It didn't take long for the international trade community to mobilize after President Obama announced in mid-December that the U.S. would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. It seemed like it was just a matter of days before we began receiving press releases about new consulting services and seminars on trade with that country.

How much the U.S. could export to or import from Cuba remains uncertain, but interest in this potential new market is high, and companies are anxious to get ahead of the curve. One example is the indefatigable entrepreneur Dan Gardner of Trade Facilitators Inc. (TFI). In a press release announcing the launch of his Cuba Trade Consulting practice in early February, Gardner said the service would focus on trade compliance for U.S. exporters, training Cuban businesses in international trade, and helping U.S. companies develop commercial relationships with Cuban entrepreneurs.

In mid-February, the international trade law firm of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg P.A. (STR) hosted a live webinar titled "Cuba at the Crossroads: New Policies, Laws, and Potential Opportunities." The online session addressed such topics as license requirements and processes for conducting business with Cuba, relevant changes in U.S. export control and Cuban Assets Control regulations, and legal ramifications of trade with Cuba. STR is offering an archived version of the program.