<\/a><\/p>\n Since 1960, our trade relationship with Cuba has been severely limited. The effort to isolate Cuba\u00a0by preventing trade and travel has backfired and has not lead to the implementation of Democracy or improved human rights violations. The\u00a0Cold War mentality that Cuba must be forced to change its communist ways has been unsuccessful. Therefore, if the embargo is not helping anyone, the U.S. should fully lift this trade blockade on a country that has more than paid the price.<\/p>\n In 2013, Cuba urged the U.S. to end the embargo during a U.N. General Assembly. According to Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez,<\/a> the economic damages due to the embargo amounts to $1.126 trillion. This includes decreases in tourism, costs of exports into the U.S., and loss of exports from the U.S. Instead of punishing the corrupt regime which existed during the 1960’s,\u00a0the people of Cuba as a whole suffered.<\/p>\n Since President Obama’s election in 2009, he has actively discussed the goal to have better relations with Cuba. In 2009, the Council on Foreign Relations<\/a> reports that the Obama Administration reversed limitations on travel and telecommunications. However, it has taken the administration not one but two terms to finally make moves towards lifting the embargo entirely, mostly due to conflicts within Congress.<\/p>\n In October 2016, the strict limits on Cuban cigars and rum were lifted. <\/a>\u00a0The previous $100 limit on alcohol and tobacco no longer stands, along with open collaboration to research and sell pharmaceutical products in the U.S. These are all great steps forward, but the U.S (aka congress) still remains hesitant to lift the embargo.<\/p>\n Another dramatic change this October was the\u00a0U.S. abstaining from the U.N. vote to lift the Cuba embargo<\/a>. After 50 years of strict sanctions, the U.S is slowly moving towards\u00a0full engagement with Cuba. Hopefully, this could go into full effect by the end of 2016.<\/p>\n