Florida, January 27 (RHC-AGENCIES)-- A Cuban delegation toured Port Everglades and met with port officials Thursday, in spite of a canceled signing of a port cooperation document following threats by conservative Republican Governor Rick Scott that he would cut off state funding to any port having dealings with Cuba.

At issue was a non-binding memorandum of understanding that the U.S. ports were to sign with the National Port Administration of Cuba.

According to Jim Pyburn, the port's director for business development, the memorandum was to cover future cooperation and could have led to joint marketing studies and training, sharing of data helpful in forecasting future trade flows, and perhaps even joint marketing of Cuban ports and Port Everglades.

The Port of Palm Beach also called off its plans to ink a Cuba deal Friday, citing the governor’s stance.

The Cuban delegation has already paid visits to ports in Houston and New Orleans, and plans on calling on the Port of Palm Beach, Port Tampa Bay and the Port of Virginia in Norfolk before returning to Cuba in early February.