US Trade With Cuba and Human Rights

Last week Geoff Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection in a hearing called “Examining the Status of US Trade with Cuba and Its Impact on Economic Growth”. In his testimony Mr. Thale discusses trade relations between the US and Cuba and the subsequent implications these relations have in the promotion of human rights. A couple quotes:

I bring a background as a human rights advocate to this hearing, and I would like in my testimony to talk about human rights in Cuba, the effects of current U.S. sanctions on the human rights situation, and how a change in U.S. policy that opens up travel, trade, and engagement might also open up dialogue on the human rights situation in Cuba. Let me be clear, WOLA does not believe that trade alone brings democracy and human rights. Only when trade is accompanied by political and diplomatic engagement with human rights issues, and with homegrown pressure for the respect of human rights, can the potential to effect human rights be realized.

If we choose to engage, there are tools that can be used to encourage greater respect for human rights and democratic practices on the part of our trading partners. These range from diplomatic efforts and engagement, in a transparent way, with civil society, to policy dialogue linked to investment or economic aid, or trade conditionality. But even under the most conducive conditions, the process of change can be slow, responding to international pressures but more importantly to internal political dynamics. We hope and expect that engagement will encourage political opening and change in Cuba, but we do not expect that change in Cuba will happen overnight.

Thale also discussed other countries' approaches to Cuba as well as US trade interests.