President Trump is expected to announce new policies regarding Cuba in Miami tomorrow. He may announce steps that likely will roll back some of the changes made during the Obama administration that re-established diplomatic relations with Havana, opened commerce and communications, and agricultural investment by U.S. companies, as well as increasing travel between the United States and Cuba.
The Trump administration has been considering policy changes, such as prohibiting business with the Cuban military and new restrictions on American leisure travel to Cuba, which has more than tripled since the former President Obama’s actions regarding the island nation, despite the fact that tourism to Cuba still remains illegal under U.S. law. The U.S. Embassy in Havana is expected to remain open but will continue without an ambassador.
“We are supportive of continued economic development, as long as it is done in full compliance with our existing statutes not to provide financial support to the regime,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Congress on Tuesday. “The general approach,” Tillerson said, “is to allow as much of this continued commercial and engagement activity to go on as possible, because we do see the sunny side of benefits to the Cuban people.”
Farm state Republicans have appealed to President Trump to help them expand Cuban markets rather than close them. And, a newly introduced Senate bill to lift remaining travel restrictions has attracted 54 co-sponsors, including 10 Republicans.
In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers have called for expanding relations with the island and major travel and agriculture companies and associations have publicly warned that any reversal in Cuba policy could cost American jobs.
It has been reported that the President has been consulting with members of Congress, including Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) as well as Florida’s Governor Rick Scott. Both Rubio and Scott are critical of President Obama’s previous liberalization of U.S. policy toward Cuba.
Rubio said in a statement that he was confident President Trump would “keep the commitment on Cuba policy by making changes that are targeted and strategic and advance the Cuban people’s aspirations for economic and political liberty.”
“The approach for the new United States-Cuba policy should be a substantive shift. The current direction has proven to provide the Cuban military and state security the resources that will enable them to transfer power from one family member to another. The new course must be focused on doing our part so that the Cuban people may regain their right to self-determination,” Scott said. Scott also said that “the Obama-Castro deal failed to prioritize America’s interests.”
