They still have the freedom to trade with many countries (China, Russia, Iran etc). China alone would meet the majority of their import needs.

Cuba in reality produces very little goods by way of quantity and quality.

Trade has to go both ways.

Maybe China can trade with Cuba but doesn't need sugar. Maybe countries that badly would want Cuban sugar aren't allowed to trade with Cuba. etc.

	▲	nradov 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		China needs sugar and is allowed to trade with Cuba. They import about $3B of sugar every year, mostly from Brazil. Most likely Cuba just isn't cost competitive: Communists have never managed to get the basics of agriculture right.