JAPAN AND CUBA IN TRADE INSURANCE ROW

Japanese exports to Cuba are likely to come to a halt after the Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) stopped accepting applications for trade insurance on deals between the two countries. The move, which apparently stems from the failure of the Central Bank of Cuba to pay on time for Japanese imports, was reported today in Japanese daily newspaper the Nikkei. However it added that Cuba has been behind in repaying short-term debt to Japan since the 1980s and explained talks between Cuba and the Japanese government continue and that the authorities had not decided finally to stop offering new trade insurance.