U.S. Lifts Limits on Cuban Imports

President Barack Obama issued a directive on Cuba in October that sought to solidify his policy changes and encourage engagement beyond his term. He also released a sixth set of regulatory changes designed to enhance business and trade between the U.S. and Cuba.

Obama said the presidential policy directive “takes a comprehensive and whole-of-government approach to promote engagement with the Cuban government and people, and make our opening to Cuba irreversible.”

A senior official with the administration said the directive, which supersedes any previous presidential directives on Cuba, would stand as U.S.-Cuba policy until it is replaced, but added: “It takes a significant amount of time to develop a presidential directive.”

The official also said it is unlikely the newly elected president would try to close the U.S. Embassy in Havana, end regularly scheduled flights to the island or disrupt budding business partnerships.

With Republican dominance now in the Senate, Sen. Marco Rubio, whose career has been defined by Cuba, has a sudden opportunity to make a difference on the issue.

“Without question, rolling back President Obama’s one-sided concessions to the Castro regime, a key campaign promise shared with President-elect Trump, will be a top priority for Senator Rubio next year,” a spokesman told the Tampa Bay Times.

“American companies were warned repeatedly not to go into business with the Castro regime. Protecting their profits at the expense of the American people should not be a barrier to President-elect Trump fulfilling a key campaign promise.”

Rubio will be the third most senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee. The Trump victory gave him more standing to pursue an agenda.

Trump’s views on Cuba are muddy. He has criticized the deal President Obama struck but also expressed support for normalized relations. Rubio’s statement indicates a desire to hold Trump to his campaign promises.

Sources: Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times