Helms-Burton and the point of diminishing returns

International Affairs

Volumn 72, Issue 4, 1996, Pages 691-711

  Lisio, Stephen A ^a  

^a NONE

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0040240048     PISSN: 00205850     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/2624116     Document Type: Article

References (62)

1. John F. Harris and Bradley Graham, 'US accuses Cuba of "blatant violation"', Washington Post, 26 Feb. 1996, p. A1; Michael Dobbs, 'US announces measures against Canadian firm', Washington Post, 11 July 1996, p. A14. The nine executives of Sherritt International Corp., a Toronto-based mining firm, faced the loss of their US visas for operating a mine which was confiscated from an American company during the 1959 Cuban revolution. Helms-Burton provides for the punishment of any foreign entity that profits from the use of confiscated American property in Cuba.
2. John F. Harris and Bradley Graham, 'US accuses Cuba of "blatant violation"', Washington Post, 26 Feb. 1996, p. A1; Michael Dobbs, 'US announces measures against Canadian firm', Washington Post, 11 July 1996, p. A14. The nine executives of Sherritt International Corp., a Toronto-based mining firm, faced the loss of their US visas for operating a mine which was confiscated from an American company during the 1959 Cuban revolution. Helms-Burton provides for the punishment of any foreign entity that profits from the use of confiscated American property in Cuba.
3. Peter Hakim, 'To help Cuba most, think beyond Castro', Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 1995, p. 19; Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba to the market? (Miami: University of Miami, North-South Center, 1994), p. 1.
4. Peter Hakim, 'To help Cuba most, think beyond Castro', Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 1995, p. 19; Carmelo Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba to the market? (Miami: University of Miami, North-South Center, 1994), p. 1.
5. Opening Statement of Representative Dan Burton, Chair, House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, Hearing on Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1995, 16 March 1995; Opening Statement of Senator Jesse Helms, US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations press release, 'Helms introduces Cuba Bill as amendment on Senate floor', 7 March 1995; Jorge I. Domínguez, The Helms and Burton Bills on Cuba: an early assessment, policy brief (Washington DC: Inter-American Dialogue, May 1995), p. 2.
6. Dominguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 2.
7. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, Report 104-468, Conference Report to Accompany HR 927, 104th Congress, 2nd Session, House of Representatives, 1 March 1996, Section 205, p. 29; Domínguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 2.
8. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, Report 104-468, Conference Report to Accompany HR 927, 104th Congress, 2nd Session, House of Representatives, 1 March 1996, Section 205, p. 29; Domínguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 2.
9. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, Section 103, p. 11; Section 104, p. 12; Section 106, pp. 12, 14; Section 111, p. 19; Section 110, p. 17; Section 102, p. 11.
10. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, Section 204, p. 27; Section 202, pp. 23-4; Section 205-6, pp. 29-30.
11. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, Section 302, pp. 32-3; Section 306, p. 39.
12. Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, Section 401, pp. 40-41.
13. Ana Julia Jatar, Senior Fellow, Inter-American Dialogue, testimony, US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, Hearing on 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba after Castro', 30 June 1995, p. 3.
14. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 4.
15. Ibid. Agriculture is key to the Cuban economy, and the crisis in agricultural production led to Cuba's economic decline. Even after 1989, and the end of the Soviet subsidies, agriculture continued to dominate the island's foreign exchange earnings. However, Cuba's agricultural industry is outmoded, and production still lags behind the pre-1989 years. Last year's sugar harvest was the worst since the revolution. In previous years, 'poor' sugar yields were 4-5 million tons. Last year's sugar yield was 3.3 million tons, less than half that of yields harvested with Soviet subsidization. However, this trend may have been reversed with a 1996 harvest approaching 4.5 million tons and spurring the economy to nearly 5% growth (see table 1).
16. For a corollary account of 'cumulative monetary surplus', see Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, pp. 9-10.
17. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 5.
18. Gareth Jenkins and Lila Haines, Cuba: prospects for reform, trade and investment (New York: Economist Intelligence Unit, 1994), p. 19.
19. Lizette Alvarez, 'Castro tries using capitalism to save socialism', Miami Herald, 28 March 1995, p. 1.
20. Lizette Alvarez, 'Farmers' markets: oasis of food for the hungry', Miami Herald, 28 March 1995, p. 12.
21. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 7.
22. Jenkins and Haines, Cuba: prospects for reform, pp. 19-20; 'Cuba OKs expansion of self-employment', Washington Times, 14 June 1995, p. 6; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 6-7.
23. Jenkins and Haines, Cuba: prospects for reform, pp. 19-20; 'Cuba OKs expansion of self-employment', Washington Times, 14 June 1995, p. 6; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 6-7.
24. Jenkins and Haines, Cuba: prospects for reform, pp. 19-20; 'Cuba OKs expansion of self-employment', Washington Times, 14 June 1995, p. 6; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 6-7.
25. Armando H. Portela, 'The disability crisis', CubaNEWS, 4: 5, May 1996, p. 10
26. In the middle of 1996, Attorney-General Juan Escalona announced a new penal code that promised to stiffen penalties for theft of state property. It remains to be seen how thoroughly the new law will be enforced. See 'Signs of crime rise', CubaNEWS, 4: 6, June 1996, p. 4; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 6-7.
27. In the middle of 1996, Attorney-General Juan Escalona announced a new penal code that promised to stiffen penalties for theft of state property. It remains to be seen how thoroughly the new law will be enforced. See 'Signs of crime rise', CubaNEWS, 4: 6, June 1996, p. 4; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 6-7.
28. Jenkins and Haines, Cuba: prospects for reform, p. 19.
29. Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, p. 17; Telephone interview with John Kavulich, President, US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, 6 June 1995 and 21 July 1996.
30. Estimates by the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council placed promised investment for 1995 at $4.87 billion. However, by the end of the year only $552 million had actually entered the country. See 'How much is invested?', CubaNEWS, 4: 3, March 1996, p. 2; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 8-9.
31. Estimates by the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council placed promised investment for 1995 at $4.87 billion. However, by the end of the year only $552 million had actually entered the country. See 'How much is invested?', CubaNEWS, 4: 3, March 1996, p. 2; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 8-9.
32. 'Odder and odder: a chat with José Luis Rodriguez', Latin American Economy & Business, March 1995, p. 19; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8.
33. 'Odder and odder: a chat with José Luis Rodriguez', Latin American Economy & Business, March 1995, p. 19; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8.
34. 'Odder and odder', Latin American Economy & Business, p. 19; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8.
35. 'Odder and odder', Latin American Economy & Business, p. 19; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8.
36. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8. For black market exchange rates see Armando Portela, 'The disability crisis', CubaNEWS, 4: 5, May 1996, p. 11.
37. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 8. For black market exchange rates see Armando Portela, 'The disability crisis', CubaNEWS, 4: 5, May 1996, p. 11.
38. 'Budget performance 1990-1995 in millions of pesos', CubaNEWS, 4: 2, February 1996, p. 2.
39. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 7-8.
40. Larry Rohter, 'Cuba, in ideological retreat, to lay off many thousands, ' Neuf York Times, 13 May 1995, p. 1; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 7-8.
41. Larry Rohter, 'Cuba, in ideological retreat, to lay off many thousands, ' Neuf York Times, 13 May 1995, p. 1; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 7-8.
42. Rohter, 'Cuba, in ideological retreat', p. 1.
43. Ibid.; 'Official says Cuban unemployment is 7 per cent', CubaNEWS, 4: 6, June 1996, p. 2.
44. Ibid.; 'Official says Cuban unemployment is 7 per cent', CubaNEWS, 4: 6, June 1996, p. 2.
45. Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, pp. 23, 65; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 1-2.
46. Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, pp. 23, 65; Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', pp. 1-2.
47. Jatar, 'The relationship between the United States and Cuba', p. 5.
48. In order for Cuba to return to its average 1988 standard of living, the economy must grow at a constant rate of 7% for nearly eight years. Also, to offset the relative loss of foreign exchange earnings in sugar and nickel since the 19805, tourism would have to grow to 3 million tourists per year. See ibid., pp. 1-2, 8-10.
49. 'Steep hikes announced for the self-employed', CubaNEWS 4: 3, March 1996, p. 6; 'New rules, taxes hit self-employed workers', CubaNEWS 4: 6, June 1996, p. 2.
50. 'Steep hikes announced for the self-employed', CubaNEWS 4: 3, March 1996, p. 6; 'New rules, taxes hit self-employed workers', CubaNEWS 4: 6, June 1996, p. 2.
51. Dominguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 2.
52. Michael Dobbs, 'Lawmakers assail new policy on returning Cuban refugees', Washington Post, 19 May 1995. p. 8; Larry Rohter, 'Clinton and Castro buy some time', New York Times, 14 May 1995, p. 1.
53. Michael Dobbs, 'Lawmakers assail new policy on returning Cuban refugees', Washington Post, 19 May 1995. p. 8; Larry Rohter, 'Clinton and Castro buy some time', New York Times, 14 May 1995, p. 1.
54. Dobbs, 'Lawmakers assail new policy', p. 8; Rohter, 'Clinton and Castro', p. 1.
55. Dobbs, 'Lawmakers assail new policy', p. 8; Rohter, 'Clinton and Castro', p. 1.
56. Anne Swardson, 'Canada vows sanctions against US for enforcement of anti-Cuba trade law', Washington Post, 18 June 1996, p. A7; Paul Blustein and Thomas W. Lippman, 'Allies angered by US boycott policy', Washington Post, 10 May 1996, pp. A1, A31.
57. Anne Swardson, 'Canada vows sanctions against US for enforcement of anti-Cuba trade law', Washington Post, 18 June 1996, p. A7; Paul Blustein and Thomas W. Lippman, 'Allies angered by US boycott policy', Washington Post, 10 May 1996, pp. A1, A31.
58. See Gabriel A. Ondetti, 'Western European and Canadian relations with Cuba after the Cold War', Cuba Briefing Paper, 9 (Washington DC: Georgetown University, November 1995), pp. 1-12.
59. Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, p. 66; Dominguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 4.
60. Mesa-Lago, Are economic reforms propelling Cuba...?, p. 66; Dominguez, The Helms and Burton Bills, p. 4.
61. Nestor D. Sanchez and Jay Mallin, eds, The military and transition in Cuba: reference guide for polity and crisis management (Washington DC: International Research 2000, Inc., 1995), p. 1-4; Peter Kornbluh, 'From here to Cuba', New York Times, 17 May 1995, p. 12.
62. Nestor D. Sanchez and Jay Mallin, eds, The military and transition in Cuba: reference guide for polity and crisis management (Washington DC: International Research 2000, Inc., 1995), p. 1-4; Peter Kornbluh, 'From here to Cuba', New York Times, 17 May 1995, p. 12.