Murphy's Logic and reflections on 45+ years of broadcasting | SaltWireHAVANA - Cuba hosted a business fair with over 800 companies from more than 60 countries on Monday as it lobbied for new investments, thumbing its nose at U.S. sanctions that have long spooked foreign companies from engaging with the communist-run island.
The U.S. has long said its trade embargo is aimed at promoting"human rights and fundamental liberties in Cuba," a policy which has barely budged in decades. The trade fair includes promotional stands from countries ranging from Spain to Russia, Iran and China. Increasingly, it also includes small privately-held Cuban businesses that re-emerged just two years ago after being effectively banned for decades.
But financing for such businesses is still largely hobbled by Washington's sanctions. Foreign companies also complain that local regulations, bureaucracy and problems with the peso currency and payments also bog down business in Cuba.