White House continues Cuba embargo

The Obama administration may have taken small steps to try to improve relations with Cuba yet today they decided to keep the biggest hurdle in place.

"I hereby determine that the continuation for one year of the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States," said Obama in a statement which would extend the blockade on Cuba into a 48th year. The extension has been done by presidents under the Trading with the Enemy Act since the 1970s, and currently Cuba continues to be the only country restricted under that law.

The embargo prohibits U.S. companies from doing direct business with Cuba yet U.S. products like “Wilson baseball caps, Westinghouse light fixtures, Proctor-Silex juicers and GE microwave ovens” can still be found in the island’s markets. These items are generally too expensive for the average Cuban to buy, yet their availability on the island demonstrates one of the problems with the embargo:

Some items — such as food, agricultural goods and medicine — are there legally under exceptions to the embargo. But others are spirited in by entrepreneurs, front companies and independent distributors that worry little about U.S. laws…

"One of the reasons there may be so many American goods in Cuba is due to the nature of the way that region operates," (New Balance Vice President Edward Haddad) said. "A lot of it is cash and carry. They will go into the Colon (Panama) Free Zone, buy products and bring them back."

A poll conducted last month concluded that fewer Cuban exiles are backing the blockade (41% for vs. 40% against).

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- stltoday.com, Miami Herald, Xinhua, Huffington Post, The Latin Americanist