U.S. Commerce Secretary Decries Cuba's "Superficial Changes"

Joining a series of U.S. cabinet-level speakers and President Bush, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez called for passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and improvements in Cuba’s human rights at our annual Washington Conference on the Americas.

Before addressing the latest moves by Raúl Castro, Secretary Gutierrez emphatically praised the turn-around in Colombia over the last eight years. The accomplishments of President Álvaro Uribe are “nothing short of miraculous” given the previous concern that Colombia could become a failed state. With the trade agreement signed 533 days ago, Congress must finally put it to vote. In that time, without duty free access, over $1 billion in tariffs have been imposed on U.S. exports to Colombia. But besides making economic sense, the commerce secretary emphasized that “not passing Colombia would go down as one of our biggest foreign policy mistakes in our hemisphere.”

Switching hats to his role as co-chair of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba, Secretary Gutierrez drew attention to the “series of tactical, superficial changes” taken by the Castro regime since January. Cubans may now have the option to buy a cell phone, rent a car, and stay in hotels previously reserved exclusively for foreigners, but none of these changes will affect peoples’ everyday lives. Cell phones had been available on the black market for many years. With legalization, the main difference is that people are now required to register cell phones with the government. Both the car and hotel provisions may seem like notable advancements; however, with the average Cuban earning $17 per month, neither item will be within economic reach. Exhibiting the sad state of freedom on the island, Castro has announced that the purchase of ovens and toasters—basic household items—will finally be permitted in 2010.

These incremental, sad reforms have generated much attention by the outside world at a time when the real media focus should be on the plight of political prisoners. To raise awareness of Cuban prisoners, Secretary Gutierrez announced that the White House will host an event on May 21, 2008, to “shine a spotlight” on political prisoners in Cuba. Joining the White House, governments and non-governmental organizations across the world will host similar events on that day. The systematic oppression of Cuban prisoners begins with unjustified prison terms and carries over to horrific jail conditions, unsanitary food and rampant disease with little to no medical attention available. While differences exist in regard to the U.S. embargo policy, this event will strictly focus on human rights. A “real sign of change” will be granting freedom to Cuba’s political prisoners.

The secretary also serves as a co-chair for the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. Gutierrez worked for more than 25 years at Kellogg, working his way up from serving as a sales representative to becoming the company's youngest CEO in its nearly 100 year history.

For nearly four decades, the annual Washington Conference on the Americas has served as the top forum for government, industry, and policy leaders to engage in substantive analysis on timely themes affecting the Western Hemisphere.