Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


As Cuba Seeks Hard Currency, Dollar Stores Reopen After 15 Years

Reuters

   HAVANA - Cubans flocked to a dozen shops that opened in Havana on
   Monday selling home appliances and spare parts for cars in dollars, as
   the cash-strapped government struggles to rake in tradable currency to
   purchase imports and pay its debts.

   Washing machines, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, TVs,
   electric motorcycles, car batteries, tires and other goods were priced
   well below similar offers at other state stores, when available for
   sale in the government's local dollar equivalent, the convertible peso.

   Cuba's inefficient state-run economy is going through a liquidity
   crisis due to the implosion of ally Venezuela's economy and the
   tightening of the decades-old U.S. trade embargo under President Donald
   Trump.

   The country is dependent on fuel, food and other imports it must
   purchase for tradable international currencies it earns from exports of
   goods and services such as sugar, tourism and technical assistance,
   which are all in decline.

   Shortages of everything from fuel to food and medicines have plagued
   the country this year.

.