State Department Won't Provide Data On US Businesses Meeting With US Ambassador

Earlier in 2016, representatives of the United States Department of State confirmed that a list could be compiled and made available with the number of United States-based companies, their sectors, and their respective representatives who have met with The Honorable Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Charge D'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Havana, Republic of Cuba, since 17 December 2014.

On 8 August 2015, a representative of the United States Department of State reported that a list would not be provided; thus an unnecessary potential request using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) would be required.

The provision of the list would be consistent with the publicly-stated goal of the Obama Administration, and specifically the United States Department of State, to be transparent with the provision of data.

The list as requested would be a useful data point to inform about the level of interest by United States companies toward the Republic of Cuba, the sectors which have the highest level(s) of interest, and provide a measure of the connectivity between the United States business community and the Embassy of the United States located in Havana, Republic of Cuba.