Lift The Trade Ban On Cuba

Unlock the Gate to Cuba

In the long and turbulent history between Cuba and the United States, it can well be argued that Cuba did not turn out quite like its other Latin American peers. Things seemed to be on the right track in the early 1900's, when it appeared that Cuba was destined for a future of "independence", like its neighbour Puerto Rico and it was yet another South American nation rife with the now atypical blend of affluent American investors and poor workers usually native to the land herself. However, following a coup d'Ð"©tat that saw the fall of the American-backed Fulgencio Batista in favour of his social antithesis in communist Fidel Castro, the situation rapidly turned sour. The American government, finding themselves backed into a corner and unable to mold Cuba in its golden image, decided that it would be pertinent to sever all trade with Cuba.

Since America's policies towards Communism were clear, the trade embargo began to look like a more long-term intervention. To this day, the trade embargo is still in place, and it appears unlikely that this president, as well as many more from those who will succeed him, is ready to discuss any possible amendment.

However, these economic sanctions have seen its efficacy come to an abrupt end. The ban on Cuban trade should be lifted in order to reduce poverty on the island, boost the economies of both the United States and Cuba, give America access to superior healthcare and allow America to acquire some cheap labour. In this essay, I will inform you of four things; (1) Cuba's poverty caused by the sanctions, (2) how lifting the embargo would benefit Cuba, (3) how lifting the embargo would benefit America, (4) why continue the sanctions (5) how close are we to lifting the sanctions.

Cuba's Poverty

It is not difficult to identify Cuba as a "developing" nation: a quick glance around at the grimy, graffiti-filled streets, rampant propagandist billboards and the cars, clanking along with broken fenders in tow and a volatility and tint that suggest that their primes passed 50 years hence are enough of an indication. Indeed, those sepia-toned prosperous days under communist rule having come and gone, there has been little to no influx of money to replace and refurbish aging buildings, automobiles, schools, roads and above all, aging policies. When asked what they thought about Cuba, a Canadian tourist answered "I really like the Ð''Art Deco' theme."

In all of Cuba, it is very difficult to find those ever-vital basic necessities of everyday life: food, clothes and shoes. There is no money circulation, which further prevents the creation of new jobs. This is the restricting factor in the Cuban people. And the problem does not lie in a lack of natural resources, because Cuba has billions of dollars worth of raw produce. But this is all it has. Because there is no trade between America and Cuba, the raw produce can not be traded for refined products.

On the glass-is-half-full side, this widespread poverty has caused entire new "industries" to rise from the seemingly hopeless ashes. A strong tourism industry, boosted by society's primal attraction with swaying palm trees, blue seas and beautiful people, shows no signs of slowing down, being the destination of choice of many from all across the world. On the flip side of the coin, though, you have less inspiring industries, such as "Jineterismo", referring to the exchange of sexual favours for food and clothing. While the tourism industry has risen in spite of the extreme poverty, this "sex tourism" in Cuba is directly related to it. Its presence is inherent in its very culture, from the way that women openly solicit in touristy areas to the nation's curious ability to continue to produce beautiful women, while European adult magazines boast indiscreet wares of "tours" in Havana. While prostitution is technically illegal in Cuba, the government cannot afford to intervene for two reasons. First, it does in fact make up a significant portion of the Cuban economy and as such provides the country with ever-needed funds, and second, it does not have enough in the coffers to properly subsidize any sort of consistent effort to enforce such rules.

While there are many other minor factors that could cause this widespread poverty, it is clear that the main problem lies in the absence of trade with the world's greatest superpower.

Benefits of Lifting the Embargo: For Cuba

The greatest benefit that would result in the lifting the embargo would be the creation of a potentially tremendous imports and exports market to develop between the two countries. America runs on the gears of gold-winged patriotism and its slew of imports, with an omnipresent need to supply an incredible demand that is inherent with a population of over 295 million. Cuba then has a great deal to offer a nation always needing something, from a wide assortment of fruit, cigars, sugar, citus and cocoa to nickel and fish from a steadily emergent fishing industry. And America, possessing things that Cubans perhaps have never even seen before, would send in return large amounts of cheap, processed foods, refined goods, and nearly anything the Americans can offer which is not readily available in Cuba. Cuba's profit would go beyond the chequebooks; the increased cash flow into the country would improve the pre-existing sub-par living standards, the opening of new industries that would in turn create jobs that need to be filled by any from the multitudes of the unemployed, and the establishment of new national infrastructure that would produce fruitful opportunities for everyone.

As American culture begins to invade Cuba, its radio and T.V. programs will follow. Akin to the fashion that we as Canadians watch programs that are typically produced in America, Cuba will get its first taste of the glitz and glam that is Hollywood. Upon experiencing American democracy through the television and other similar media, Cubans may begin to understand the extent to which democracy encourages freedom of speech, justice, safety and overall wealth. Over time, the influence of democracy will inevitably be absorbed by the Cuban people, potentially prompting the end of the seemingly endless Castro regime. This was in fact the original intent of the sanctions, wasn't it? If democracy prevails in Cuba, then the future does in fact look much more optimistic.

This newfound democracy would allow Cuba to begin developing at the pace that other similarly "developing" countries