U.S. Business Executives Meet Cuban Officials
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HAVANA — Cuba put on a lavish welcome for more than 50 U.S. business executives on Friday, urging them to work against an American trade embargo and trying to interest them in now-prohibited business opportunities.
“The main argument against the U.S. policy is that it is not working . . . except in damaging U.S. interests,” Cuban parliament President Ricardo Alarcon told the group.
Since 1961, most U.S. business and travel to Cuba have been restricted by an embargo. That ban was tightened in 1992 and again in 1996.
Showing the importance it attaches to improving ties with the United States, Cuba brought its ministers of economy, foreign trade and tourism to the conference, which began in Cancun, Mexico, on Thursday and was ending in Havana on Friday.
Former U.S. Rep. Sam Gibbons of Florida told Alarcon that he was making his first visit to Cuba despite growing up in Tampa, Fla.
“I believe in engagement,” he said. “I believe it’s time for a change” in policy toward Cuba.
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