During a trade mission to Havana in August 2009, Governor Richardson met with Cuban leaders to encourage dialogue between the communist government and the U.S.

During meetings with the foreign ministry and with Ricardo Alarcon, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Richardson pitched the idea of creating a dialogue between the Cuban government and a team of Cuban-American exiles. Richardson also advocated more legalized travel to the island.

Richardson called on the U.S. to ease travel restrictions to Cuba, which the Obama Administration appears poised to soon do, as a first-step to improving relations between the two countries which could potentially lead to increased trade opportunities.