Travel Is About Castro's (Not U.S.) Economy

In their zeal to unconditionally lift sanctions towards the bankrupt Castro regime, its proponents and lobbyists have sought to repackage the travel debate into an agricultural bill and try to make the issue about the U.S. economy.

Therefore, virtually every news article on the travel debate includes the following dicta:

"Last year, U.S. exports to Cuba totaled $528 million. The U.S. could export $365 million more annually if the travel and financial restrictions ended, according to a study by the Center for North American Studies at Texas A&M University."

This Texas A&M report self-admittedly doesn't examine the net effect of Cuba travel on the U.S. economy, which would likely be negative -- as you're simply transplanting an American tourist that would consume in a U.S. beach to one in Castro's Cuba -- but that was already the topic of a previous post.

So here's the question -- if it's about the U.S. economy, then shouldn't Congress be focused on trade deals where tens of billions of dollars are at stake, as opposed to $365 million from Castro (which the U.S. would first have to finance through its own tourists)?

Logically, yes, but we all know it is not about the U.S. economy -- it's about providing a cash windfall to Castro's repressive regime.

Case and point -- according to The Hill:

Trade agreements could mean billions to U.S.

Free trade agreements (FTAs) could boost U.S. exports and the nation's gross domestic product by billions, sixteen Senate Republicans argued in a letter to the White House on Tuesday.

Led by Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, lawmakers are pushing for completion of trade agreements with Korea, Panama and Colombia they say would "be the catalyst for significant economic growth and job creation in the United States," in the letter sent to President Barack Obama.

A trade agreement with Korea would help the nation's economy grow by up to $11.9 billion, with exports growing from $9.7 billion to $10.9 billion in agriculture, machinery, electronics and transportation equipment, according to International Trade Commission figures cited by the lawmakers.

Additionally, an agreement with Panama would boost GDP by $2.5 billion, the letter said.