Cuban entrepreneurs are expressing grave concerns that the United States, under President Trump's administration, is intent on crippling the socialist system in Cuba through an oil blockade. This policy is expected to severely impact the private sector, which has been a significant source of employment for many Cubans. The fear is that ongoing sanctions will not only stifle the economy but also destroy livelihoods of those who have recently worked to establish private businesses.

In the background of this economic turmoil is Marta Deus, who started her accounting firm in Cuba amidst a landscape dominated by few privately-owned enterprises as of 2014. At that time, most business operations were limited to renting rooms and informal food services for tourists, creating a necessity for accounting knowledge in a largely unregulated market. Deus's ambitions highlighted a burgeoning desire for private enterprise among Cubans, marking a shift from strictly state-controlled services.

With these developments, the implications of U.S. policy stretch beyond mere economic statistics; they affect real lives and decisions of individuals like Marta, who represent the potential of a growing private sector in Cuba. The current climate raises questions about the future of entrepreneurial ventures in the country, as the fear of losing their economic footing looms large for many entrepreneurs eagerly navigating the complexities of a market still trapped within the binds of a socialist system.