President Obama's Historic Visit to Cuba (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
March 25, 2016 |
| Report Number |
IN10466 |
| Report Type |
Insight |
| Authors |
Sullivan, Mark P. |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
President Obama traveled to Cuba from March 20 to 22, 2016--the first visit of a U.S. President since Calvin Coolidge visited in 1928. Before the trip, the White House set forth the goals of the visit, stating that the President would build on progress toward normalizing relations, including advancing commercial and people-to-people ties and expressing support for human rights. The trip is the latest significant action by the President since his December 2014 announcement of the major shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba, moving away from a sanctions-based policy toward one of engagement. Since then, the Administration has rescinded Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism (May 2015) and reestablished diplomatic relations (July 2015). The Treasury and Commerce Departments have conducted four rounds of regulatory changes, the most recent on March 16, 2016, to ease the economic embargo that was first imposed in 1962. These changes have significantly eased sanctions on a range of transactions with Cuba, including those relating to travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services. [â¦] During his visit, President Obama announced additional initiatives, including support for collaboration between the U.S. and Cuban agricultural sectors; Cuban participation in the Administration's 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative to increase student exchanges; and new partnerships in health, science, and the environment. The President attended an event with Cuban entrepreneurs to demonstrate support for the country's nascent private sector.
