How would lifting the US trade embargo on Cuba under current conditions alter Cubas bleak commercial environment?
Potential Costs of US-Cuba Trade Normalization Preceding Reform in Cuba. First, let me say that while popular in some circles, blaming US policy for Cuba’s ills is simply wrong. US policy does not determine whether US commercial interests can benefit Cuban citizens or foster economic development in Castros Cuba. The Castro regime controls and directs the nature and scale of all foreign interaction with Cuban citizens. And more than any other regime in the world, with the possible exception of North Korea, the Cuban government has sought to destroy the purchasing power of its citizens and to obstruct their efforts to produce goods and services for the domestic economy. It is the policy of the Cuban government to curtail the development of Cubas domestic economy in both production and consumption, and to limit the scope of joint venture involvement in the Cuban economy. It is not difficult to observe how pervasive and effective the Castro regime has been in implementing its policy of del
