Vic Mellor heads to Cuba to court trade links for Rhode Island

By AI, Created 12:56 PM UTC, May 27, 2026, /AGP/ – Rhode Island congressional candidate Vic Mellor is traveling to Cuba to build business, civic and humanitarian ties that he says could help open future markets for the state. The trip aims to connect Rhode Island suppliers, manufacturers and workers to any broader U.S.-Cuba economic opening while delivering aid to churches, hospitals and schools.

Why it matters: - Mellor is trying to position Rhode Island for jobs and investment if U.S.-Cuba trade expands. - The effort centers on Rhode Island industries that could sell construction materials, medical devices, biotechnology products and advanced manufacturing goods. - The trip combines economic outreach with humanitarian distribution, which could strengthen local relationships on both sides.

What happened: - Vic Mellor, a Rhode Island congressional candidate, traveled to Cuba to meet with business and humanitarian leaders. - Mellor said the goal is to establish partnerships that could open economic opportunities for Rhode Island. - The delegation is also visiting major churches, hospitals and educational institutions in Havana and near Santiago de Cuba. - Medical supplies and educational materials are being delivered during the visit.

The details: - Mellor has spent the past five years building relationships with Cuban American business and civic leaders. - That outreach includes ongoing engagement with the Cuban American National Chamber of Commerce. - Those connections led to an invitation to visit Cuba and explore links between Rhode Island suppliers, manufacturers and service providers and Cuban counterparts. - Mellor said recent political developments signal an opening of the Cuban economy to trade. - Mellor said Rhode Island should be ready if a future U.S.-Cuba agreement creates normal trade and partnership. - Mellor said Rhode Island has industrial, manufacturing and logistics capacity that could help meet Cuban needs and create jobs at home. - Mellor said Rhode Island has been hurt by decisions that sent opportunity elsewhere over the past 40 years. - Mellor said the state’s readiness starts with relationships and with showing up. - The state’s manufacturing base includes construction materials, medical devices, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. - Mellor said those capabilities could make Rhode Island a meaningful contributor in a future hemispheric realignment. - The delegation will visit the historic Catedral de San Cristóbal in Havana and the Basílica del Cobre near Santiago de Cuba. - The trip is being conducted in full compliance with applicable U.S. regulations governing travel and humanitarian distribution. - Vic Mellor will be available for press interviews after the delegation returns.

Between the lines: - The trip is as much about relationship-building as immediate commerce, which suggests Mellor is betting on future policy changes rather than current trade conditions. - Pairing business outreach with humanitarian aid gives Mellor a broader message: economic development and community support can move together. - The emphasis on Rhode Island’s industrial base appears aimed at casting the state as ready for export growth if Cuba opens further.

What’s next: - Mellor is expected to continue promoting Rhode Island as a candidate for future trade and investment opportunities tied to Cuba. - Press interviews are expected after the delegation returns. - Any larger economic impact depends on future U.S.-Cuba policy changes.

The bottom line: - Mellor is using a Cuba trip to make a case that Rhode Island should prepare now for any future opening in trade and investment.