Summary: In 1962, the United States imposed an economic embargo against Cuba that has been modified over the years by legislation and presidential actions. This report reviews the implementation and the monitoring of embargo provisions affecting travel, telecommunications, and trade. GAO examines (1) whether the decision of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control to allow authorized U.S. travelers to fly directly to Cuba by taking chartered aircraft that touched down and changed flight numbers in third countries and then flew on to Cuba was consistent with U.S. law; (2) whether a telecommunications agreement between International Telephone and Telegraph and an Italian communications company was consistent with U.S. law; (3) how U.S. products can be available in Cuba; and (4) how U.S. agencies license and monitor U.S. travelers and companies, including licensed air carrier providers, and exports that are affected by the embargo's restrictions. GAO also discusses whether the executive branch's changes to the embargo in 1998 were consistent with U.S. law. GAO also provides information on the telecommunications provisions of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, Cuba's imports, and U.S. restrictions on imports containing Cuban components.
