On Monday, soon after Fidel Castro’s death, President-Elect Donald Trump said in a Twitter post that he would end what he referred to as President Obama’s “deal” with Cuba. Trump suggested that he might wipe away two years of executive action by President Obama to strengthen ties if he cannot reach a “better deal” for both the United States and Cuba.
Trump has said he believes President Obama should have pushed harder for concessions from Cuba before easing restrictions on trade and travel. However, Trump gave no details about what kind of changes he may seek regarding President Obama’s policies to forge diplomatic relations and relax sanctions against Cuba.
Trump has been critical of greater engagement between Americans and Cubans hinting in his remarks that he is considering reinstating restrictions on commerce, trade, and financial transactions that Obama had removed since he announced two years ago that he and Cuban President Raul Castro had agreed to normalize relations.
Advocates for increased engagement with Cuba argue that promoting U.S. trade with Cuba would create opportunities and jobs in industries such as agriculture, telecommunications, and tourism. Reversing President Obama’s policies could leave Americans out of a potential market or mean their investments so far have been wasted, said some groups representing business interests in Cuba.
Fellow Republican and Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said on Monday that he hopes President-Elect Trump does not return the United States to rigid trade restrictions with Cuba. “I would like to see this first as an opportunity to open up Cuba for the sale of our agricultural products. I don’t want that taken off the table. I would like to see that as a step forward,” Hutchinson said at a news conference.
Hutchinson previously led a trade mission to Cuba in September as Arkansas poultry, rice, and pork producers are eager to sell their products in Cuba. “I know that this is a momentous occasion with the death of Fidel Castro that gives an opportunity we’ve never had before. But, it looks like there is going to be a fairly robust debate as the right steps to take at this point,” Hutchinson said
“It is time for a change. But that is change that should not come without an enhancement of freedom on the part of the Cuban government in changes that we would expect there,” Hutchinson said. “So we need to balance keeping the pressure on Cuba, but at the same time expressing to them a willingness to re-engage as we see freedom and opportunity changing in that country.”
