DR Government Wants/Proposes Free Trade Agreement with Cuba

[bob saunders]

Actually a free trade agreement might help Cuba by slowly turning it more towards free market economy. This should encourage free enterprise and a better life for many Cubans. The untimate question will be how much control can the government give up without losing control. It may also be a way to try and get around the embargo. Perhaps the more countries that trade with Cuba the sooner the American will end their embargo, that isn't hurting Castro, only the Cuban people, while giving Castro a weapon in his fight against the USA. It give the DR a close market for whatever they can sell to Cuba, should be just about anything because Cubans have almost no capital goods(medicines....etc) The biggest problem : dealing with the devil.

 

[aegap]

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

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

There you go Chris, DR can sell them Pintura Tropical!

..as well as pretty much everything it exports to other Caribbean countries that Cuba does not...

Heck, even Dominican rice is probably more competitive than its Cuban counterpart.. (maybe we should ask the Texan)

 

[aegap]

Cuban Enginuity

March 29, 2007
CUBA: U.S. remains top food source for island, despite 45-year-old trade embargo

HAVANA (AP) Since 2003, one country has been the main supplier of food to Fidel Castro's Cuba: the United States.

Although many Americans think their government's 45-year-old embargo blocks all trade with the communist government, the United States is the top supplier of food and agricultural products to Cuba. In fact, many Cubans depend on rations grown in Arkansas and North Dakota for their rice and beans.

Since December 1999, governors, senators and congressmen from at least 28 U.S. states have visited Cuba, most to talk trade. They keep coming: Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman was flying in Sunday with a farm delegation. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter of Idaho plans a visit next month.

Washington's sanctions choke off most trade with Cuba, but a law passed by Congress in 2000 authorized cash-only purchases of U.S. food and agricultural products and was cheered by major U.S. farm firms like Archer Daniels Midland Co. interested in the untapped Cuban market.

Cuba refused to import one grain of rice for more than a year because of a row over financing, but finally agreed to take advantage of the law after Hurricane Michelle in November 2001 cut into its food stocks.

Since then, experts say Cuba has paid more than US$1.5 billion (euro1.1 billion) for American food and agricultural products.

Did you catch the catch: Cash-only, ..(US) Greenback cash at that.

 

[Funnyyale26]

I am all for it, for the same reasons that Chris has pointed out, besides forging unity and cooperation (which we need in latin America).