News from an embargoed island

It’s just been announced that a Navajo agribusiness has signed what is described as a “historic” trade deal with the Cuban regime.

Under the deal, signed during a visit this week to Havana by New Mexico state officials and company representatives, the Navajos will sell beans, corn, wheat and other products to Cuba.

Hang on a minute, I hear you say. What about the crippling US economic embargo that has kept Cuba poor and isolated for at least 45 years?

Well, food is not covered by the embargo. In fact, The Washington Post reports in their coverage of the Navajo deal that Cuba has purchased more than US$1 billion worth of food from the US since 2002.

Go figure.