Our View
Who Wins? Who Loses?
Agriculture
Small family farms in our Gulf states went under when the blockade was launched. Their market was Cuba, and while changes in laws since would allow some amount of sales to go forward, the reality of blockade regulations and red tape have strangled U.S. producers who cannot compete with suppliers from countries further away.
U.S. farmers have the will to help feed Cuban families, but our government stands in the way.
Travel & Hospitality
The United States government declared
Cuba a “State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT)”. The immediate effect was 45 financial institutions suddenly were forced to stop doing business with Cuba, along with airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, and travel agents.
Just north of us, Canadians and Canadian hospitality businesses are free to enjoy Cuba’s scenery, beaches, and culture. And profit from it.
Americans and American businesses?
We lose out.
Healthcare
Cuban scientists have developed a successful treatment to prevent diabetic amputations, and we do not have it in the United States.
The rest of world is benefiting.
If you have diabetic ulcers and could lose a foot or toe, wouldn’t you want access to that drug? Or to a vaccine for meningitis? Or life-extending treatments for stage 4 cancers? Or a drug for Alzheimer’s that has no side effects? We can’t get any of them here.
All because of the blockade.