Embargo Remains Major Hurdle in U.S.-Cuba Thaw
Embargo Remains Major Hurdle in U.S.-Cuba Thaw
Having diplomatic relations will give the U.S. “a formal avenue” to engage with Cuba on many issues, highlights AS/COA’s Alana Tummino.
The embassies may be reopening, but the embargo will take a lot longer to come down.
President Obama paired the announcement of renewed diplomatic ties with Havana at the White House Wednesday with a call for Congress to end the economic embargo, but U.S. business groups anxious to crack the Cuban market say it’s already clear the economic track will lag behind the political one for the president. Cuban President Raul Castro underscored the point himself Wednesday.....
...Alana Tummino, director of policy at the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, said reopening the embassy is “a step in the right direction” for addressing Cuba’s human rights violations and other issues. In an interview Ms. Tummino said having diplomatic relations with Cuba will “give us a formal avenue to engage Cuba on these issues,” leading to more progress.
American businesses have already benefited from the thaw in relations and loosening of regulations....
