Cuba will lift ban on consumer goods

[Chacor]

Cuba to lift consumer goods ban

Cuba's new President Raul Castro is to lift a ban on a wide range of consumer electrical appliances.

Cubans will be allowed for the first time to own DVD players and computers, according to an internal government memo leaked to Reuters news agency.

Curbs may also be lifted on video machines, electric pressure and rice cookers, microwaves and car alarms, as well as 19-inch and 24-inch TV sets.

A top government official confirmed to the BBC such plans were being adopted.

But it is thought air conditioners will not be available until 2009 and toasters until the year after due to limited power supplies.

"Based on the improved availability of electricity, the government at the highest level has approved the sale of some equipment which was prohibited," said the memo, Reuters reported.

Until now, only foreigners and companies have been able to buy computers in Cuba, while DVD players were seized at the airport until last year, when customs rules were eased.

The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says the sale of many electric appliances was banned in the 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union led to a severe energy crisis.

Cuba resolved power cuts in 2006 by importing hundreds of electricity generators run on fuel supplied by Venezuela, its new anti-American oil rich ally.

In his inaugural speech, after being formally chosen as president last month, Raul Castro promised to ease some of the restrictions on daily life in a matter of weeks.

The 76-year-old has led Cuba since July 2006 when his older brother, Fidel Castro, provisionally handed over power after intestinal surgery from which he has not fully recovered.

Although it appears his first move will be improved access to imported consumer goods, so far there is no word on easing curbs on internet access or legalising communications equipment, such as mobile phones.

[coriolis]

computers are one thing. Allowing the people on to the internet could be the beginning of the end for the authoritarian regime.

[george_r_1961]

computers are one thing. Allowing the people on to the internet could be the beginning of the end for the authoritarian regime.

Maybe..just maybe, this is a sign of things to come. One can only hope.

[lurkey]

Cyber-Rebels in Cuba Defy State’s Limits

[wyq614]

I didn't know that the cyber restriction in Cuba is far more severe than that of China. At least Chinese net users can use Google as search engine freely, browse youtube and start a blog.

[Dionne]

As a US citizen.....I'm struggling with our embargo against Cuba. It is four decades old. Fidel has stepped down. Come on.....we need to give the country a chance. Lift the embargo. We openly trade with China, a communist state....why not Cuba? I have spoken with people that have made day trips to Havana from The Keys. They tell me it is not uncommon to see the American flag on boats and that the prefered monetary unit is the American dollar. The State Department can levy a 10K fine for Americans visiting Cuba. The only way we can get there (other than by boat) is to fly into Mexico City and book a flight.

[gtalum]

Isn't it intriguing that the government of an allegedly free nation would put restrictions on where int he world its citizens can go? On the bright side, it's not hard at all to go to Cuba despite the idiotic ban on travel there.

[Derek Ortt]

As a US citizen.....I'm struggling with our embargo against Cuba. It is four decades old. Fidel has stepped down. Come on.....we need to give the country a chance. Lift the embargo. We openly trade with China, a communist state....why not Cuba? I have spoken with people that have made day trips to Havana from The Keys. They tell me it is not uncommon to see the American flag on boats and that the prefered monetary unit is the American dollar. The State Department can levy a 10K fine for Americans visiting Cuba. The only way we can get there (other than by boat) is to fly into Mexico City and book a flight.

China is no longer truly Communist. As for Cuba, many reports indicates that Raul is much more severe than is Fidel. Also, the embargo was not against Fidel, but against Cuba as a sanction for the type fo government. The type of government has not changed

[HURAKAN]

I had not posted here because it hits close to home, but I will tell you this, my aunt lives in Guanajay, Havana, Cuba, and she has a DVD player, computer (we e-mail each other everyday), microwave, surround system, small AC, and other comodities not associated with what is normally talked about Cuba. She is able to have this because my grandparents work very hard here in the US to allow her to live a little better. Not every Cuban has this priviledge.

Conclusion, if you have the money in Cuba, you can get anything you want. There are stores in Havana that will leave any American impressed. Of course, this stores are mainly for the tourists and for government officials that have the money to afford what is being sold. Some commoners have help from the outside and can have the opportunity to buy some of the products being sold. They have everything.

This is one of those stores: Carlos Tercero (Charles 3rd)
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0sXEa2oHNE

[lurkey]

I had not posted here because it hits close to home, but I will tell you this, my aunt lives in Guanajay, Havana, Cuba, and she has a DVD player, computer (we e-mail each other everyday), microwave, surround system, small AC, and other comodities not associated with what is normally talked about Cuba. She is able to have this because my grandparents work very hard here in the US to allow her to live a little better. Not every Cuban has this priviledge.

Conclusion, if you have the money in Cuba, you can get anything you want. There are stores in Havana that will leave any American impressed. Of course, this stores are mainly for the tourists and for government officials that have the money to afford what is being sold. Some commoners have help from the outside and can have the opportunity to buy some of the products being sold. They have everything.

This is one of those stores: Carlos Tercero (Charles 3rd)
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0sXEa2oHNE

Is it because many of the stores accept American dollars/European euros? I remember a story about the tourist industry in Cuba and how those jobs were coveted because of the easy access to dollars and euros. The stores for the tourists only accept foreign currency.

[HURAKAN]

They accept all currencies but American dollars and Cuban pesos. If you're a Cuban you have to use Chavitos (1 chavito = 25 Cuban pesos).

[Dionne]

As a US citizen.....I'm struggling with our embargo against Cuba. It is four decades old. Fidel has stepped down. Come on.....we need to give the country a chance. Lift the embargo. We openly trade with China, a communist state....why not Cuba? I have spoken with people that have made day trips to Havana from The Keys. They tell me it is not uncommon to see the American flag on boats and that the prefered monetary unit is the American dollar. The State Department can levy a 10K fine for Americans visiting Cuba. The only way we can get there (other than by boat) is to fly into Mexico City and book a flight.

China is no longer truly Communist. As for Cuba, many reports indicates that Raul is much more severe than is Fidel. Also, the embargo was not against Fidel, but against Cuba as a sanction for the type fo government. The type of government has not changed

The embargo was designed by Eisenhower. It's primary objective was a campaign to overthrow Fidel Castro. It didn't work.

Saying China is no longer "truly" communist is like saying Vietnam is no longer "truly" communist. The only thing not communist about them is that they are embracing capitalism.

[lurkey]

As a US citizen.....I'm struggling with our embargo against Cuba. It is four decades old. Fidel has stepped down. Come on.....we need to give the country a chance. Lift the embargo. We openly trade with China, a communist state....why not Cuba? I have spoken with people that have made day trips to Havana from The Keys. They tell me it is not uncommon to see the American flag on boats and that the prefered monetary unit is the American dollar. The State Department can levy a 10K fine for Americans visiting Cuba. The only way we can get there (other than by boat) is to fly into Mexico City and book a flight.

China is no longer truly Communist. As for Cuba, many reports indicates that Raul is much more severe than is Fidel. Also, the embargo was not against Fidel, but against Cuba as a sanction for the type fo government. The type of government has not changed

The embargo was designed by Eisenhower. It's primary objective was a campaign to overthrow Fidel Castro. It didn't work.

Saying China is no longer "truly" communist is like saying Vietnam is no longer "truly" communist. The only thing not communist about them is that they are embracing capitalism.

It is still an oppressive regime. They regularly still violate human rights. The government still imprison those who dissent against the government. Just because you are "embracing" capitalism does not mean you automatically get off the hook for basic human rights violations. They are "embracing" capitalism because the country is broke.

[senorpepr]

As a US citizen.....I'm struggling with our embargo against Cuba. It is four decades old. Fidel has stepped down. Come on.....we need to give the country a chance. Lift the embargo. We openly trade with China, a communist state....why not Cuba? I have spoken with people that have made day trips to Havana from The Keys. They tell me it is not uncommon to see the American flag on boats and that the prefered monetary unit is the American dollar. The State Department can levy a 10K fine for Americans visiting Cuba. The only way we can get there (other than by boat) is to fly into Mexico City and book a flight.

China is no longer truly Communist. As for Cuba, many reports indicates that Raul is much more severe than is Fidel. Also, the embargo was not against Fidel, but against Cuba as a sanction for the type fo government. The type of government has not changed

Even with that said, the embargo hasn't worked (read: hasn't accomplished "bringing democracy to the Cuban people", as stated in the Cuban Democracy Act) for 46 years. If shoving the square peg into the triangle hole doesn't work for 46 years--maybe we should try a different hole.

[HURAKAN]

I have always been in favor of cancelling the embargo. If it hasn't worked for almost 50 years, it will not work. It's time to take a different route. The embargo is just separating the Cuban families.

By the way, 2007 was a record year for US-Cuba agricultural relations as more and more American businessmen and farmers go to the Cuban government to sell their product. Therefore, the US government is not doing business but its citizens are doing it. This already makes the embargo a joke and just a political barrier that separates families.

[senorpepr]

By the way, 2007 was a record year for US-Cuba agricultural relations as more and more American businessmen and farmers go to the Cuban government to sell their product. Therefore, the US government is not doing business but its citizens are doing it. This already makes the embargo a joke and just a political barrier that separates families.

Chuck Hagel, R-NE, has been working very hard on improving US-Cuba ties in the ag field. He was the lead sponsor of a bill in the Senate for several years prior to 2000 to permit food and medical sales to countries, such as Cuba, to help Nebraska farmers and ranchers expand their markets and get higher prices for their produce.

Here's an article from the Grand Island Independent regarding Gov. Heineman's work:

By Robert Pore

As news that an ailing Fidel Castro will not seek another term as Cuba's president was released Tuesday, Nebraska was reaping the rewards of a good trading partnership with Cuba built during the last three years through the efforts of Gov. Dave Heineman.

Back in 2005, Heineman and a Nebraska trade delegation enjoyed a more than four-hour meeting with Castro during a state trade mission there.

Heineman said the meeting with Castro was unscheduled and came together on quick notice.

During their meeting, the then-79-year-old Cuban leader talked to the Nebraska delegation about a variety of topics and shared with them the Cuban perspective.

Heineman said Castro was very well aware of who the individual members of the trade delegation were and knew about Heineman's military background.

"I took advantage of the opportunity when I had the chance to speak to indicate that, because of that background, I knew that a successful army and a successful organization had to feed its people well," he said.

Heineman suggested to Castro that his country consider an exclusive contract to purchase all its agricultural products from Nebraska.

He said Castro smiled at his suggestion.

"I also suggested that if they were to do something like that, maybe the contract could go from $17 million to $30 million or $35 million," he said.

In all, Heineman has made four trade trips to Cuba, including his latest one last November, when he visited the 25th annual Havana International Trade Fair and inked another $10 million agriculture sale with the island nation.

With that latest contract, Nebraska has sold more than $70 million in agricultural products since the state's export relationship was established in 2005.

After last November's trade trip to Cuba, Heineman said he appreciated the positive reception Nebraska agricultural products had received in Cuba.

"The early results of this trip are evidence of the continuing and expanding relationship we enjoy with Cuban officials," he said.

Heineman said Nebraska has been rewarded for "our diligence" in maintaining a strong export relationship with Cuba.

"Our success here is due in large part to the hard work and preparation of our Nebraska companies and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture," Heineman said.

In 2006, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy led a trade mission to Cuba that resulted in a $30 million agreement for Cuba to purchase Nebraska food products.

Getting a foothold in Cuba has helped Nebraska get a early trade relation established.

An economist for Texas A&M said a change in Cuba's leadership won't have immediate economic effects on Cuban export trade. Last year, U.S. agricultural exports set a record with more than $442 million in sales.

"What's significant is that the new record is 11 percent above the previous record in 2004 and nearly one-third above the amount exported in agricultural products in 2006," said Dr. Parr Rosson, AgriLife Extension economist and director of the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University.

One of the contributing factors for the new record in U.S. exports, Rosson said, was a weak dollar offsetting high prices.

"From what we've seen in the last few years, while tourism is off a little bit, more than 2 million visitors in 2007 visited Cuba, with most coming from Canada, England and Mexico," he said. "That's increasing demand for value-added products."

Rosson said Cubans are becoming more aware of improving diets, and are consuming more animal proteins such as frozen broilers.

"Animal proteins are more important in their diets than say five years ago," he said.

Nebraska has sold beef to Cuba as a result of its trade missions there.

Bulk commodities continue to represent a large portion of exports, Rosson said. Those include corn ($109 million exported from the U.S. in 2007) and wheat ($70 million).

The fourth quarter of 2007 was the largest for U.S. exports to Cuba, coming in at $148 million, leading to the big increase in agricultural exports for the year.

"Another thing we noticed last year was soybeans and related products had picked up quite a bit," Rosson said. "Those were valued at $114 million and represent not just animal feed, but soybean oil and others converted into proteins and used for human consumption."

[Cyclenall]

It is still an oppressive regime. They regularly still violate human rights. The government still imprison those who dissent against the government. Just because you are "embracing" capitalism does not mean you automatically get off the hook for basic human rights violations. They are "embracing" capitalism because the country is broke.

Do you mean the US or China?