Until 1989, Cuba had a sweetheart 
                deal with the Soviets that allowed
                the country to buy petroleum at 
                below-market prices. Cuba sold
                the surplus to other Latin American
                countries at market prices, but the
                arrangement also encouraged 
                continued dependence on the
                oil-intensive sugar industry.
                    
 

                
                The then-Soviet Union started to
                reduce oil exports in 1989, and
                since that time, Cuba has not 
                been able to buy the oil it needs
                to maintain agricultural production
                or public transportation. Only 
                tourists and Cubans with dollars
                can buy as much gas as they want.