February 13,2003

Introduction of ''The Free Trade Cuba Act of 2003''

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Free Trade with Cuba Act of 2003.This legislation represents an important step toward normalizing the United States’economic relations with Cuba and opening a dialogue between our two nations.Perhaps more importantly, this bill promotes human rights and democracy in anation that has suffered under totalitarian rule for more than four decades, an objectivecentral to the same democratic principles that have driven our foreign policy since theend of the Second World War.

The Free Trade with Cuba Act contains three essential components:

• First, it lifts the trade embargo against Cuba;
• Second, it graduates Cuba from Jackson-Vanik and authorizes thePresident to extend non-discriminatory trade treatment to Cuba;
• And finally, it removes the restrictions on travel between our twocountries.

I should note that this legislation is similar to the legislation I introduced in thelast Congress, S. 400 and S. 401. That legislation was referred to the Finance Committee,and I am hopeful that this is an issue that the Finance Committee will examine this year.Mr. President, this legislation is long overdue. In 1962, the United Statesembargoed virtually all trade with Cuba as a response to the rise of a totalitarian regimeand the seizure of American property. Over the years, U.S. sanctions against Cuba werefurther tightened, culminating with restrictions on the rights of Americans to visit Cuba.

Within the context of the Cold War, many of these sanctions seemed to makesense. Yet, throughout that time, the embargo appeared to have little – if any – effect onthe Castro regime. Forty years of the embargo - four decades of disengagement - havesimply not worked. It is time to try a new approach. It is time for engagement.

Now, supporters of the embargo will throw out many arguments against thislegislation. They will say, for example, that the private property of U.S. citizens that wastaken in the early days of the Castro regime compels us to refuse trade with Cuba untilwe get that property back. They will point out the horrendous treatment of Cubancitizens by Castro and the denial of even the most basic human liberties.

Let us be clear. These are problems of the highest magnitude, and they must beresolved. Yet, the debate isn’t whether these problems exist - they do. The question ishow to resolve them.

Forty years of embargo have done nothing to gain a return of private assetsexpropriated so long ago by Castro. And forty years of embargo have done nothing toimprove the living conditions and the prospects for democratic reform in Cuba. Ifanything, the embargo has lessened the prospects for reform, by giving Castro someoneelse to blame for the terrible economic plight of his people.

In other words, while these problems may seem complicated, the one thing wecan say that we do know, for certain, is this: The current policy is not the answer. Thecurrent policy is a total failure. So, we must look to alternatives. How would thislegislation resolve these problems?

First, as to expropriation, the legislation I am proposing today calls for thePresident to undertake negotiations with the government of Cuba to settle this issue andmake sure that those harmed by this expropriation are fairly compensated.

Second, as to the crucial issues of human rights and democratic reform, thislegislation simply reflects a common-sense truth – that engagement between theAmerican and Cuban peoples will do mo re to open Cuban society, just as it has aroundthe world for two hundred years, than silence and neglect.

And let us not delude ourselves - the embargo is simply an official word forneglect. By not engaging the Cuban people, by not opening our world and our traditionsto them, we are neglecting them. You know, last year, we worked hard to further tradeliberalization by passing the Trade Act of 2002. When the President signed thatlegislation, he said this:

"Free trade is also a proven strategy for building global prosperity and adding to themomentum of political freedom." He added: "Greater freedom for commerce across theborders eventually leads to greater freedom for citizens within the borders."

I agree. And this statement is as true for Cuba as it is for any other country.

Third, on the economics of this. We are in tough times right now. Our farmersand workers are hurting. Yet here is a market worth as much as $1 billion per year thatwe are shutting ourselves out of. It makes no sense.

The embargo against Cuba accomplishes nothing but to hurt our farmers, ourworkers, and our companies – by excluding them from a potential market. Meanwhile,the EU, Japan, Mexico, Canada – and dozens of other countries – are busy selling goodsand building commercial relations.

There is a final point to make, as well. It is about the basic rights and freedoms ofthe American people. It is a fundamental violation of the spirit of our democraticprinciples to tell the American people that the y cannot travel to Cuba. What a sad irony itis in trying to promote freedom and democracy in another country by restricting it in yourown.

It is time to get real about promoting freedom and democracy. It is time to getreal about economic expansion. It is time to end the embargo.