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On Day 1 in Cuba, Gov. McAuliffe touts his state’s pork, wine — and seaport On Day 1 in Cuba, Gov. McAuliffe touts his state’s pork, wine — and seaport
(35 minutes later)
HAVANA — The Hotel Nacional de Cuba, playground for Hollywood stars and mobsters in its pre-Cuban Missile Crisis heyday, played host Sunday night to a visibly peeved Virginia governor.HAVANA — The Hotel Nacional de Cuba, playground for Hollywood stars and mobsters in its pre-Cuban Missile Crisis heyday, played host Sunday night to a visibly peeved Virginia governor.
Over a dinner at the start of his three-day trade mission here, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) learned that when Virginia-based Smithfield Foods sells pork to this island nation, it ships the meat from Florida instead of the Port of Virginia.Over a dinner at the start of his three-day trade mission here, Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) learned that when Virginia-based Smithfield Foods sells pork to this island nation, it ships the meat from Florida instead of the Port of Virginia.
“You truck it all the way to Jacksonville?” McAuliffe asked the Smithfield vice president sitting across from him. “Dumbest thing I ever heard.”“You truck it all the way to Jacksonville?” McAuliffe asked the Smithfield vice president sitting across from him. “Dumbest thing I ever heard.”
McAuliffe traveled to Cuba on Sunday, at a moment of historic rapprochement between Cold War foes, to pitch Virginia products to the communist nation. But first he found himself having to promote Virginia’s port to Virginians.McAuliffe traveled to Cuba on Sunday, at a moment of historic rapprochement between Cold War foes, to pitch Virginia products to the communist nation. But first he found himself having to promote Virginia’s port to Virginians.
[McAuliffe’s Cuba trip highlights his emphasis on foreign trade][McAuliffe’s Cuba trip highlights his emphasis on foreign trade]
And so, in the patio restaurant of the famed hotel, when he should have been swooning over pork, black beans, good cigars and ocean breezes, the 72nd governor of Virginia was barking.And so, in the patio restaurant of the famed hotel, when he should have been swooning over pork, black beans, good cigars and ocean breezes, the 72nd governor of Virginia was barking.
“I do not want to hear about one more Smithfield pork [product] shipping out of Jacksonville,” he said loudly enough to be heard at the next table. “How do we fix that?”“I do not want to hear about one more Smithfield pork [product] shipping out of Jacksonville,” he said loudly enough to be heard at the next table. “How do we fix that?”
The governor’s aggressive efforts to expand and diversify Virginia’s defense-heavy economy have taken him to the Middle East, Asia, India and Europe.The governor’s aggressive efforts to expand and diversify Virginia’s defense-heavy economy have taken him to the Middle East, Asia, India and Europe.
And now it has led him to visit Cuba, the fourth U.S. governor to come here in the 13 months since President Obama announced plans to begin normalizing relations with the country. And now they have led him to visit Cuba, the fourth U.S. governor to come here in the 13 months since President Obama announced plans to begin normalizing relations with the country.
McAuliffe and his 30-member delegation will spend all day Monday in a series of meetings with Cuban ministry officials, hoping to sell them on products ranging from modest roofing to high-end flooring. State officials are also hoping to announce deals – one between the Port of Virginia and Cuba’s Port of Mariel, another between Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Havana. Details of those announcements remained under wraps. McAuliffe and his 30-member delegation will spend all day Monday in a series of meetings with Cuban ministry officials, hoping to sell them on products ranging from modest roofing to high-end flooring. State officials are also hoping to announce deals — one between the Port of Virginia and Cuba’s Port of Mariel, another between Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Havana. Details of those announcements remained under wraps.
Sunday was devoted primarily to seeing a few sights and getting to know some of the private business people exploring the potential for trade. McAuliffe does not usually play tourist on trade missions. A world traveler long before he took office, he’s often been there, done that. But he did a little touring on Sunday in Havana, he said, for the sake of the larger-than-usual delegation accompanying him. Sunday was devoted primarily to seeing a few sights and getting to know some of the private business people exploring the potential for trade. McAuliffe does not usually play tourist on trade missions. A world traveler long before he took office, he has often been there, done that. But he did a little touring Sunday in Havana, he said, for the sake of the larger-than-normal delegation accompanying him.
“Usually when I do trade missions, we generally don’t take anyone with us,” he said. “Our last trip was 135 meetings. I like to go, go, go, go – meeting, meeting, meeting, meeting. This one’s a little different because it’s a brand-new opportunity for folks. So this one, since it’s really virgin territory for so many American companies and Virginia companies, we put out the word, ‘If you want to come down, we can help you open some doors.’ ”“Usually when I do trade missions, we generally don’t take anyone with us,” he said. “Our last trip was 135 meetings. I like to go, go, go, go – meeting, meeting, meeting, meeting. This one’s a little different because it’s a brand-new opportunity for folks. So this one, since it’s really virgin territory for so many American companies and Virginia companies, we put out the word, ‘If you want to come down, we can help you open some doors.’ ”
With a Cuban architect as a tour guide, McAuliffe and the delegation strolled past Old Havana bars where Hemingway drank. They admired crumbling architectural gems, such as the 18th-century limestone palace that had been home to colonial governors.With a Cuban architect as a tour guide, McAuliffe and the delegation strolled past Old Havana bars where Hemingway drank. They admired crumbling architectural gems, such as the 18th-century limestone palace that had been home to colonial governors.
“Lot bigger than the one I live in,” McAuliffe said. “The Spanish knew how to do it.”“Lot bigger than the one I live in,” McAuliffe said. “The Spanish knew how to do it.”
[Repatriados: The Cubans who are heading home][Repatriados: The Cubans who are heading home]
The group lingered before a street performer who, perched motionless on a cobblestone street and smeared in dark makeup, looked uncannily like a weathered bronzed pirate statue. The buccaneer came to life after McAuliffe placed $1 in his tip box, pretending to threaten the governor with his sword.The group lingered before a street performer who, perched motionless on a cobblestone street and smeared in dark makeup, looked uncannily like a weathered bronzed pirate statue. The buccaneer came to life after McAuliffe placed $1 in his tip box, pretending to threaten the governor with his sword.
In a funny coincidence, McAuliffe ran into Luis Avila, 32, of San Francisco, a former Northern Virginian who had volunteered for the governor’s campaign.In a funny coincidence, McAuliffe ran into Luis Avila, 32, of San Francisco, a former Northern Virginian who had volunteered for the governor’s campaign.
Tour guide Ayleen Robainas pointed out a 1906 hat factory gutted down to its ornate facade, the rest of it too ruined to be saved. When she said it was being turned into a hotel, McAuliffe smelled an opportunity. He asked if any private partners would be involved.Tour guide Ayleen Robainas pointed out a 1906 hat factory gutted down to its ornate facade, the rest of it too ruined to be saved. When she said it was being turned into a hotel, McAuliffe smelled an opportunity. He asked if any private partners would be involved.
No, Robainas said. The Cuban government has had lots of offers, she said, but it wants to do the hotel on its own.No, Robainas said. The Cuban government has had lots of offers, she said, but it wants to do the hotel on its own.
Even so, McAuliffe believes the island is teeming with other opportunities.Even so, McAuliffe believes the island is teeming with other opportunities.
“I just think it’s a huge potential for us for many years to come,” he said afterward. “We’re coming here to plant the flag.”“I just think it’s a huge potential for us for many years to come,” he said afterward. “We’re coming here to plant the flag.”
McAuliffe found a way to promote his state as the tour wound down. He presented a bottle of Virginia wine to Warnel Lores, Cuba’s ministry of foreign affairs. The bottle -- a 2014 Barboursville Vineyards viognier -- was one of the state’s best, McAuliffe said. McAuliffe found a way to promote his state as the tour wound down. He presented a bottle of Virginia wine to Warnel Lores, Cuba’s ministry of foreign affairs. The bottle — a 2014 Barboursville Vineyards viognier — was one of the state’s best, McAuliffe said.
“Excellent with lobster,” Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, piped up.“Excellent with lobster,” Todd Haymore, Virginia’s secretary of agriculture and forestry, piped up.
“Excellent with everything,” McAuliffe said. “You fire that up and think of Virginia. You forget those other 49 states.”“Excellent with everything,” McAuliffe said. “You fire that up and think of Virginia. You forget those other 49 states.”
Virginia – one of Cuba’s top three U.S. trading partners since Washington lifted the ban on agricultural exports more than a decade ago – does not face competition from other states so much as from the rest of the world. While other countries allow Cuba to buy products on generous financing terms, the United States still requires Cuba to pay in cash before goods leave U.S. ports. Virginia – one of Cuba’s top three U.S. trading partners since Washington lifted the ban on agricultural exports more than a decade ago — does not face competition from other states so much as from the rest of the world. While other countries allow Cuba to buy products on generous financing terms, the United States still requires Cuba to pay in cash before goods leave U.S. ports.
“This is ridiculous,” McAuliffe said. “As I like to say, you look at Vietnam -- 57,000 Americans were killed over there. We’ve had an embassy there for years. This is a country that we actually came over and invaded. We’ve got to put the past behind us.” “This is ridiculous,” McAuliffe said. “As I like to say, you look at Vietnam — 57,000 Americans were killed over there. We’ve had an embassy there for years. This is a country that we actually came over and invaded. We’ve got to put the past behind us.”
Among the business participating in the trade mission are Perdue Agribusiness; Virginia Natural Beef; Forever Oceans, a high-tech, sustainable fish-farming outfit spun off from Lockheed Martin; T. Parker Host shipping; roofing firm Onduline North America; and Mountain Lumber Company. Among the businesses participating in the trade mission are Perdue Agribusiness; Virginia Natural Beef; Forever Oceans, a high-tech, sustainable fish-farming outfit spun off from Lockheed Martin; T. Parker Host shipping; roofing firm Onduline North America; and Mountain Lumber Co.
Participants from those firms paid their own way on the trip, at a price of about $3,000 per person. Taxpayers will pick up the tab for sending McAuliffe, first lady Dorothy McAuliffe, and the state officials accompanying them. The administration has not yet calculated the cost. Participants from those firms paid their own way for the trip, at a price of about $3,000 per person. Taxpayers will pick up the tab for sending McAuliffe, first lady Dorothy McAuliffe and the state officials accompanying them. The administration has not yet calculated the cost.
Members of the state delegation include McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy and two cabinet secretaries besides Haymore: Bill Hazel of health and human resources and Karen Jackson of technology.Members of the state delegation include McAuliffe spokesman Brian Coy and two cabinet secretaries besides Haymore: Bill Hazel of health and human resources and Karen Jackson of technology.
Additional state staff include the deputy agriculture commissioner and a special assistant; a member of the state’s economic development authority; an official with the Virginia Port Authority; three from Virginia Commonwealth University; and the director of the state-supported Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Additional state staff members include the deputy agriculture commissioner and a special assistant; a member of the state’s economic development authority; an official with the Virginia Port Authority; three from Virginia Commonwealth University; and the director of the state-supported Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Three people with the Center for Democracy in the Americas, which helped organize the trip, are also traveling with the delegation.Three people with the Center for Democracy in the Americas, which helped organize the trip, are also traveling with the delegation.
Also along for the trip are two members of the governor’s executive protection unit, who accompany the governor wherever he goes, and two pilots for the state plane.Also along for the trip are two members of the governor’s executive protection unit, who accompany the governor wherever he goes, and two pilots for the state plane.
While most of the delegation arrived via charter flight, the Cuban government extended a special privilege to McAuliffe by allowing him to land his state plane at Jose Marti International Airport. Cuban Ambassador José R. Cabañans offered that favor to McAuliffe in a face-to-face meeting in Washington about two weeks ago, and McAuliffe took it as a good sign. Although most of the delegation arrived via charter flight, the Cuban government extended a special privilege to McAuliffe by allowing him to land his state plane at Jose Marti International Airport. Cuban Ambassador José R. Cabañans offered that favor to McAuliffe in a face-to-face meeting in Washington about two weeks ago, and the governor took it as a good sign.
“There’s a whole different feeling I can tell, even from last time I was here,” said McAuliffe, who traveled to Cuba once before, in 2009, as a volunteer pitchman for Virginia apples and wine. “Much more open feeling, much more willingness to do business.”“There’s a whole different feeling I can tell, even from last time I was here,” said McAuliffe, who traveled to Cuba once before, in 2009, as a volunteer pitchman for Virginia apples and wine. “Much more open feeling, much more willingness to do business.”