Divided Over Cuba: Why Some States Advocate for Trade While Other States Resist

This week, the Biden administration made a controversial decision to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list, along with other related policy changes. This decision, which involved a statutory review driven by classified information and the president’s policy priorities, has been widely criticized. If the decision was indeed made with full awareness of its implications—and not simply the result of a small group of staff pursuing their own agenda—it raises serious concerns. Many expect these changes, including the SST designation, to be reversed in the near future.

The federal government’s policy shift highlights the broader divide among U.S. states regarding their stance on trade with Cuba. For some states, Cuba represents an untapped economic opportunity, particularly in agriculture and logistics. For others, especially Florida, Cuba is emblematic of historical and ideological opposition to communism, making the embargo a central component of state and federal policy.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba originated during the Cold War, when Fidel Castro aligned his regime with the Soviet Union, posing a direct threat to U.S. national security. Over the decades, Cuban-Americans, particularly in Florida, have been strong advocates for maintaining the embargo. We barely have an embargo in place these days, but the law remains on the books, and it should be fully enforced. They argue that it serves as both a moral and strategic tool to pressure the Cuban regime toward democratic reforms. Florida, home to the largest Cuban-American population, has been at the forefront of this effort, ensuring that liberty for Cuba remains a key political issue.

By contrast, states like Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas view Cuba primarily through an economic lens. They see the island not as an ideological adversary but as a potential trading partner, particularly for agricultural exports. Cuba imports around 70% of its food, creating a significant market for products like rice, poultry, and soybeans—commodities not typically produced by Florida. For instance: