The recent news that Congress shot down an amendment to the Farm Bill that would have eased trade with Cuba came as a disappointment, including the active participation of 66 Democratic representatives. This from TheHill.com:
Sixty-six House Democrats — including 20 members of the freshman class — recently voted against a farm bill amendment offered by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) that would have made it easier for U.S. farmers to sell agricultural goods to Cuba.
The nearly 50-year embargo against Cuba has obviously not been a fabulous success lo these many years later, and I'm optimistic that a new Democratic administration will put an end to it, probably soon after Fidel fades away for good. But I wondered when I saw the news just what a normal trade relationship with Cuba would look like. And, more to the point, for progressives who support removing the embargo, have they thought about how that action fits in with their own views on international trade?
Would open trade with Cuba be good for the U.S.? Is it good for Cuba?
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