The Cuban Embargo

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Week THREE Assignment, Answers to Case Study Cuba-U.S. Relation Benjamin Lettner Concordia University of Wisconsin – Exchange Program As I develop in mind, body, and spirit, I pledge on my honor that I have not given, received, witnessed, nor have knowledge of unauthorized aid on this or any [assignment, quiz, paper, test]. Question 1 Should the United States seek to tighten the economic grip on Cuba? If so, why? First of all it should be identified what exactly the current situation of trade relations between Cuba and the USA is. Daniels, Radebaugh and Sullivan (2011) described that the United States initiated a full trade embargo on Cuba. But what exactly is an embargo? According Ajami, Cool, Goddard and Khambata (2006), an embargo is a kind of quota, which prohibits all trade with a country. This could be on specific trade sectors or in general. Betancourt (2013) described the embargo on Cuba as a general one, targeting transactions of merchandise and service, movement of persons, as well as the free flow of capital. As a result, it is not allowable for American companies to do business with any partners located on the Cuban island. When the United States initially imposed the embargo in 1962 the primary target was the promotion of democracy and to impose political pressure on the regime of Fidel Castro, which was obviously driven by communistic ideas and ideologies. As Cuba is located south of the coast of Florida, it was, so the fear of the United States leaders, of strategic importance and therefore very crucial in the cold war. Zimmerman (2011) furthermore pointed out the initial goal of the embargo, namely the overthrow of the regime, failed dramatically. Fidel and his brother Raul Castro are still leading the country in a totalitarian way and nobody can predict the developments in the near future. The embargo was even useful for the Castro
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