U.S. Business Persons are Interested in Cuba, Asserts Penny Pritzker

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 17 (acn) The U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, asserted today that there is interest in the business community of her country in fluid trade relations with Cuba, a scenario hampered by the effect of the blockade, Prensa Latina reported.

"It is clear that our business persons want to do business with Cuba, we have been in contact with them and that interest is very high," she specified during the second regulatory meeting between the two governments.
At the headquarters of the Department of Commerce, Pritzker and the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, opened the forum of the mechanism aimed at progressing in the links, taking as a starting point President Obama's executive actions to change the blockade imposed on the island.
According to the Secretary, the meeting, which follows the one held in October in Havana, seeks to deepen mutual understanding and identify areas for Washington to issue new licenses and authorizations for U.S. companies trying to enter the market of the island.
Due to the regulations of the economic, commercial and financial blockade applied for more than half a century, this type of links was impossible, but in the context of the bilateral rapprochement activated in December, 2014, Obama has issued three packages of measures that make unilateral sanctions more flexible.
"We want to make the most of this opportunity to boost trade ties and benefit millions of Cubans isolated for decades," Pritzker said.
In her speech, the official expressed her expectations that the two days of the new regulatory dialogue allow Cuban and U.S. experts to advance in the approach.
We intend to learn more about the operation of Cuban economy, which we began to do in October, she pointed out.
Pritzker avoided references to the blockade against Cuba and its impact on trade relations between the two countries.
In her words, Cuba should help clear the way for these links.
The second regulatory meeting is attended by officials from the departments of Commerce, Treasury and State, representing the host party; while participating for the visiting party are officials and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, the Foreign Ministry, the Central Bank, the Chamber of Commerce and companies.
The Cuban delegation arrived in Washington on Sunday, headed by Malmierca, who yesterday was received at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.