Pressure Group Appealing Congress

Added: (Wed Nov 17 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Overview:
I am appealing to the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Executive branch, and the Department of the Treasury to revise the sanctions and restrictions against Cuba to get into the several billion dollar trade and promote business. This does not mean fully removing the embargo, but would leave us with some weight over Cuba. This program would allow companies in the United States that are losing money to gain money and expand to provide jobs by shipping merchandise to Cuba [ex. Ford shipping vehicles to Cuba, where cars newer than 1959 are very scarce]. This would be an economic, humanitarian, and foreign relations change that would be agreeable by both Republicans and Democrats, and could potentially be one of the most important bills/orders to get out of the economic crisis.

Reasons for relations:
In just 2008, Raul Castro took the presidency of Cuba. Other than marrying an American, he has removed restrictions on rice cookers, cell phones, computers, microwaves, and DVD players as well as giving state land to private farmers [to help solve food shortages] and dismissing officials. This shows us that there is potential in Raul Castro to reform Cuba into more of a socialist democracy than a communist state. On December 2, 2006, Raśl Castro said, "we take this opportunity to once again state that we are willing to resolve at the negotiating table the long-standing dispute between the United States and Cuba." Additionally Cuban aid to Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Pakistan, Botswana, Tuvalu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and most recently Haiti, shows that they do have human rights principles. Additionally the new Cuban President has recently issued 2 new captialist decrees, showing that Cuba is making reform from its communist ways.

How it would help the American people:
It would allow struggling businesses to make in a new and virtually untapped market. Due to the law in Cuba that ownership of any post-1959 car requires a state permit [due to the embargo] and the vehicle must be given to its partial proprietor directly by the Cuban state, there is a market for cars in Cuba that could help aid large ailing US companies such as GM or Ford. Money from this trade would help companies grow and provide jobs. Tariffs from trade would result in money for the United States government to use for deficit debt or other government expenses.

How it would help the Cuban people:
Farm machinery and food production equipment would be helpful for the food shortages of Cuba. The cars would replace the 1959 and older vehicles driven by citizens, making transportation easier. As it has in China, US trade would evoke a more capitalistic feeling in the people helping it to become more free, and it would improve the life of Cubans [stopping or slowing the flow of emigration to the US, which takes American jobs, and Cuban lives each year].

Statistics:
Even with a complete embargo of Cuba right now, the United States is the fifth largest exporter of goods to Cuba [6.6%, due to the distance between the countries]. The other top exporters to Cuba are Venezuela, Spain, and China who are all farther and more costly to receive goods from. Raising some sanctions could give the United States a larger portion of the $10.86 Billion spent by Cuba.

Sanctions and restrictions:
The United States would be wise to prohibit the sale of arms, aircraft, and certain communication technologies. The ban of any vessel which has traded goods or services with Cuba not being able to dock at a U.S. port within 180 would need to be lifted [CDA and section 515.207 of the Regulations], as well as the ban of imports from Cuba [such as cigars].

Actions required:
Not all of these acts are required, but are actions that could help change [not remove] sanctions against Cuba. An act of the House or Senate [beginning at committees or subcommittees] to change sanctions and restrictions against Cuba. An Executive Order by the President [how many embargos are initially formed]. Or reform by the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control.