• Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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    2 months ago

    The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t. Cuba can and does buy goods from them. Cuba’s real problem is paying for them. The US does not embargo food or medicine goods to Cuba, yet the country has problems feeding their people. Poor economic management of a communist country with no real resources.

    • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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      2 months ago

      Cuba can’t pay because Cuba can’t conduct normal finances with the rest of world because of the US embargo

      It’s like having having someone handcuff you, cuff you feet and pin you to the ground and rest their knee on your neck and ask you why you can’t get up on your own.

        • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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          2 months ago

          You are technically correct … but there are several convoluted rules and regulations controlled and mandated by the US that it makes it either very difficult or impossible for most countries to do business or trade with Cuba.

          Cuba can trade with anyone they want … it’s just purposely made so difficult that very few do so and the ones who do provide very little in exchange.

          https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jul/19/facebook-posts/cuba-can-trade-other-countries-heres-some-context/

        • dariusj18@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          The question is, with what currency? The Cuban dollar is not really worth anything outside Cuba, so they can only rely on exports to fund currency needed to buy imports.

          • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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            2 months ago

            This is true, but not due to a US embargo. I should think that the state has access to many different currencies. But, in the end, they have limited resources. Cigars, some Rum (though a lot of countries distil and export rum in the Caribbean). They used to export mercenaries and doctors but noone is buying now.

            • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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              2 months ago

              You don’t think being explicitly barred access from what is essentially considered “the world currency” at this point wouldn’t change their access? C’mon.

              • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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                2 months ago

                They’re not barred from access. Just can’t use US banks. There are many banks in the world.

                  • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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                    2 months ago

                    Hate to tell you this, but most banks in the world deal in multiple currencies including USD.

                • blackbelt352@lemmy.world
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                  2 months ago

                  They’re allowed to play monopoly, they just can’t use the regular monopoly money.

                  The global economy is run on the US dollar. It’s the measuring stick all other currencies use as a reference point.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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      2 months ago

      The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t.

      Technically, but the US has sanctioned companies in other countries who do business in Cuba scaring off a ton of possible choices. The companies have to choose between the richest company on earth and Cuba. Not much of a choice.

      Plus IIRC boats that go to Cuba can’t go to the US after for some period of time. Which considering location makes it hugely inconvenient for shipping companies.

      Plus since the US and US based companies control a huge portion of the world’s financial systems Cuba is locked out of all of them

      • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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        2 months ago

        A citation is needed on the first paragraph

        Barges float to Cuba from the US twice a week.

        Last paragraph is true. Cuba cannot use US banking.

        • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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          2 months ago

          There are exceptions for the very few things the US authorizes to export to Cuba, but in general:

          1. What are the “180-day rule” and the “goods/passengers-on-board rule”?

          The 180-day rule is a statutory restriction prohibiting any vessel that enters a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of goods or the purchase or provision of services there from entering any U.S. port for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for 180 days after leaving Cuba, unless authorized by OFAC. This restriction is applied even if a vessel has stopped in Cuba solely to purchase services unrelated to the trade of goods, such as planned ship maintenance.

          https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/1541