[sunrico90]

With the resent news about Fidel stepping down and his brother taking over, the possibility for US trade always comes to mind. Our state residents (mostly in the south) have a lasting relation with families in Cuba.

If change does take place, will our local economy benefit?

Our export and import industry should see a positive gain, but everyone will also try to capitalize this as soon as possible.

Tourism can also benefit, with the amount of airports that can be the gateway to the island.

How is this going to affect our state?

Note: Please avoid political or any derogatory comments. I'm just looking for feedback on how can our local economy benefit from this government transition, if they decide to open the doors and the US lift the sanctions.

[firemed]

I think it's a little too soon to know if anything will change. If we start trading with Cuba yes, it would be very good for Florida,

[CJFlorida]

No change at all. The administration just announced all embargos will remain in place.

[bale002]

I agree. Right now any talk of change is still theoretical.

I see Cuba as more of a rival to southern Florida than a complement, especially in tourism, hence one reason for the decades-old trade and travel embargo.

I suppose well-connected Cuban-Americans would seek to make direct investments in Cuba, in tourism for example, including even medical tourism, maybe food processing, some light manufacturing, and similar.

So agriculture & food trade, tourism, some light manufacturing, maybe even some oil exploration might be areas of mutual interest.

Now, who would control such trade and industry is a political question, let's avoid it.

Anyway, again, it is still all theoretical, I do not expect significant change merely as a result of this announcement.

[sunrico90]

theoretical view...

Company CEO's are researching how can they position their company to accommodate US initiatives so they can have first pick if the door are opened. For some of us involved in worldwide logistics, this is bait for hungry fish...

[Jarndyce]

President Bush is looking for his legacy and here is a perfect opportunity to build one. If the U.S. and Cuba became trading partners....that would actually be a major positive thing, imo. I don't understand why we wouldn't take this oppty? Forget about "building democracies" and "nation building"...let's just take the first step and open formal trade...we trade with so many nations and non-democracies who may not necessarily be "our buddies"...why exclude Cuba?

[crystalblue]

I just need to make sure I am the first to open a McDonalds franchise in downtown Havana!


this might not be theoretical much longer...

[MiamiRob]

i'm of Cuban descent and will say if the embargo were lifted it would be a boon for Florida except perhaps in tourism. The transition will be slow inless they allow more foreign investment especially by the US to actually raise living wages to a western hemisphere level. Crystal blue I shudder at the thought of seeing Cuba littered with McDonalds & big box retailers!

[beachmouse]

Cuba's already got a fairly well-developed package tour market. The key drawing point- it's cheap to go there. Really really cheap compared to a lot of other winter Caribbean destinations. Food's lousy, shopping opportunities are limited, and the problems with the power grid are obvious, but for the budget-conscious Canadian traveller who just needs to get away from the snow for a couple of weeks and doze on a reasonably safe warm & sunny beach, they can fit the bill.

There will be a bunch of US tourists who go there out of curiousity alone, but in order to really draw from the US, I think Cuba's going to have to go whole hog and do what the Mexicans did to Cancun if they want to draw high volume visitors from the US. Which I'm not sure is such a good idea because it would be very easy to destroy what makes the island unique in the process, and doing it right would take a developer willing to take their time and slowly work their way through big projects.

[GloryB]

I think all the tourist (and Floridians) who will drive through Florida to take a nice cruise or flight to Cuba is good revenue for the state. An expanded tourist market for Cuba will also bring much needed local jobs to the Cuban residents. It can be nothing but a win - win situation.