Cuban Trade

The ongoing US trade embargo against Cuba has celebrated its 51st anniversary on February 7, 2013. Cuba is a small island country about 90 miles distant from Florida. The embargo aka "the blockade" or "el bloqueo" among Cubans refers to economic sanctions that prevent Cuba from making any commercial and financial transactions with any company or people located under US jurisdiction and restrict Cubans from travelling to the US. There are a slew of debates going on whether or not this 51st years old trade embargo should continue. People opposing the embargo argue that the embargo is a failed policy that has only increased the animosity between the two countries without adding anything to the purpose. They feel that the sanctions are harmful for the interest of both Cuban citizens and the US economy and impede the opportunities of promoting democracy and change within Cuba. On the other hand, proponents of the trade embargo opine that Cuba is yet to fulfill the conditions of the US for having the embargo lifted. Cube has not yet transitioned into democracy nor has it improved the condition of the human rights in the state. They feel that if the US backs off from the embargo without any concession granted by the Castro regime then it would make the US appear as meek and that open trade would benefit only a few handful of Cuban rich. Personally I believe the trade should continue because

History of Trade Embargo

The history of the US and Cuba trade embargo goes back to as far as 1898 when after the Spanish-American war was over, the vanquished Spain surrendered the rights of all its territories including that of Puerto Rico, Cuba and Guam to the US. The US later awarded Cuba with its independence under this stipulation that the US could interfere in the affairs of the country when needed. The two countries blissfully cooperated for few decades with the US liberally investing in Cuban economy and providing help to quell uprisings. Then the Cuban Revolution took place...