Cuban cigars anyone? Legend has it that President John F. Kennedy had 1,200 Cuban cigars purchased for him right before he signed the embargo against Cuba in 1962. The reasoning behind the embargo was that Cuba was a communist country, and posed a threat to the U.S., as it was located just off the coast of Florida.
On this day November 4th, in 2001, Cuba’s first commercial interaction with the U.S. since its ban takes place. After Hurricane Michele devastates the island, the U.S. sends humanitarian aid. After that, trade picked up quickly. In 2007 the U.S. was the number one food supplier for Cuba, with all transactions done in cash.
President Clinton signed an act passed by Congress which allowed the U.S. to sell Cuba agricultural products and medicine; however, Cuba declined the offer. After Hurricane Michele hit, Cuba accepted the U.S.’s offer with the rationalization that humanitarian aid helped rebuild the bridge between the two countries. Due to evacuation of over 700,000 people, there were only 5 casualties from the catastrophic hurricane which caused nearly $2 Billion US dollars in damage.