U.S- Cuban Trade: When Does a Cold War Strategy Become a Cold War Relic?
Project: U.S- Cuban Trade: When does a Cold War Strategy Become a Cold War Relic?
Able to weather a variety of political leaders, economic events, and historical eras, the U.S. embargo of Cuba is the longest and harshest embargo by one state against another in modern history. Following Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government in 1959 and threats to incite revolutions elsewhere in Latin America, the Unites State cancelled its trade agreement to buy Cuban sugar. Then, following a series of increasing hostile events, the United States severed diplomatic relations and initiated a full trade embargo in 1962. Trade between the United States and Cuba stopped. Spurred by the collapse of communism more than thirty years later, Congress passed the Cuban Democracy Act in 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act in 1996, both of which tightened the noose for firms that attempted to do business with a Castro government. It was not until 2000 that Congress passed an act which allowed for limited exports of U.S agricultural, food and medical products; Cuba quickly became the twenty-first largest agricultural market for U.S. exports. Over time, sympathy for the U.S. role in Cuba has dwindled. Although many countries had initially supported the embargo, by 2001 some 150 nations had normal trade relations with Cuba. Further, the U.S. public has become increasingly divided on the usefulness of the embargo. While many people feel that repealing the embargo would help many U.S. industries and firms, others maintain that Cuban market opportunities are extremely limited. Others feel that the Cuban embargo is an unfortunate cold war relic and questions the politics of U.S. policy. Recent events have seen U.S rescinding earlier restrictions and opening up lines for improved communications.
Questions: 1. Should the United States seek to tighten its economic grip on Cuba? If so, why?
With only 90 miles separating the United States of America and Cuba they are effectively
Able to weather a variety of political leaders, economic events, and historical eras, the U.S. embargo of Cuba is the longest and harshest embargo by one state against another in modern history. Following Castro’s overthrow of the Batista government in 1959 and threats to incite revolutions elsewhere in Latin America, the Unites State cancelled its trade agreement to buy Cuban sugar. Then, following a series of increasing hostile events, the United States severed diplomatic relations and initiated a full trade embargo in 1962. Trade between the United States and Cuba stopped. Spurred by the collapse of communism more than thirty years later, Congress passed the Cuban Democracy Act in 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act in 1996, both of which tightened the noose for firms that attempted to do business with a Castro government. It was not until 2000 that Congress passed an act which allowed for limited exports of U.S agricultural, food and medical products; Cuba quickly became the twenty-first largest agricultural market for U.S. exports. Over time, sympathy for the U.S. role in Cuba has dwindled. Although many countries had initially supported the embargo, by 2001 some 150 nations had normal trade relations with Cuba. Further, the U.S. public has become increasingly divided on the usefulness of the embargo. While many people feel that repealing the embargo would help many U.S. industries and firms, others maintain that Cuban market opportunities are extremely limited. Others feel that the Cuban embargo is an unfortunate cold war relic and questions the politics of U.S. policy. Recent events have seen U.S rescinding earlier restrictions and opening up lines for improved communications.
Questions: 1. Should the United States seek to tighten its economic grip on Cuba? If so, why?
With only 90 miles separating the United States of America and Cuba they are effectively