奥巴马访问古巴带去经济利益

 Peter Hakim is President Emeritus¹ of Washington-based think tank Inter-American Dialogue. He says Obama's visit to Cuba will open up the US to the island nation.

"President Obama approached this from a conceptual perspective, that the way to bring about change in Cuba was not to negotiate it but to create a new engagement with Cuba with the notion that this would create an environment in Cuba that would allow and encourage change. The idea was to open up the U.S., remove barriers that the U.S. had placed, and thus creating a more accepting, more open possibilities for Cuba to take advantage of the U.S. opening."Prior to Obama's trip, the US said it would lift a ban on Cuban access to the international banking² system. The inability to send or receive payments that passed through the U.S. banking system had crippled Cuba's ability to trade with third countries. It had also hindered attempts to normalize U.S.-Cuban relations.

奥巴马访问古巴带去经济利益

Cuban American lawyer Jose Pertierra says Obama's visit and related economic measures towards Cuba have received support from many in the US, especially those in the business community.

"One of the most important reasons why Obama's visit to Cuba has gained wide domestic support is his focus on economic and trade issues. Thus, he has won the support of many entrepreneurs from southern parts of the United States, and their appeals have changed the stance of some Republican senators."Meanwhile, Cuba has called on the US to further remove obstacles in the two nations' economic relations. www.hxen.com .

Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca says the existing US trade embargo³ on Cuba has been the biggest barrier in his country's economic development.

"Cuban companies are not allowed to export products or services to the United States, and the trade between the two countries is now unilateral. Besides, U.S. enterprises are not allowed to invest in Cuba except in the communications field, and no Cuban banks can have direct contact with their U.S. counterparts or open any correspondent accounts with U.S. banks."The minister says Cuba has suffered an economic loss of 121 billion US dollars under the embargo.

In addition, he hopes the US will eliminate policies that unfavorably target Cuban state-run enterprises, which he says dominates the Cuban economy.

The Obama administration has recently loosened a number of restrictions⁴ on travel and trade between the two countries. Mail links between the US and Cuba have also been restored.

In return, Cuba announced last week that it will eliminate a 10-percent tax on US dollars entering the country.

President Obama's visit to Cuba will last until Tuesday.

 

1 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制