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Not wanting to re-open the "No Cash, No Chicken" thread or a new "for/against embargo" discussion, here's just the facts and numbers on US-Cuba trade so far this year. Once again it is "no money, no honey" by the US side due to the fact that Cuba's credit rating does not allow it to buy except for cash. ----------- US exports to Cuba grew 41.7% in January Havana bought chicken, soybeans, wood pulp and rice for 19 million dollars 14ymedio, Havana | March 10, 2021 https://www.14ymedio.com/economia/exportaciones-EE-UU-Cuba-crecieron_0_3054894492.html US exports of food and agricultural products to Cuba in January 2021 increased 41.7% compared to the same period last year, according to the US-Cuba Economic and Trade Council. In its report, the independent economic analysis group based in New York detailed that in the first month of this year, imports from the island represented just over 19 million dollars compared to 13 and a half million in 2020. The main products that the Cuban government acquired from the United States were chicken meat, soybeans, wood pulp and rice. In the entire year 2020, the Island bought 163 million dollars in food from US companies, a figure well below the almost 258 million dollars in 2019, the Council recently indicated, which also pointed out last year as the one with the least commercial exchange since 2002. The United States is the largest supplier of chicken to the island, a fact that the Cuban government never publishes, which usually uses the blockade to justify the economic crisis and the shortage of supplies in the country. The new figures presented by the agency foresee a rebound in trade between the two countries with the arrival of a new tenant in the White House, despite the fact that the relationship with Cuba is not among Joe Biden's priorities. During the last Administration, relations between the two nations deteriorated and the more than 240 measures that Trump imposed on the island contributed, in the words of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to "economically asphyxiating the country, subverting the internal order, creating a situation of ungovernability ". In early March, a group of 80 Democratic congressmen sent a letter to Biden in which they requested that he reverse the "cruel" restriction policies imposed on Cuba by the administration of former President Trump, while, from Florida, another group of congressmen, Democrats and Republicans, as well as mayors, signed a petition for Washington not to soften its policy towards the Island if there is no progress towards freedom and democracy. During the presidential campaign, Biden assured that he would lift some of the travel and trade restrictions between the two countries and that he would resume diplomatic talks, but on Tuesday the White House said he had other priorities. --------- A Good Start- U.S. Food/Ag Exports To Cuba In January 2021 Increased 41.7% Compared To January 2020 March 06, 2021 ECONOMIC EYE ON CUBA© March 2021 JANUARY 2021 FOOD/AG EXPORTS TO CUBA INCREASE 41.7%- Exports of food products and agricultural commodities from the United States to the Republic of Cuba in January 2021 were US$19,018,549.00 compared to US$13,421,660.00 in January 2020 and US$23,884,686.00 in January 2019. Chicken Leg Quarters (Frozen)- US$8,566,575.00 Chicken Meat (Frozen)- US$4,201,456.00 Chicken Legs (Frozen)- US$4,181,269.00 Soybeans- US$1,950,117.00 Woodpulp- US$106,632.00 Rice- US$12,500.00 Since December 2001, agricultural commodity and food product exports reported from the United States to the Republic of Cuba is US$6,315,245,973.00. This report contains information on exports from the United States to the Republic of Cuba- products within the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA) of 2000, Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) of 1992, and regulations implemented (1992 to present) for other products by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury and Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce. The TSREEA re-authorized the direct commercial (on a cash basis) export of food products (including branded food products) and agricultural commodities from the United States to the Republic of Cuba, irrespective of purpose. The TSREEA does not include healthcare products, which remain authorized and regulated by the CDA. Complete Report Available Soon (Awaiting Shipping Data) https://www.cubatrade.org/blog/2021/3/6/4xb7b10uziq0inxkemqw2pjszdjkvi

I've seen a lot written about how the outstanding claims against the Castro regime by US business will hold back future business relations. I know there are billions of dollars of outstanding claims but.. Here's an interesting article discussing, among other things, the takeover of the management of the Hotel Inglaterra by Starwood. http://www.caribbeannewsdigital.com/en/noticia/obama%E2%80%99s-visit-comes-american-businesses-rush-back-cuba Way down the article is a little, almost throwaway line, "Only Congress can fully lift the embargo, but deals such as the one Starwood has reached, which is believed to include the settlement of a $51 million claim against the Castro government held by the company, open big cracks in its foundations." So, outstanding claims, not an issue.