• IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    This just begs the question

    Why do we allow a major embargo of an entire island nation and allow an entire people to live without the proper necessities and resources in order to maintain their nation?

    • EleventhHour@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      President Obama began to ease the embargo restrictions in 2016, allowing for travel and investments. It was Trump, in 2017, who reinstated the embargo in full. Probably just because Obama relaxed it.

    • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 month ago

      The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t. Cuba can and does buy goods from them. Cuba’s real problem is paying for them. The US does not embargo food or medicine goods to Cuba, yet the country has problems feeding their people. Poor economic management of a communist country with no real resources.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        Cuba can’t pay because Cuba can’t conduct normal finances with the rest of world because of the US embargo

        It’s like having having someone handcuff you, cuff you feet and pin you to the ground and rest their knee on your neck and ask you why you can’t get up on your own.

          • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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            1 month ago

            You are technically correct … but there are several convoluted rules and regulations controlled and mandated by the US that it makes it either very difficult or impossible for most countries to do business or trade with Cuba.

            Cuba can trade with anyone they want … it’s just purposely made so difficult that very few do so and the ones who do provide very little in exchange.

            https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/jul/19/facebook-posts/cuba-can-trade-other-countries-heres-some-context/

          • dariusj18@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            The question is, with what currency? The Cuban dollar is not really worth anything outside Cuba, so they can only rely on exports to fund currency needed to buy imports.

            • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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              1 month ago

              This is true, but not due to a US embargo. I should think that the state has access to many different currencies. But, in the end, they have limited resources. Cigars, some Rum (though a lot of countries distil and export rum in the Caribbean). They used to export mercenaries and doctors but noone is buying now.

              • prole
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                1 month ago

                You don’t think being explicitly barred access from what is essentially considered “the world currency” at this point wouldn’t change their access? C’mon.

                • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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                  1 month ago

                  They’re not barred from access. Just can’t use US banks. There are many banks in the world.

                  • prole
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                    1 month ago

                    The world is run by the USD. If you can’t do business using USD, it is crippling.

                  • blackbelt352@lemmy.world
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                    1 month ago

                    They’re allowed to play monopoly, they just can’t use the regular monopoly money.

                    The global economy is run on the US dollar. It’s the measuring stick all other currencies use as a reference point.

      • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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        1 month ago

        The US has an embargo, but Mexico and Canada don’t.

        Technically, but the US has sanctioned companies in other countries who do business in Cuba scaring off a ton of possible choices. The companies have to choose between the richest company on earth and Cuba. Not much of a choice.

        Plus IIRC boats that go to Cuba can’t go to the US after for some period of time. Which considering location makes it hugely inconvenient for shipping companies.

        Plus since the US and US based companies control a huge portion of the world’s financial systems Cuba is locked out of all of them

        • Rapidcreek@lemmy.worldOP
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          1 month ago

          A citation is needed on the first paragraph

          Barges float to Cuba from the US twice a week.

          Last paragraph is true. Cuba cannot use US banking.

          • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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            1 month ago

            There are exceptions for the very few things the US authorizes to export to Cuba, but in general:

            1. What are the “180-day rule” and the “goods/passengers-on-board rule”?

            The 180-day rule is a statutory restriction prohibiting any vessel that enters a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of goods or the purchase or provision of services there from entering any U.S. port for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for 180 days after leaving Cuba, unless authorized by OFAC. This restriction is applied even if a vessel has stopped in Cuba solely to purchase services unrelated to the trade of goods, such as planned ship maintenance.

            https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/1541

    • underwire212@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      Because the people there didn’t allow US capitalists to exploit them and their resources; because the people started to organize themselves and their resources around public interest; because they were voting in leaders who didn’t allow US elite to exploit them.

      And so they must be punished.