There are a few key reasons why the US cut trade with Cuba:
- The Cuban Revolution (1953-1959) brought Fidel Castro to power. Castro established a communist government in Cuba and aligned the country with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. This concerned the US government.
- In 1960, Cuba nationalized billions of dollars worth of American-owned property and businesses in Cuba without compensation. This included sugar mills, oil refineries, cattle ranches, etc. The US saw this as an illegal seizure of assets.
- In response, President Eisenhower cut all remaining sugar imports from Cuba and imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba except for food and medicine. This was meant to economically isolate Cuba and weaken the communist regime.
- In 1962, President Kennedy formally expanded the embargo through a proclamation that instituted a full trade embargo against Cuba. This prohibited all exports from the US except for medicine and some food. It also prohibited imports from Cuba.
- The embargo was codified into law with the Cuban Democracy Act in 1992 and the Helms-Burton Act in 1996. These laws prohibited American companies from trading with Cuba and traveling there as tourists. The goal was to pressure Cuba towards democracy and human rights reforms.
- Overall, the US cut trade to economically isolate Cuba, weaken Castro's communist regime during the Cold War, and try to pressure political change in Cuba regarding democracy and human rights. The embargo remains in place today, though some restrictions have been eased under the Obama administration.