U.S. Trade Representative makes two-day visit to Cuba

U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, made an official two-day visit to Cuba on Thursday and Friday and held talks with senior officials, highlighted the island' s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

Froman met on Friday with Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, and the minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca.

He also met with the deputy ministers for Communications, Agriculture and Science, Technology and Environment.

During these meetings, issues related to trade involving the participating ministries and the United States were discussed, according to the foreign affairs ministry.

As part of his activities on the island, the U.S. Trade Representative and his delegation visited the Special Economic Zone in the deep-water port of Mariel, a private agricultural cooperative, and Old Havana's historic center.

Froman's visit to the island is part of the new stage of relations between the two countries after diplomatic ties were restored in July 2015.

During meetings with the U.S. Representative, Cuba demanded that the trade embargo against the Caribbean nation, which has been in place for over half a century, be lifted.

Trade is one of the most sensitive aspects of Havana - Washington relations since the U.S. embargo against Cuba leaves little room for manoeuvre when it comes to commerce between the two neighboring nations. Enditem