some pieces on cuba from cnn

[Ken Gargett]

Postcard from Havana     Cuban government officials often have treated the island’s entrepreneurs as a necessary evil — and a possible Trojan horse that could allow opponents in the United States to bring down the revolution.    Until this weekend, Cubans were restricted to working in just 127 officially approved private sector jobs, including as barbers, tire repairers, palm tree trimmers or “dandies,” as the government referred to Cubans who dress up to pose with tourists for photos.   But on Saturday, the island’s communist-run government announced that it would move toward massively expanding the island’s private sector, finally allowing Cubans to soon seek employment or start businesses in most fields of work. (Though 124 activities will still be restricted, likely continuing the state’s monopoly on health care, telecommunications and mass media.)   Pressure to create new opportunities likely came from the sharp economic impact of the pandemic. The shift comes as Raul Castro, 89, prepares to step down in April from his position as head of the Cuban communist party, the organization that charts the island’s long-term economic planning, and it happens to coincide with Cuba's hopes to improve relations with the new US administration.   “This is long overdue, it’s welcome news, and the United States should affirm that the embargo was never intended, and will not be used, to penalize private enterprise in Cuba,” tweeted Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), a long-time advocate for improved relations with Cuba, who this month co-sponsored a long-shot bill to lift the nearly six-decade-old US economic embargo on the island.    “After more than half a century isn’t it time to repeal a Cold War embargo that has failed to achieve any of its objectives, and has only made life harder for the struggling Cuban people?” Leahy wrote.   Leahy, as one of Biden’s old Senate buddies finally has the chance to get his views on Cuba to those who matter, just as the new White House begins to pick its foreign policy priorities.   Cuba’s endlessly inventive and long suffering entrepreneurs will be watching to see what happens. — CNN's Patrick Oppmann writes to Meanwhile from Havana   and - https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/29/americas/what-cuba-wants-from-biden-intl/index.html

[Jason55555]

Very interesting. One wonders how long this will last aka "the back and forth embargo" is this just temp until a new admin comes in and takes is all away for votes.. who knows.

Only thing that is a head scratcher is how will it effect Cuban Cigar production? New American buyers means new demand = quality going down / or does it mean a update of factories equipment and quality goes up?