Friday, 16 January 2015

Cuba embargo loosened by US President



The half a century old embargo against Cuba has been loosened by measures brought by the US President to end years of hostility.This happened yesterday.

The Cuban embargo was inaugurated by a Kennedy administration executive order in 1960 as a response to the confiscation of American property in Cuba under the newly installed Castro regime.  It caused economic sanctions, travel restrictions.

In December, President Obama announced that the diplomatic relations between US and Cuba will be restored. New rules were issued by the Treasury and Commerce department to allow US exports and permit traveling to Cuba.

Jacob Lew said “Today’s announcement takes us one step closer to replacing out of date policies that were not working and puts in place a policy that helps to promote political ad economic freedom for the Cuban people”

According to the Commerce secretary, “regulations will change export policy and authorize the flow of certain goods and services to Cuba without a license”
The U.S. Congress is not expected to lift any of the statutory restrictions on trade with and travel to Cuba this year.

But President Barack Obama kept to his commitment last month to loosen restrictions on dealings with Cuba, with this family visits, trade and other activities can go on without a special license from the government.

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