Monday, October 8, 2007

Embargo

"Despite the U.S. trade embargo, the United States is still one of the largest exporters to Cuba, though its exports -- largely food and agricultural products -- reach only about $350 million a year and have fallen slightly as Cuba has turned to other countries for food imports."

Put this piece of news in context: see in this previous post how the US exports food to Venezuela, Iran and Syria, in spite of the very very tense political situation with these countries (Iranians chant "Death to the USA" every morning before breakfast, and again after lunch to facilitate digestion). Some would say this is a calculated move to keep "unfriendly" countries dependent on cheap food, so that it hurts more when a food embargo is implemented (as in Iraq before the invasion). But then they would be conspiracy theorists.

No comments: