If you haven’t figured it out by now, at Liberty Nation, we were somewhat critical of the Obama administration and the “legacy” the former president left behind. However, former President Barack Obama was able to put a smile on some of our faces (at least those of us who self-identify as ‘ruthless capitalist’) when he opened U.S. – Cuban relations. Things between Cuba and the United States began to normalize during President Obama’s second term: Travel restrictions were loosened and the import of Cuban goods for “personal use” was again allowed. This thaw gave a glimmer of hope to those of us who, to reference “House of Cards” believe that nothing makes peace like profits. Would the almighty dollar be able to chip away at Communism’s iron grip over the country? Would private enterprise and the hope of a bolstered economy turn Cuba into a communist country like China with a capitalist C?
Apparently not. On Thursday 1 June, Cuba’s parliament approved documents from the Communist Party that ensured the one-party system and absolute state control of the economy remained in place for years to come.
While Cuba does allow some private business and foreign investment, the means of production are still firmly in the hands of the state. This, as our readers well know, has been notoriously effective in places like Venezuela where state control of the economy has led to critical shortages of food and medicine as well as the world’s highest inflation rate (800% in 2016). Thursday’s meeting solidifies Communist Party control of Cuba’s future, even after the Castro dynasty ends with Raul stepping down after his current term as president.
President Trump is almost complete with a policy review on Cuba, the results of which will determine the way ahead for relations between our two countries. Soon after winning the election in November President Trump tweeted a threat to dramatically alter the approach to Cuba if significant concessions were not made by the Cuban government, and the White House expressed that human rights in Cuba are a major concern in whatever revised strategy the Trump administration puts forward.
In planting their feet firmly on communist soil on Thursday, Cuba’s government has signaled to the Trump administration the strength of their resolve to continue business as usual (at least economically). If Cuba refuses to budge, there will likely be a significant tightening of the trade and travel rules the Obama administration loosened.
So, by all means, import your rum and cigars while you can and if one of the twelve categories for authorized travel to Cuba applies to you, get your ducks in a row and apply for a license. The rules are likely to change, and the thawing relationship between the United States and Cuba will likely chill.
