:07 a.m. June 15, 2007

HAVANA – The U.S. International Trade Commission wrapped up a five-day visit to Cuba Friday to gauge how Communist authorities might react if U.S. agriculture trade rules and travel restrictions were lifted.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Finances requested the independent government investigation on the effects on the U.S. economy of easing the restrictions on agricultural sales to the Caribbean island.
(snip)

With the Democrats now the majority in Congress, embargo opponents are backing a number of bills that would loosen trade and travel restrictions.

“There is very strong support for various Cuba initiatives. In the House, lifting travel restrictions has 110 co-sponsors; agriculture could easily draw 300 votes, and many of the Democratic leaders are supporters,” said Sarah Stephens, executive director of the Washington-based Center for Democracy in the Americas.

The Bush administration and Cuban-American political establishment oppose any loosening of the embargo as supporting the Castro regime.




Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070615-0707-cuba-usa-.html

[robinlynne]

1. This is odd, because we are exporting millions of dollars of agricultural products

to Cuba, and have been for several years. The gov't does not want IMPORTS from Cuba. or any other form of dollars going to cuba....

[Judi Lynn]

2. The people who have been killing all the earlier efforts to ease the restrictions in Congress

have almost always been Republicans. Very, very few Democrats.

The ammendments to loosen the travel ban, the embargo, have been passing for years and years, only to be stricken down in committee behind everyone's back by the Cuban-Ameriacan Congress people and their right-wing confederates.

Especially after their pResident stole the White House, they have been determined to get these things destroyed every year as soon as possible, despite WIDE support for normalizing relations with Cuba, to keep him from being pressured by having to veto them officially.

[robinlynne]

4. I know. My point is, that in spite of all the restrictions we have been

quietly EXPORTING millions to Cuba. under this government.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Cuba says Moore's 'SiCKO' highlights its humanism

Cuba says Moore's 'SiCKO' highlights its humanism
Reuters | Saturday, 16 June 2007

PAGING DR CASTRO: Cuba's Communist government joined the debate surrounding Michael Moore's new documentary SiCKO, saying the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the humaneness of its health system.

Cuba's Communist government joined the debate surrounding Michael Moore's new documentary SiCKO, saying the film will allow the world to get a glimpse of the humaneness of its health system.

The film, due to open in the United States on June 29, indicts the US health-care system as putting the profits of insurance and pharmaceutical companies ahead of public health concerns.

To make his point, Moore travelled to Cuba in March with three volunteers who worked in the ruins of New York's World Trade Centre after the September 11 attacks. He said the three are now suffering health problems tied to that work and are struggling to get appropriate treatment in the United States.

In Cuba, the film says, they received exemplary treatment at virtually no cost.

More:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/northland/4097588a1870.html