The freedom of people in China is not my main concern. The ability of the United States to produce its own steel, ships, machine tools, microchips, and aircraft parts is. As I said, my primary objection to unlimited free trade is the damage done to our economic and national security by the loss of our manufacturing base.
The reason Cuba is still enslaved has nothing to do with trade policy and everything to do with Fidel Castro and his cronies. Dispose of them and Cuba's vibrant and creative people will make the country bloom. Likewise, as for the people of China, the only way they will ever be free is if the national socialist government in Beijing is destroyed. The best thing we could do for the Chinese people would be to pop off a nuke over Beijing and remove the taskmasters that dominate them. I fail to see how our lining the pockets of the Chinese military/industrial complex that keeps said government afloat promotes their freedom. Instead, we should arm ourselves against the Chinese government and force them to bankrupt themselves trying to match our military might. It worked with the USSR.
Be clear; tell us that free trade with Cuba would not tranform Cuba. Come on, say it.
Maybe it has something with the memory of free market time under the Batista regime (shown in the Godfather II)?