The Cuban Embargo: A 50 Year Old Tantrum

Some of you may be aware of the Cuban embargo that the United States placed on Cuba in the 1960's, effectively severing all ties with Cuba. The reason for this embargo was to attempt to provide such difficult conditions for the people of Cuba that they would have no choice but to overthrow the Castro regime and re-initiate ties with the United States.

Photo Credit: Kevin Lewis

This tactic has effectively failed. Castro is still in power. Cuba spends about $2 billion each year to import roughly 80% of its food. This is money that is going to other countries. Why not quit our 50 year old temper-tantrum and reestablish diplomatic ties with Cuba if only to improve our own economy. The U.S. is in the best position (literally we are 90 miles from the coast of Cuba) to export food and supplies to Cuba and we stand to gain the most. With our economic hardships right now, we would stand to gain much from trade with Cuba. The agricultural sector especially would stand the most to gain.

Agriculture is a major part of Cuban economy. They not only import food but they grow some food themselves. In fact, with Raul Castro in power now, the ability for farmers in Cuba to start their own operations has become much easier than in previous years. Raul understands the need for agricultural production within his own country and he has let producers start up small farms. If we can help grow Cuba's agricultural sector then we can effectively increase their production and trade with the U.S. and that would benefit both agricultural economies.

Many agricultural organizations are encouraging the normalization of relations with Cuba. The United Nations has pressed the U.S. to lift its blockade over Cuba for some years now and now that there is talk about actually going through with trade with Cuba it has become a topic of conversation. In fact, public opinion is in favor of lifting the Cuban embargo according to polls conducted in December of 2014.

The overall message is that the Cuban embargo is not an effective way to get the political change in Cuba that we want. It is costing us a valuable trade market and it is damaging to both economies while accomplishing nothing positive. So why should economies and people suffer due to this half a century old sanction. When you try something for 50 years without it working, you may want to think about alternatives. Normalizing trade, especially in the agriculture industry, could be one of those alternatives.