Obama plans to kick-start U.S. business with Cuba on Havana trip next week

[azurnoir]

Source: USA Today

Obama will arrive with a delegation that includes the CEOs of Xerox and Marriott International to help nudge along deals in the works. U.S. airlines are set to resume commercial flights to Cuba this summer, a New York-based research facility is working with Cuban researchers on a lung cancer vaccine, and an Alabama-based tractor company has won approval to build a factory near Havana. Hotel chains Marriott and Starwood could announce their own deals during the president's trip, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal. And AT&T could join Sprint and Verizon in providing roaming services on the island.

Cementing as many of those deals now is key, given Congress' current refusal to lift the trade embargo against Cuba and Republican presidential candidates' opposition to Obama's opening with the Cuban government, said Ralph Patino, who is nearing a deal with the Cuban government to open a building products and supply store outside Havana.

"Once these companies are embedded, it will be very difficult to roll back come another administration," said Patino, a Cuban-American and Miami attorney.

Despite those advances, the expanded business relationship envisioned by the Obama administration remains far from becoming fully realized because of resistance from Cuba.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2016/03/14/president-obama-cuba-visit-business-deals/81528308/

[Firebrand Gary]

1. K&R

[nyabingi]

2. Cuba should be very vigilant and sleep with one eye open

The United States never reverses decades of hostile relations with benevolent intentions in mind and I doubt we'll hear Obama state publicly (which he should) that the US respects the right of Cubans to determine for themselves what kind of government they have.

Everything "good" we do in the world is based entirely on the unleashing of corporate profit-chasers who view the world as regions for money-making, not as places with people who have their own interests and desires.

Watch your back Cuba!

[madokie]

3. A dream of mine,

Cuba. We need to elect Bernie so as to have a steady and fair hand at the tiller in setting up this trade with Cuba so as to not allow the corporations to take advantage of this, one way or the other. We need a policy that will allow this to be an honest transition from the way Cuba was to the way Cuba will be.

If at all possible I hope to some day travel to Cuba. It has always intrigued me. I remember when C&H sugar was Cuba and Hawaii. In other words I have a good memory and am getting on up in the years.

[central scrutinizer]

4. Go to Cuba!

I just returned from a 4 week bike ride in Cuba (got back on 4 March) and went "illegally" by going through Cancun and not being licensed. Tourist hotels are expensive but casas particulares are quite reasonable and Viazul buses can get you from one end of the island to the other for $50. For the latest travel information I recommend Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree forum.