Cuba Business News and Information
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The Associated Press
Trade between Cuba and China grew by 23 percent to more than US$2 billion (€1.4 billion) in 2007, solidifying China’s place as the communist-run island’s second-largest economic benefactor behind oil-rich Venezuela.
China is Cuba’s second-largest trading partner and the top importer of Cuban products, especially nickel and sugar, Cuba’s official news agency Prensa Latina reported Monday from Beijing, without giving exact figures.
In 2006, trade between the two countries totaled US$1.8 billion (€1.2 billion) — double that of 2005, China’s ambassador to Havana said in March.
Chinese consumer goods are increasingly common on the island, and hundreds of Chinese-made buses and trains have helped ease chronic transportation problems, especially on long-distance routes.
The Cuban government has also distributed new Chinese appliances on credit to families, in an effort to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the hulking, decades-old Russian-made refrigerators and stoves once commonplace here.
Cuba-China trade figures also include billions of dollars (euros) in favorable credits Beijing has extended Havana in recent years, which has seen the island’s debt levels soar.
Trade between Venezuela and Cuba has reached US$7 billion (€4.7 billion) a year, much of it in the form of the 92,000 barrels of oil a day Venezuela provides the island for Cuban doctors providing medical care and other social services.
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I put trade in quotes because it’s just more funny numbers from Cuba.
1. “Cuba’s official news agency Prensa Latina reported Monday from Beijing, without giving exact figures.”
So, we are just supposed to believe the report and accept the accounting practices of the Cuban government. Right.
2. “Cuban government has also distributed new Chinese appliances on credit to families,”.
Notice the word “credit” which Fidel hears as “gift”.
3. “for Cuban doctors providing medical care and other social services.”
Trade here means slave trade. Trading doctors for oil… another win for Fidel.
Maybe I’m just getting too cynical covering Cuba as much as I do but it’s just always the same shit, different day and Cuban people live with shackles yet another day.
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Perhaps it’s time for a lateral career move.
“China is Cuba’s second-largest trading partner and the top importer of Cuban products, especially nickel and sugar, Cuba’s official news agency Prensa Latina reported Monday from Beijing, without giving exact figures.”
Since you doubt this statement, which is obviously true beyond question, you are disabled for your current occupation.
I don’t doubt the statement but feel that maybe it should be worded more like:
China is Cuba’s second largest source of gifts…
I’m sure China is paying for the nickel and sugar but I’m not so sure that Cuba is paying for the buses and Chinese appliances.
So, when I read about Cuba’s “trading partners”, I know there is more to the story.
Of course the government doesn’t give out exact figures when they have something to hide. When they are proud of their numbers, then they release them.
We all know Cuban economic numbers are not based on internationally accepted accounting practices.
I know, I know. It’s all because of the US Embargo.
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