Cuba and U.S. Hold First Bilateral Economic Meeting in Washington

The Cuban delegation reaffirmed that lifting the blockade is essential in order to make progress in economic, commercial and financial relations and toward the normalization of bilateral ties

Government officials from Cuba and the United States met in Washington to hold the first Bilateral Economic Meeting to address commercial, financial and economic issues of common interest.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment, Ileana Núñez Mordoche led the Cuban delegation to the meeting, where issues that may emerge in a post-blockade scenario were also tackled.

The US delegation was presided over by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, John Creamer.

The Cuban delegation included high-ranking officials of the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, the Cuban Central Bank and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From the US side attended the meeting representatives of the Department of Commerce, the Treasury Department, the State Department, the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation and Energy, among others, and the Office of the United States
Trade Representative.

As a result of this first meeting and to follow up on specific issues of mutual interest, different working groups were established. Said groups will meet periodically inalternate venues.

The Cuban delegation reaffirmed that lifting the blockade is essential in order to make progress in economic, commercial and financial relations and toward the normalization of bilateral ties, as it affects the development of our economy and causes damages and privations to the Cuban people.

According to a report presented last week by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, the US economic, financial and commercial blockade on Cuba that has lasted over 50 years has
caused damages to Cuban economy for almost 126 billion dollars