Helms-Burton and the point of diminishing returns

The author examines the recent tightening of the economic embargo by the United States against Cuba, which provides for legal recourse against the non-compliance of third parties. He contrasts Cuba's economic transition in the post-Cold War era to the regressive nature of the new US law. In the light of Cuba's initial success in economic reform, he argues, the tightened embargo is less likely to force Cuban dictator Fidel Castro from power and more likely to entangle the United States in a series of retaliatory exchanges with its allies in both bilateral and multilateral fora. He concludes that the US attempt to dictate the economic and foreign policies of its allies is misguided, and that tightening the embargo is inconsistent with the US interest of promoting a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba.*