Essay On Cuban Embargo

Embargoes are restrictions on trade between countries used to achieve some kind of goal. The United States has imposed an embargo on Cuba to encourage the Cuban government to change the way they run themselves because the United States does not agree with the system of government they have in place. This embargo enacts total restrictions on trade and travel between the United States and Cuba. The United States’ embargo against Cuba should be lifted because it is doing more harm than good to both countries involved.

In 1959, Cubareceived 74 percent of its imports from the US, and the US received 65 percentof Cuba’s exports. On February 3, 1962, the United States imposed a fulltrade embargo on Cuba, completely ending any type of trade between the twocountries. This embargo remains in effect today, more than four decades later,and has grown ! to be a huge center of debate and controversy (DeVarona 8).Opponents to the embargo argue that the embargo does nothing more than hurt theCuban people, while proponents argue that the embargo places pressure on Castroto repair Cuba’s mismanaged and corrupt government. Both the supportersand the opponents of this embargo have strong arguments and evidence to supportthese

The obvious question presented by this information is, why is such an old idea, which severely limits the necessary functions of international society, currently being continued? It’s not like it’s helping anything. In fact, according to Joy Gordon, Professor of Political Philosophy at Fairfield University, “the embargo is the single greatest barrier to Cuban economic development” (2010, 64). Gordon continues by saying that “the United States measures against Cuba are far more extensive [than any other embargo we have had], affecting every aspect of commerce, travel, economic development, and even humanitarian contributions” (2010, 65). The embargo not only detracts from Cuba’s access to U.S. markets, but interferes in its trade with other countries. The embargo prohibits monetary transactions with the United

What do these countries have to do with Cuba? While despite these countries records of human rights violations and differing governments, the United States continues trade, travel and commerce with all of these nations. Wayne Smith explains how former President George W. Bush lifted trade sanctions on North Korea in 2008 even amidst concerns about the nations desire to develop nuclear weapons (Smith, Wayne). Cuba has tried to meet the high standards of the United States with no avail. After the CDA was passed in 1992, Havana initiated a number of reform measures in 1993, permitting farmers markets and small private enterprises, including private restaurants and repair shops, use of the U.S. dollar as legal daily tender, and more favorable terms for foreign investment. Americans are allowed to travel to other communist countries, nations known for human rights violations, and even places on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism but cannot travel to Cuba. The United States even trade with countries of differing governments and policies such as China, Venezuela, and Vietnam regardless of their opposing governments and Cuba should be no

U.S. wanted Cuba to meet special requirements in order for the embargo to go into effect, including rules such as: transition to a democracy, demand Havana support small businesses in exchange for sheathing restrictions on remittances, denounce presence of either Fidel or Raul Castro in Cuban government, better living conditions for all Cuban citizens, absolutely no travel to Cuba, and promote human rights. Cuba has not yet met all requirements, but is currently working on them. Obama reversed some of these polices, such as, allowing U.S. citizens to send remittances to non-family members in Cuba and travel under license of religious or educational purposes. As of today United States citizens may travel to Cuba with only special reasons like religious or

shouldn’t enter just because their families reside in the country. Hilary, on the other side,

Cuba and the Affects of the Embargo The island nation of Cuba, located just ninety miles off the coast of Florida, is home to 11 million people and has one of the few remaining communist regimes in the world. Cuba’s leader, Fidel Castro, came to power in 1959 and immediately instituted a communist program of sweeping economic and social changes. Castro allied his government with the Soviet Union and seized and nationalized billions of dollars of American property. U.S. relations with Cuba have been strained ever since. A trade embargo against Cuba that was imposed in 1960 is still in place today. Despite severe economic suffering and increasing isolation from the world community, Castro remains committed to communism. (Close Up

The United States’ and Cuba’s relationship has always been very volatile and open to change. Since the early twentieth century, the two countries have been close but separated at the same time. For a country that is as close as it is to the U.S., Cuba couldn’t be has isolated. Now this relationship wasn’t always bad, but do to the policy decisions of both countries they have a rocky relationship. In recent times, the United States has begun rethinking its harsh policy against the small island nation. In this essay, I will explain the history of the embargo, the issues with it, and what the future looks like for both countries. The Cuban Embargo has been ineffective at spreading democracy, solving human rights issues, and has harmed the economy,

To better understand and appreciate the embargo in Cuba, one must examine the history behind an unnecessary act. According per the Editorial Board of The New York Times, the concept of the embargo to the United States Congress is to keep the outdated policy upon the Island of Cuba and its people. Gomez and Szabo from USA Today confirms, “President Obama and Cuban President, Raul Castro, have moved to normalize relations with Cuba without any further consideration of removing the Embargo from the Island any time soon” (Gomez and Szabo). It is time for the embargo to come to an end because this outdated policy has separated

Many people in the U.S. do not agree with the Embargo on Cuba because they seem to agree with the fact that the embargo hurts the Cuban citizens more than the government. Cuba’s relationship with the Soviet Union during the Cold War rose concerns about U.S. National Security, but the era is long over. The USSR dissolved in 1991, and American policy has adapted to change in most aspects apart from Embargo. If 50 years of sanctions have not toppled the Castro regime, there is no reason to think the embargo will ever work. U.S. has economic relations with countries like China and Saudi Arabia that have similarly been called out for repressing dissent. Iran, for example, stands as the greatest threat to United States National Security interests in 2014 much like Cuba

Adjustments have been since then so that independent businesses in Cuba may trade with the United States, resulting in, “the United States [becoming] Cuba’s fifth largest trading partner since 2007,” (Lee and Renwick 5). Even though Obama came into office in 2008, and a year later reversed more of the restrictions set forth in the Helms-Burton Act, the actual lift of the embargo and Helms-Burton seems to not be as close as the media makes it seem. Since Raul Castro has come into office, also in 2008, he has claimed he would work towards normalizing relations with the United States, and further stated that he would leave office in 2018. Castro leaving office marks the end of the period the Castros have been in power, and leaves question to how the state of Cuba could potentially thrive. In my opinion, after reading many articles that bought forward the many problems Cuba is to overcome, I feel that Cuba has a long way to go in terms of achieving economic prosperity. However, I also deeply believe that the leaders of both Cuba and the United States are paving the roads needed to reach that level of prosperity. Journalists who have visited Cuba have come back claiming, “private businesses have blossomed due to the relaxation of limits of remittances from Cuban Americans to the island,” (O’Neil 2). This statement, and others like it, leaves me to feel

The Cuban embargo was set up in October 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. Cubans’ name for the embargo, ‘el bloqueo’ meaning ‘the blockade’, is arguably more fitting rather than ‘embargo’ which is what the United States call it. This is because the U.S policy aims to limit other countries from engaging in business with Cuba. John F. Kennedy began the embargo with the intention of punishing Fidel Castro’s management of allowing the storage of Soviet nuclear weapons in Cuba. The embargo aimed to reform the communist system, encourage democracy and to improve human rights in Cuba. However, the embargo did not accomplish this. Instead it imposed unselective hardship on the Cuban population and because of it, the Cuban government had an excuse

51 years of an embargo have only proven harmful to the Cuban people. Lifting the embargo would allow American investors to visit Cuba and communicate to the people that in order to receive long term investments, a potential boon for the Cuban economy, Cuba must have a valid rule of law supported by a democratic government. No one can invest in a country where the legal claim to land is never assured and the rule of law is questionable. Once the Cuban people realize their severe impediment, they will be forced to bring about

Trade and doing business with Cuba could cause legal issues due to the issues that they may have with certain products, due to their culture and government rulings. Since the government in Cuba is Communist, most of the decisions are made by the government. Culture plays a big role in the products that people use in other countries, and this could cause future issues with doing business in Cuba for the U.S.

Cubans cannot be provided with many essential American resources that would be critical in the aid of the lives of their people. Doctors in Cuba have access to less than 50% of the drugs on the global market. Treatment for many life threatening illnesses in Cuba are not available because they are commercialized under US patents. Fewer than 25% of Cubans can access the internet. US companies like Microsoft and Google have to comply with the sanctions and therefore cannot provide the Cuban people with access to information. US trade and business in Cuba is the key to exposing the Cuban people to the realities of freedom and opportunity in America thus weakening the Cuban government’s intentions of limiting its citizens to access to the outside