UPDATE: USTR Ambassador & Deputy Visit Cuba... MINREX Provides More Information Than US Government... Why?

Why is the government of the Republic of Cuba more transparent about it discussions with officials of the government of the United States?  They reported who the meetings were with, what was discussed, and issued an image (see below).... 

On 4 October 2016, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that USTR Ambassador Michael Froman will visit Havana, Republic of Cuba, from 5 October 2016 to 8 October 2016 for “bilateral meetings.”  The Honorable Matthew Vogel, Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative will also participate. 

Not identified as participating were support staff and John Melle, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere; Matthew McAlvanah, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Public and Media Affairs.

The delegation traveled using regularly-scheduled commercial airlines.

The visit was not announced in USTR's regularly-scheduled calendar issued on Friday, 30 September 2016.

Ambassador Froman was the seventh (7th) member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet to visit the Republic of Cuba since 17 December 2014.

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba

"CUBA, October 7, 2016.- On 6 and 7 October, made an official visit to Cuba Ambassador Michael Froman, Office of the United States Trade Representative, during which he was received by ministers Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Foreign Affairs; and Rodrigo Malmierca, Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

He also met with Deputy Ministers of the Ministries of Communications, Agriculture and Science, Technology and Environment.

At the meetings they were discussed issues of interest to both related to the field of trade parties. Ambassador Froman and his delegation visited the Special Area Development Mariel, an agricultural cooperative and the Historic Center of Old Havana. (Cubaminrex)"

NOTE: Mrs. Josefina de la Caridad Vidal Ferreiro, the Director General (since 2013) of the Department of the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, reported that from October 2016 through December 2016 seven high-level visits by both officials of the government of the Republic of Cuba and delegations from the United States were scheduled to be held in Washington, DC, and in Havana.  The United States Department of State has not mentioned the number of visits.

NOTE: There remains a continuing issue with the Obama Administration relating to the transparency for visits to the Republic of Cuba by senior-level officials. 

NOTE: The United States business community would be better served by having advance notification of meetings that will impact the United States business community.