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US seafood importers and Cuban seafood exporters are eagerly awaiting the lifting of the 36-year old trade embargo imposed by the US against Cuba. The tiny Carribean island, which is very close to Florida, could provide the US with cheap and plentiful seafood products. The 1996 Helms-Burton Act, which calls for the lifting of the trade sanctions, may yet to be passed by Congress until Cuban President Fidel Castro dies or is ousted from power.

US sanctions against India have done little to impede investment in the country amid signs that Indian authorities may be building up their pronoucements to offset any potential damage. The Indian press has announced a host of agreements and approvals for projects, most significantly with American companies. Though the effects of sanctions is indefinite, the flurry of investments appears to challenge forecasts that the punishments for India's nuclear tests that began May 11, 1998 would check India's economy and investment.

The 37-year old US embargo on Cuba has not prevented the country from trying its own private enterprise. US exporters and manufacturers are left at a disadvantage as Cuban Pres Fidel Castro banks on private initiative patterned after American businesses. Castro-style capitalism has spawned a McDonald's style fastfood chain and luxury hotels patterned after international ones.

Embargoes are giving many US textile and apparel importers and retailers anxiety and cause them to lose their products and money over undelivered goods. The US Customs Service is mandated to seal ports of entry on products that have filled their quotas. Importers are forced to pay premium prices to keep the embargoed goods in a bonded warehouse until they can be taken out on Jan 1 1998, when a new quota year begins.

The merchant sector of Iran is supporting with caution the concept of renewing the country's commercial relationship with the US, after moderate Mohamad Khatami won by a landslide in the country's presidential elections. Analysts from Washington, DC, believe that the economic embargo against Iran is ineffective and detrimental for the US' commercial interests. The US has a market for its products in Iran, as the country's upper-middle class sectors want to establish contract with the outside world and avail of material comforts.

Sen. Bob Dole has cancelled a public hearing on a trade legislation that will impose trade sanctions on Colombia and Costa Rica to force the two countries to stop cooperating with the EU's restrictions on banana imports. The restrictions have had a severe effect on Carl Linder's Chiquita Brands International, the world's largest grower and distributor of bananas.

The US is planning to impose trade sanctions against French oil firm Total S.A. for its dealings with Iran, such as providing oil equipment, technology and services. The move could have adverse implications to Total's holdings in several US companies, including Midwest refineries, a petroleum company in Denver, CO, and a gold mine in Nevada.

US officials who attended the May 10, 1995 summit in Moscow say that Russia remains firm in its plan to sell a nuclear reactor to Iran, which could boost the country's nuclear weapons program. However, Iran's ability to pay for the sale of the reactor will be tested with the decline in its currency, the real, after the US imposed a unilateral trade embargo against it. Although the embargo failed to reach the real's targeted value against the US dollar, it prodded Iranian importers and consumers to buy dollars.

Business executives from across the country have expressed disappointment over the Clinton Administration's decision to impose a trade embargo against Iran. The executives added that the embargo will only serve to strengthen foreign firms' foothold in Iran. The US trade embargo was taken in response to Iran's continued support for terrorism and its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.

Mexico and Canada are not heeding US requests for a trade embargo of Cuba despite the finalization of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The two US treaty partners are still increasing their investment in Cuba as the latter seeks more foreign investment. Mexico has displaced Spain as Cuba's largest foreign investor, especially in the telecommunications and oil sectors. Canada, on the other hand, is determined to invest substantially in tourism, mining and oil exploration.

The decision of Pres Bill Clinton to lift the trade embrago on Vietnam prompted government agencies to pursue business transactions in the Vietnamese market. The two countries are discussing the provisions of the bilateral trade pact to ensure the protection of the rights of US goods. The trade pact will also be used as the guideline in the entry of Vietnamese products in the US market.

Iraq has requested the UN to allow the sale of $2 billion worth of oil to buy food and medicine. About 20% of the country's population is threatened by starvation while malnutrition and disease have claimed the lives of about 500,000 children. UN resolution No. 986 would allow the oil sale. It would also give the UN control of the use of the proceeds of the sale to prevent Iraq from using the money on military or political activities.

The execution of playwright and businessman Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was found guilty of complicity in the murder of pro-government tribal chiefs and who has led a campaign against Shell Petroleum Co. Nigeria due to environmental damage, has triggered a possible embargo against the country's exports. A boycott was called in the international community against Nigeria's crude exports.

The future of Haiti's economy remains shaky despite the return of Pres. Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office. Analysts believe that the economic uncertainty is caused by the pending elections, where Aristide is prevented from a seeking a second term. They say that foreign investors are waiting for Haiti's political climate to stabilize before making investments.

Iraq is forced to sell limited amounts of oil to the UN in exchange for food and medicine supplies. The country, which became crippled when the UN imposed an oil embargo after its invasion of Kuwait, agreed to sell oil worth one billion every three months if the UN will revise the conditions of the oil sale, which it says violates its sovereignty.

Political leaders around the globe are contemplating whether to impose an oil embargo on Nigeria as a sign of protest against the execution of minority-rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and his eight followers. The oil embargo will severely affect Nigeria's earnings because it is heavily dependent on revenues from its oil sales.

The trade embargo of the US against Iran has increased the demand for crude oil in the international market. Very-large crude carriers (VLCCs) have produced the strongest charter market for tankers since Aug. 1995. However, 1994 and 1995 had experienced the lowest levels in the charter market since 1985. This has been due to the big rise in North Sea oil production and more supplies from Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and West Africa which have lessened the need for VLCCs to ship crude oil around the Cape of Good Hope.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has vetoed a bill that proposes to impose a trade embargo on Cuba and on countries that it conducts business with because it violates international legal regulations. The bill, called the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, was proposed by Sen. Jesse Helms and Rep. Dan Burton and has been effective for 33 years. It has been presented to several countries, but met the same response. Caricom says that the trend towards integration and market liberalization prohibits it from imposing economic sanctions against Cuba.

The Alaskan representatives in the US Congress are intensifying efforts to end the 22-year old ban on exports of Alaskan north slope crude oil overseas. Efforts of these legislators are expected to be fruitful since they propose that US flag ships be employed to ship the oil, if ever the ban is lifted. They are also stressing the potential contributions of the oil export to the overall US economy.

The US trade embargo on Cuba proves to be more disadvantageous than beneficial to the US economy. The unilateral embargo is preventing the US from conducting trade with Cuba and utilizing the opportunities presented by its rapidly growing economy. It prevents the US from expanding its export activities in the agricultural sector. Citrus growers are prevented from investing in Cuba's citrus industry, but Cuba can utilize US farm technology. Trade analysts believe that lifting of the embargo can bring in $100 million in export revenues in fertilizers and $400 million in agricultural products.

Haiti's coffee industry, known to produce the best coffees in the world, is feeling the ill effects caused by the embargo. The export sector is the hardest hit, with exports decreasing from $20 million to $10 million. Exporters attribute the decline in exports to Haiti's unstable political situation and the massive deforestation, which is starting to spread to some parts of the Dominican Republic. Other experts, on the other hand, claim that the decline in coffee was caused by inefficient marketing and the decline in prices.

The Vietnam government is insisting on a premium of 55 cents a barrel for its Bach Ho crude oil in its negotiations over term crude oil pricing with Japan's companies. The resolve of the Vietnam government for the premium price has been strengthened with the lifting of the US trade embargo against Vietnam. Two major US oil companies have expressed interest in buying Bach Ho crude from Vietnam.

Air carriers and courier service companies are hoping that the lifting of the trade embargo on Vietnam will boost the industry's operations. Carrier DHL Worldwide Express, which has been operating in Vietnam since 1988, announced that it is ready to start its operations from the US to Vietnam. On the other hand, airline services, such as United Airlines and Northwest Airlines, have announced their intentions to start their operation in the country as soon as legal procedures are satisfied.

The decision of the Clinton administration to lift the trade embargo on Vietnam will give the US companies the chance to compete with Asian and European firms. A total of $7.8 billion has already been pledged by non-US companies to support Vietnamese projects, which will focus mostly on infrastructure, industrialization and economic growth. The competition is expected to induce US companies to intensify their operations. To get ahead, many US firms have opened their accounts in Vietnamese banks.

The trade sanctions imposed by the UN on Yugoslavia have proved to be beneficial for raspberry growers in the Pacific Northwest, as they almost entirely stopped shipment of the commodity. The situation has compelled US food firms that usually import berries to instead go into the processing of berries sourced from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. The embargo on Yugoslavian raspberries has also jacked up wholesale prices to 60 cents per pound, up from 49 to 51 cents per pound.

The US is feeling the consequences of the Vietnam trade embargo as Vietnamese consumers flock to stores where US wares and products are offered. The embargo, which was imposed by Washington in 1975, prohibits the country from making business dealings with Vietnam. To prevent further losses in sales, employment and other opportunities, the US has started negotiations regarding development projects in Vietnam. The move marks the first initiative taken by the country to resolve its differences with Vietnam in over 18 years.

The trade embargo re-imposed by the US against Haiti after talks on the reinstatement of Haitian Pres Jean-Bertrand Aristide by the military failed is hurting shipping companies on the Miami River. The river, which transports around $2 billion in cargo yearly, is the main route used by traders between the two countries. Some products, like cut cloth, continue to be moved through the river going to Haiti, but most goods, including food, clothing and spare parts are often denied permits.

Businessmen attending the Miami Conference on the Caribbean believe there is little hope for economic growth in Haiti even if the stalemate between ousted Pres Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the Haitian military is resolved. The international embargo imposed on the country has already resulted in the exodus of foreign companies and has decimated its assembly industry, its chief driver of economic growth. Foreign businessmen in the panel called for US military intervention, but their Haitian counterparts disagreed, saying that it would only worsen the situation.

The UN embargo on Haiti will affect those who wish to engage in trade with Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Although Haiti continues to be engulfed in political and economic problems, the Dominican Republic has grown into a large market for the US in Latin American and the Caribbean. A list of trade concerns relating to trade with the Dominican Republic is presented. This includes buying and selling concerns such as exports, imports, barriers to trade, currency and market size.

Bulgarian Pres Zhelyu Zhelev has asked the assistance of western countries to offset trade losses caused by the UN's economic embargo against war-torn Yugoslavia. The embargo adversely affected Bulgaria's economy since all of the land-locked country's trade routes were cut off. However, Zhelev believes that the opening of Western markets to Bulgaria and the reconstruction of its telecommnicationss and infrastructure project through Western assitance would enable the country to recover its losses.

Shipping analysts believe that the end of the Iraqi embargo and the return of Iraqi oil to international markets would drive down oil tanker rates. Before the embargo, about 1.6 million barrels of Iraqi oil went through a Turkish pipeline directly to the Mediterranean and another 0.8 million barrels went through Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea. During the embargo, very-large crude carriers (VLCCs) had to transport Middle East oil around the Cape of Good Hope to make up for the closure of these former routes. Thus, ending the embargo would reopen the Turkish pipeline and displace the VLCCs.

Serbia has continued to export aluminum to the EC which is against the embargo imposed by the UN. Aluminum is sent out through Macedonia and a majority of the metal goes to Greece which was formerly supplied by Russia. Greece avoids the 6% tariff imposed by the EC and sales from the aluminum is reportedly used to fund the Serbian war efforts. The metal is on embargo and no one admits on having to do something about it.

Pres Clinton is urged to lift the US trade sanctions against Cuba. The embargo has not worked effectively since Fidel Castro still remains safely ensconced in power. The economic sanctions only provide Castro with an excuse to perpetuate his regime. However, if the embargo is lifted and Cuba's economy still deteriorates, then Castro's grip on Cuba will be eased. Cuba's economy is unlikely to improve anyway, even with the lifting of the sanctions, because of its autocratic government and centrally planned economic policies.

Puerto Rico will benefit tremendously if the US lifts its trade embargo on Cuba. A government study predicts that trade between Cuba and Puerto Rico may reach $1 billion within 10 years once the US embargo is scrapped. Puerto Rico can capture 10% of the Cuban market and Puerto Rican exports to Cuba can climb to $600 million within five years, the study also said. Cuba's tourism sector, however, may pose a threat to Puerto Rico, the government report warned.

The Cuban cargo ship Pinar del Rio arrived in Havana carrying 12 tons worth of donations collected from 90 US cities. The shipment was made in defiance of a 30-year standing economic trade embargo with Cuba and was met at port by over 100 American pastors and lay persons. The donation campaigners declined to apply for a license to ship the goods from the Treasury Department which rarely grants one in any case.

A one-time lifting of a UN embargo of oil sales by Iraq may not happen as the Arab country controls the site where the $1.6 billion export sale will be conducted. The UN had mandated that the Iraq oil be sold via a Turkish pipeline, but Iraq insists it should be via Mina al-Bakr, its port on the Persian Gulf. Iraq also wants to be allowed to sell $4 billion of oil over a six-month period rather than the one-time lifting.