DR Government Wants/Proposes Free Trade Agreement with Cuba

My question would be???

.....what does Cuba have to offer that would be imported to the DR????.....not that it really matters, but just wondering...

Socialism, revolution and the likes is what they have exported to most of the Latin American countries. Now with daddy Fidel on the back burner it would be a toss up, but be sure that they would stand to win the most.

Medical Doctors and personnel, some of the best organic fresh vegetables and fruit ever, the best literacy program for non-litereate adults ever put together, healthy and non-chemicalized (my word) livestock and breeding stock, tree seedlings, rum, sugar.

Cuba?s attention to the protection of the environment has been notable. The indicators are that the country is pulling itself out of a severe economic crisis.

Most countries trade with Cuba, the US being a notable exception. Canada specifically has strong trade relationships in place.

I read the article and then read the comments from the public after it and the majority are against this action. Many say that joining ALBA would be better.

If the DR can benefit from maybe it would be good. Of course nobody wants Cuba's style of government here. I also have met many Cubans in Florida and the majority have a deep disgust for what Castro has done to the country.

Take The Castros, Please!

Oh yes... political prisoners, no freedom of speech, no political freedom, no freedom of press, no freedom of movement, great manipulation of masses...

And yes, to Canadians, or all of those who praise the Cuban government, from afar of course: how long will you stand, in Canada or elsewhere, a government that controls all media, with no aternative political parties, where you cannot sell your home, or travel freely, or do whatever your free will desires, such as participating in this forum because ordinary Cubans are forbiden from using Internet; well, I don't know... about a month maybe.
Remember, you will not be able to get away in your big campers, or continue to have one of the highest standards of living in the world, or retire in Cuba, or DR for that matter. Enjoy the Cuba where you can see that Cubans cannot go to the beaches reserved for foreigners, or haven't you heard of black Dominican girls, who while in Cuba with their husbands on vacation are hassled by police because they are with a foreigner and thought they were Cuban, or buy at the same stores foreigners do; oh, I am sorry, only if you have dollars? Want more: I got more! Oh yes, and the doctors who treat Maradona will be the same doctors who will come to DR, of course, and are the same ones that go to Venezuela; of course, I forgot, there are no social classes in Cuba, everybody is the same, well according to the ration card, anyway. Want more: I got more!

Let's hope the exchanges limit themselves to small scale compost farms and the environment: at least those cannot be jailed... take the Castros, please!

The question was what Cuba had to offer - In terms of trade given the talk about a free trade agreement. A simple factual question that needed a simple factual answer. It surely did not need a diatribe. It is not DR related and totally besides the point.

The point is trade.

The logical next step would be .. what the DR has to offer for such an agreement. An interesting debate between two quite similar Caribbean countries. Don't confuse it with politics, which is not the purpose of this thread.

Now now--reading comp first agendas second

Chris said:

The question was what Cuba had to offer - In terms of trade given the talk about a free trade agreement. A simple factual question that needed a simple factual answer. It surely did not need a diatribe. It is not DR related and totally besides the point.

The point is trade.

The logical next step would be .. what the DR has to offer for such an agreement. An interesting debate between two quite similar Caribbean countries. Don't confuse it with politics, which is not the purpose of this thread.

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the "question" was not what Cuba had to offer. That was posting #2. OP mearly informed us of a possible trade agreement. Then poster that has problems with Mr. Castro the dictator said his piece. You needed to introduce "two quite similar Caribbean countries"
I don't think sooooooooooooo.
Chris--please re-think your quick on the trigger response.
Peace and love and all that crap,
john :>

i think cuba needs us to rescue their cigar industry which took a beating when the russians pulled the money plug, no money for fertilizer, tractors, pesticides, crops went to he!!............cuban cigars are only better than dominican in reputation..............so we help them and they can stab our tobacco in the back based on reputation............
also, it is logical to think it might be a good place to unload a lot of beat up dominican cars.........considering they are so close geography wise and they don't have much money and they need cars...............

oy vey

amparocorp said:

i think cuba needs us to rescue their cigar industry which took a beating when the russians pulled the money plug, no money for fertilizer, tractors, pesticides, crops went to he!!............cuban cigars are only better than dominican in reputation..............so we help them and they can stab our tobacco in the back based on reputation............
also, it is logical to think it might be a good place to unload a lot of beat up dominican cars.........considering they are so close geography wise and they don't have much money and they need cars...............

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Really, really deep. Let me sleep on it. Good night.
john

Two dysfunctional economies signing a trade agreement.....why????

Peace Johne ... I'm still wondering what the DR has to offer and still believe it would be an interesting topic But, if we enter into the politics, the debate is over, done with, se fue. So, if the interest is in the trade agreement, let's talk trade and leave the things that will get the tread closed.

For clarity, my interest would be in the trade agreement and not the politics, and I am wondering what who can offer to whom? (or is that whom to who .. lol).

As to posts, I guess I answered the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
My thinking ...
1st post ... Free Trade Agreement
2nd post ... What's on offer
3rd post ... they (Cuba) will possibly gain the most.

And to explain my thinking around the 'similar' ..
- similar in geographic position in the world (near to the same places/ports, give or take some miles - two caribbean countries for sure)
- similar in its agricultural ability, possible crops, livestock and climate (and threats to climate),
- similar in having a rural population mostly existing off of the land
- similar in language (Spanish),
- similar in the natural beauty, beaches and Caribbean climate, the stuff that attracts tourists,
- similar in some cultural aspects I would venture to guess, although at the time, I was not thinking that far.

So, back to trade agreement. If you read the new stuff coming out of Cuba, the researchers say that that social indicators are those of a much more developed country mainly because of the high level of education. These types of indicators usually measure stuff like infant mortality rate, health, education .. I'm sure you've seen and read some of those. (I am steering clear of politics).

So, if you compare the DR, our education is poorly lacking and the natural resources of the two countries in question clearly have similarities. In terms of comparing the relative abilities of the two countries, there would be questions that I don't know the answers to.

I see a great absurdity. To try and illustrate, are we going to send Platanos to Cuba, and they're going to send us Batatas? What's to trade? Why?

puhlease

Chris said:

Medical Doctors and personnel, some of the best organic fresh vegetables and fruit ever, the best literacy program for non-litereate adults ever put together, healthy and non-chemicalized (my word) livestock and breeding stock, tree seedlings, rum, sugar.

Cuba?s attention to the protection of the environment has been notable. The indicators are that the country is pulling itself out of a severe economic crisis.

Most countries trade with Cuba, the US being a notable exception. Canada specifically has strong trade relationships in place.

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great joke!! been there lately?? you need to 'drag your knuckles into the 21st century"!!
What you state used to be valid. NO more.
geeeez

fender said:

What you state used to be valid. NO more.
geeeez

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What is not valid of what I stated?
And where is your proper and factual input of what either Cuba, or the DR could bring to a free trade agreement?.

Good Luck

Chris--good luck to you if you think that you can discuss issues like this without "politics". I don't see how it's possible but I will be an observer.

I will reserve my right to object if Cuban "politics" is introduced to the discussion as one of the contributions,albeit enviromental, bla, or bla,

john

-Free trade with Cuba ?
-Why not ?

After all, we signed that dumb and dangerous DR-CAFTA, so we should nopw try to trade with Cuba, Canada and the EU as well...

I am all for it !

johne said:

Chris--good luck to you if you think that you can discuss issues like this without "politics". I don't see how it's possible but I will be an observer.

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I obviously can't speak for the other posters and what they will discuss, but I am deathly tired of talking head type kneejerk diatribe with no substance (please don't misunderstand, no offence meant to you or anyone else, just a general comment about myself). So, I'll steer clear of the political situation. Nevertheless, this move is still interesting to me.

The political angle that does interest me, because it can be positively discussed, is the Why? Why are the DR powers doing this? Is the DR trying to sit on both sides of the fence and make friends and influence people on both sides of the political spectrum?

Are You Nahive...

Do you really believe that any kind of agreement with Cuba will limit itself to the matter involved without the Cuban government trying to add its ideology and manipulation to the deal, especially in DR? Can politics be left out of economic agreements; ask the World Bank and see what they tell you. My question was not answered either: how long will a Cuban-style government last in Canada? Ignoring politics when talking about Cuba, in any sense, impossible.

Yes. I am naive in that I expect mature people to have mature discussions. I did not do this free trade agreement. I do not know why it is even mooted. The political situation is what it is. The proposed trade agreement is what it is. Surely trade (and I think it is platanos, bananas and batatas, so, not very important) .. can be discussed without being fearful of mentioning the unmentionable and without spouting off about it. Are you folks really so scared of Castro exporting his level of dictatorship together with his platanos that you cannot even discuss it? You cannot 'catch it' like you can the measles you know.

Let me answer your question. A cuban style government in Canada is so far from the focus of the DR and this thread, that anyone on here can tell you it is outside of the scope of this board and no-one will discuss it. If there was any discussion, the moderator would close the thread forthwith. I would not take part in such a discussion as I do not know, and cannot speculate and don't want to speculate.

Politics cannot be left out of economic agreements. But trade of commodities can be discussed against the political backdrop which we all know.

Now, can you answer the other questions (mine and others) that no-one has bothered answering because it seems their prejudices get in the way.

What does Cuba have to offer to a FTA (I gave a list of commodities that I think is possible)
What does the DR have to offer to a FTA? (I really do not know and would like other posters input)
Why is the DR even bothering? Is it that they want friends on both sides of the fence? (I do not know and would welcome some input).

Cuba Is A LOT Like The USA!!!!!!!!!!!! "OR",..."Why Can't We All Just Bet Along?"

"The PEOPLE are really nice,the "GOVERNMENT" $UCKS!!!!!!!

and THAT from a "GUY" who is just to the "RIGHT" of Attila the HUN!

I "BEEN" to Cuba..."Sssssh"!

"Americans can't DO THAT!!!!

"Loved" the "Cubanos"...Well,MOSTLY the "Cubanas"!!!:cheeky:

But the country is in need of a "Complete Makeover"!!!!

Physically,(Can you say "Paint Job?).and "politically"!

Just like many places in the World,the political "Leaders" do not represent the People they are supposed to be "Serving,(In the case of FREELY Elected leaders) or "Ruling", (In the case of "Others")

All we have to do is WAIT!

Democratic societies become more socialist,and socialist societies become more democratic!

And we can then just "NUKE" the "Moslems" and everything will be "Perfect"!

In the words of that "Great American Philosopher"??? Rodney King.

"Why Can't We All Just Get Along????"