Cuban Embargo Analysis

For the last half a century Cuba has been impacted negatively by the US embargo, but will lifting it create positive outcomes for both countries? Before the US imposed the trade embargo on Cuba in the early 1960s, Cuba’s economy relied heavily on trade with the US. When the Kennedy administration ordered a complete economic embargo, Cuba’s economy suffered greatly. After 53 years of this embargo, President Obama wants to work towards ending it, and he has done everything in his power to minimize it. He has been taking advantage of his executive authority by easing some restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba. Only Congress has the authority terminate it, but with Congress being Republican-controlled, the embargo is not likely to be lifted within Obama’s term (Labott, 1). Some people claim that the embargo, which was initially designed to encourage Cuba to adopt a free-market system, has not been effective. However, the original agreement was that if both Fidel and Raúl Castro were removed from office, political prisoners were released, and basic human rights were recognized, then the US would terminate the embargo. Those conditions have yet
Now, in the year 2015, there are two newly re-opened embassies in each of the country’s capitals. President Obama’s recent decision to restore diplomatic ties with Cuba has been one to spark many debates internationally. The question we are left with now if whether or not the embargo on Cuba should be lifted. The US and Cuba share a long history of mutual mistrust and suspicion; therefore, it is crucial that our government takes the proper steps when lifting the embargo. Cuba’s government is guilty of violating human rights, among other things, and the US government should not stand for it. By completely lifting the embargo, the US is deserting the basic principles that our country stands for and giving Cuba the “OK” to do so as