Reasons for Abolishing the Trade Embargo with Cuba Essay Example for Free

Reasons for Abolishing the Trade Embargo with Cuba EssayCuban and U.S. relations have been on the rocks for the last 50 odd age. What follows is some backcloth information on what has caused the rift between the two countries. It is a brief history of the American backed Batista that allowed U.S. interests to flourish in Cuba, juxtaposed a get alongst the rebel attracter Castro that came laterward and the lasting effects that that has had with the relationship between Cuba and the United States and the resulting embargo that sprung from the wake. After the brief history, there is a dissection of the problems and consequences that this embargo has had on the U.S. and policy shadow to help mitigate and repair relations.BackgroundCuba became an independent state in 1902. From that time until 1956, with the communist revolution, Cuba has seen countless vies for power through revolution and seen other conflicts as well. For the purposes of this paper, how ever, focus will remai n on Fulgencio Batista, his ties with the U.S.A., and Fidel Castro after that fact.Fulgencio Batistas rule in Cuba is a sordid one. He was first elected as president of Cuba in 1933. During this period he can be seen in a generally good light, having an efficient government that instituted such legislation as the 1940 shaping of Cuba. He left to the United States after retiring in 1944, and from that time until 1 952 Cuba descended into corruption. He returned to power from 1952-1959, which was a bloodless coup dtat, deposing the latest President in what was seen as a welcome change. This time around he would be seen as a dictator himself, revoking the Constitution and embezzling large sums of silver . The United States backed Batistas rule, and recognized him as the leader.With regards to the U.S.s economic interests in Cuba at the time, Kennedy said this In a manner certain to get at the Cuban lot, we used the influence of our Government to advance the interests of and incre ase the profits of the private American companies, which dominated the islands economy. At the beginning of 1959 United States companies owned closely 40 percent of the Cuban sugar lands almost all the cattle ranches 90 percent of the mines and mineral concessions 80 percent of the utilities and practically all the inunct industry and supplied two-thirds of Cubas imports.This represents how heavily invested in the economy of Cuba the United States were at the time. The sheer amount of American ownership, coupled with the disparity in income between classes in Cuba, goes to show where the feelings of corruption came from, which coterie the stage for Fidel Castros revolution in 1959. Since the American backed former Cuban government had been overthrown with Fidel now in charge, it would stand to footing that the United States didnt back the modern Cuban regime, and with Fidel pushing most of the blame of Cuban problems on United States shoulders, he wasnt too fond of the Un ited States government. He nationalized all of Cubas industries, and started implementing a Communist regime in place of the former corrupt Capitalist system. Russia ever looking for an edge on American, during the Cold state of war, swooped in with aid and support, and in return asked for their allegiance, and to place Russian missile bases on Cuban soil.America not wishing to see Russian military a mere 90 miles away, stepped in to blockade Cuba, resulting in the well known Cuban Missile Crisis. The missile crisis resulted in a share embargo against the Cuban nation, and more importantly against the Castro administration. This didnt affect Cuba a great deal at the time, as they were receiving aid from the Soviets, but after the Soviet Union fell in the 1990s that aid stopped coming. The American embargo stayed, however, resulting in a hole, where goods normally would be, but no long-run were coming. Cubans called this period in time perodo econmico especial or the special eco nomic period . As of late, the U.S.A. has loosened the embargo a bit, allowing travel there for people with Cuban family, but Cuba remains the only country that the American government forbids its citizens to visit.Statement of ProblemThe embargo on Cuba is a relic of the Cold War and its time to put it behind us. Its unpopular among American citizens, and detrimental to Cuban citizens. Theres a huge untapped trade for American goods there that could be a nice injection into the American economy. The resulting influx money might seek to raise Cubas middle class, and in turn undermine Castro. The lack of a democracy and human rights violations are a valid concern, but it is hypocritical to do business with some communist regimes, and human rights violators, and not others. Russia, mainland China, and Venezuela are all important partners in trade for the United States of America they are also violating many human rights. We imported $34.6 trillion worth of goods from Russia, $310.9 b illion from China, and $28.9 billion from Venezuela all in 2011 alone . To name one instance that happened in Russia in June 2011 Baskhanov helped organize a small, peaceful, anti-torture rally in Grozny, the Chechen capital. Police dispersed the demonstration, detained Baskhanov and his colleague, and threatened them with reprisals if they persevered in efforts to hold police accountable.This represents a blatant disregard of freedom to assemble, which is in the U.S.s first a stamping groundment. China represses the internet for its people, not to mention the atrocities done to the Tibetans. It is arguably the worst modern state in regards to human rights. Venezuela is perhaps the best comparison to the situation in Cuba, however. Hugo Chavez, leader of Venezuela, is a critic of the capitalist system, and an advocate of communism. He nationalized industry similar to Castro. He puts down sedition the same way, and their violations of human rights are much(prenominal) the same, but yet we trade with Venezuela. The only substantive difference is that Hugo Chavez had the fortune of taking power after the fall of the Soviet Union. Since we have already set a precedence of job with non-democratic governments, we can look to the benefit of opening up trade with Cuba.The United States is in the throes of a recession and should be everlastingly on the lookout for new markets for their products. A 2009 study found that doing away with all restrictions dealing with the export of agricultural goods would have resulted in a gain of $26-$74 million in dairy products alone . Plus the irony of a capitalist country selling goods to a communist country has to be worth something. Losing the embargo because you trade with other communist nations, and because you can earn lots of money might appeal to the realists out there, but it would look raunchy to any idealists. Undercutting human rights to make a quick buck can seem pretty sleazy. For those people it is worth noting th at the U.N. has voted on ending the embargo for 21 straight historic period , with the United States and Israel the only naysayers.Policy RecommendationIn order to foster trade with Cuba it would be important to repeal all yesteryear policies that inhibit the ability for U.S. trade, which would in effect eliminate the embargo all together. To protect American interests in the area, and back at home, we would need to implement new policy that focuses on the protection of U.S. companies seeking trade with Cuba, and a repair of our relations over there. There will need to be mediation from international sources, perhaps the U.N. could step in, that way some(prenominal) parties would be getting the best of possible outcome. The policies that would need to be repealed, for example, would be the Cuban Democracy Act and the Helms-Burton Act. The Cuban Democracy Act reinforced sanctions brought up from the original embargo, stating that the U.S. would continue the embargo as a way to fo rce the adoption of democratic principles onto Cuba. This obviously hasnt been working, as Fidel and Raul Castro have been in power since 1959. It comes off as an excuse to retain the embargo on ideological levels in light of almost no support on the global level. Both these acts reinforce the embargo and were signed in the 1990s.They come off as a power play, in that for trade to resume between the two countries, Cuba would have to concede its current government in favor of a democratically elected one, which is pretty unrealistic as long Castro is alive. To concede the decision to the U.N. would put good faith in global politics, and would influence other countries to do the same with interstate conflicts. It would help mend the negative light that other countries look at us in, and we might be able to leverage putting such a decision in their hands for good faith in other dealings. Especially with such underwhelming support from the global community for the embargo over the past 20 years it would help us appear humble and avoid the warmongering persona many countries see us to have. To continue with the economic discussion, when Cuba nationalized all of its industry passim the 60s American business men that had been operating in the area lost all of the capital that they held on the island.These holdings are estimated at a worth of over $6 billion . These holdings are in the hands of American citizens, not necessarily the U.S. government. It would be wise to recoup as much of that as possible, and if the Cuban government has an interest in trading with Americans it is somewhat feasible that a recoupment would be possible, if not for that amount, at least a peck of it. If the Cubans refused that payment pressure from the U.N. could help persuade them to do so. If the U.N. deemed the acquisition of those funds superfluous, it would then be in our best interest to agree. Theres unquestionably an argument against them owing us that money as we owned the majo rity of their economy in a corrupt system, also it having happened over 50 years ago (1/5 of the time the U.S.A. has been a country, for a frame of reference).Its obvious you cant just change policy like this overnight, as there are some issues that need to be ironed out at levels that arent just about economics and trade. We retain four Cuban nationals under charges of spying, and Cuba is holding American Alan blunt. With Americas dont negotiate with terrorists attitude its not surprising we havent allowed the trading of prisoners with a country that we have sanctions against but it would be in both countries interest to allow the trade. It comes off as petty to not allow Alan Gross back into the country in exchange for some Cuban nationals. By allowing the exchange of prisoners it would be a show of good faith by both countries.ConclusionLooking at the problem objectively, it can be seen that the embargo has sprung up from the United States worry at a communist regime so close to its own borders, which was justified at the time in the throes of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although Cuba hasnt been much a friend in the past, the embargo is an overall detriment for everyone involved and doesnt even up succeed at what it, in theory, sets out to do. It has no support on the national level, and even less support on the global scale.Furthermore it doesnt make fiscal sense to exclude potential markets whilst in the middle of a recession. A policy that helps foster peace and economic gain for so little loss could easily be implemented benefitting all involved. Its an anachronism from a time long past, and a hegemonic power such as the U.S. should never foster animosity between countries that are so close to their borders, that is what is the most preponderating danger having such an enemy not 90 miles away from American coastlines.Works CitedEncyclopdia Britannica Online. Fulgencio Batista . http//www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/56027/Fulgencio-B atista (accessed December 05, 2012). Human Rights Watch. World Report 2011. 2011. http//www.hrw.org/world-report-2011/ (accessed December 5, 2012). Kennedy, buttocks. Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Democratic Dinner, Cincinnati, Ohio (October 6, 1960). Poblete, Jason. U.S. Claims Against Cuba, BuyerBeware. August 4, 2008. http//jasonpoblete.com/2008/08/04/us-claims-against-cuba-buyer-beware/ (accessed December 6, 2012). United Nations General Assembly. November 13, 2012. http//www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/ga11311.doc.htm (accessed December 05, 2012). United States Census. U.S. Trade in Goods by Country. 2011. http//www.census.gov/foreign-trade/ sense of equilibrium/ (accessed December 05, 2012). Wood, Roberta. Senators confident on votes to lift Cuba travel ban. July 14, 2010. http//www.peoplesworld.org/senators-confident-on-votes-to-lift-cuba-travel-ban/ (accessed December 05, 2012).