You may be surprised to learn that the United State does indeed trade with Cuba. In fact the U.S. imports over $400,000,000 worth of goods annually from Cuba. Although that only accounts for about 9% of the Cuban Export, one must stop and ask why do we deal with them at all?

The Cuban Government follows socialist principles in controlling its economy. This means that a majority of all factories are owned and run by the government and approximately 93% of the labor force is employed by the state.

The government places severe limitations on freedom of speech and press. Cuba is known as one of the world's biggest jailer of journalists.

Freedom of assembly is not a right in today's Cuba. The law punishes any unauthorized assembly of more than three persons. Yes, four co-workers chatting on the street corner would indeed quickly come under suspicion and likely be brought in for questioning by the authorities.

Worker rights are largely denied. The law does not allow Cuban workers to form and join unions unless that union is government-approved… and guess who runs it?

A series of economic agreements between Cuba and China in 2007 have strengthened trade between the two countries. Sino-Cuban trade totaled more than $525 million in 2004, according to China Customs statistics. This represents an increase of more than 47% over 2003.

Cuba offers freedom of religion, IF that religion is a member of the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC). These member churches are strongly restricted, for example, member churches may NOT have free access to the media. Churches may NOT build or maintain schools, hospitals or nursing homes. The bottom line is that all registered denominations must report to the Ministry of Interior's Office of Religious Affairs.

A US embargo in place since 1961, and rightfully so, but now you may be hearing of initiatives for a New Cuba, or the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. Both programs aim to achieve a transition to democracy in Cuba, and offer United States assistance to a post-dictatorship Cuba. The key phrase being Post-Dictatorship, with the current government: the embargo should remain enforced and all trade should end.

The Republic of Cuba is a totalitarian Communist state, having assumed governmental power by force January 1, 1959.

The Cuban Communist Party (PCC); is the only one party allowed and they deny citizens the right to change their government.

Figures and data via US Department of State