(12/14/08) -

Florida Cubans Call for End to Trade Embargo

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of Cuban-Americans living in the Sunshine State want the United States embargo on the island to end, according to a poll by Florida International University and the Brookings Institution. 55 per cent of respondents oppose carrying on with the trade restrictions, while 45 per cent agree with the policy.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The majority of Cuban-Americans living in the Sunshine State want the United States embargo on the island to end, according to a poll by Florida International University and the Brookings Institution. 55 per cent of respondents oppose carrying on with the trade restrictions, while 45 per cent agree with the policy.

Additionally, 65 per cent of respondents want the United States to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, 66 per cent want the U.S. government to end travel restrictions to Cuba for Cuban Americans, 67 per cent support ending travel restrictions for all Americans to Cuba, and 65 per cent want current restrictions on sending money to Cuba to end as well.

Fidel Castro became the de facto leader of Cuba in 1959, following the conclusion of the revolution he led to overthrow Fulgencio Batista. In 1962, the United States imposed a trade embargo against Cuba.

In May 2002, U.S. president George W. Bush introduced his so-called initiative for a new Cuba, declaring, "The United States has no designs on Cuban sovereignty. It’s not a part of our strategy, or a part of our vision. In fact, the United States has been a strong and consistent supporter of freedom for the Cuban people. And it is important for those who love freedom on that beautiful island to know that our support for them will never waver."

The Bush administration introduced tighter travel and money-transfer restrictions for Cuban Americans. Barack Obama—who will take over as U.S. president on Jan. 20, 2009—has said he will loosen such restrictions.

In July 2006, the Cuban government announced a "provisional transfer of duties" to vice-president Raúl Castro, Fidel’s brother, after the president suffered "an acute intestinal crisis, with sustained bleeding" which required immediate medical intervention. Raúl Castro continues to lead Cuba at this point.

On Dec. 5, Cuban foreign minister Felipe Pérez Roque urged Obama to take concrete steps to improve relations with Cuba, saying, "We are willing, as we’ve always said, to one day normalize relations between the United States and Cuba. (…) Cuba’s position is very clear. We firmly demand the lifting of the embargo, and the ceasing of extraterritorial measures taken to persecute our trade with other countries."

Polling Data

Would you favor or oppose the following?

Source: Florida International University / Brookings Institution
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 800 Cuban-American adults in Florida, United States, conducted on Dec. 1, 2008. Margin of error is 3.6 per cent.