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1 1 (August 19, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdbjo0001 and id is 1 raw text is: xa IS Ik Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Since the early 1960s, when the United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba, the centerpiece of U.S. policy toward Cuba has consisted of economic sanctions aimed at isolating the government. In 2014, the Obama Administration initiated a policy shift moving away fromsanctions toward engagement and the normalization of relations. Changes included the rescission of Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism(May 2015); the restorationofdiplomatic relations (July 2015); and an easing of restrictions on travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services (2015 and 2016, accomplished through amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, administered bythe Treasury Department, and the Export Administration Regulations, administered by the Commerce Department). The restoration of relations led to increased government-to-government engagement, with over 20 bilateral agreements and numerous bilateral dialogues. President Trump unveiled a newpolicy toward Cubain 2017, introducingnew sanctions and rolling backsome efforts to normalize relations. By 2019, the Trump Administration had largely abandoned engagement by increasing economic sanctions significantly to pressure the Cuban government for its humanights record and support for the government of Nicolds Maduro in Venezuela. Cuban Political and Economic Developments. In April 2018, Miguel Dfaz-Canel, who was serving as first vice president, succeeded Raitl Castro as president, but Castro continues to head the Cuban Conmmnist Party until 2021. The selection of Dfaz-Canel, now 60 years old, reflected the generational changein Cuban leadership that began several years ago and marks the first time since the 1959 Cuban revolution that a Castro is not in charge of the government. While in power from2006 to 2018, Raid Castro began to implement significant economic policy changes, moving toward a more mixed economy with a stronger private sector, but his government's slow, gradualist approach did not produce major economic improvements. In a February 2019 referendum, Cubans approved a new constitution that introduced such changes as an appointed prie ministerto oversee governmentoperations; limits on the president's tenure (two five-year terms) and age (60, beginning first term); and market-oriented economic reforms, including the right to private property and the promotion of foreign investment. However, the new constitutionensures the state sector's dominance over the economy and the predominant role of the Communist Party. In October 2019, Cuba's National As sembly appointed Dfaz-Canel as president under the new constitution. In December 2019, Dfaz-Canel appointed touris mminis ter ManuelMarrero Cruz as prime minister. The Cuban economy is being hard-hit by Venezuela's economic cris is, which has reduced Venezuela's support for Cuba; increased U.S. economic sanctions; and the economic decline associatedwith the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economist Intelligence Unit is forecasting an 8.3% economic contraction in 2020. Cuba's public health responseto the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have been effective. As of August 1,2020, the country registered 3,408 confirmed cases and 88 deaths, with a mortality rate of 0.78 per 100,000 people (compared to 52.52 in the United States) according to Johns Hopkins University. Cuba has provided international assistance to respond to the pandemic by sending over 3,700 medical profes sionals to alhnos t 40 countries worldwide, including in Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The pandemic led to increased calls, including by United Nations officials, for the United States to ease s anctions to make it less difficult for Cuba to acquire needed equipment, supplies, and medicines to confront the health crisis. U.S. officials responded by maintaining that U.S. sanctions allow for such exports providing humanitarianrelief and as s is tance to the Cub an people. Trump Administration Sanctions. President Trump is s u ed a national s ecurity presidential memorandum in June 2017 that introduced new sanctions, including restrictions on trans actions with companies controlled by the Cuban military. The State Department is sued a list of restricted entities in 2017, which has beenupdated several times, most recently in June 2020. The list includes 229 entities and subentities, including 2 minis tries, 5 holding companies and 53 of their subentities, 111 hotels, 2 tourist agencies, 5 marinas, 10 stores in Old Havana, and41 entities serving defense and security sectors. Since 2019, the Administration has imposed a series of sanctions against Cuba for its poor human rights record and its support for the Maduro government. In addition to the sanctions noted below, the Administration has increased efforts (including vis a restrictions) to call attention to allegations of coercive labor practices in Cub a's foreign medical missions, a major foreign exchange earner for Cuba. In addition, in May 2020, the State Department (pursuantto Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act) added Cubato its annual list of countries certified as not cooperatingfully with U.S. antiterrorismeflforts, the first such certification for Cuba since 2015. Efforts to Stop Venezuelan Oil Exports to Cuba. Since April 2019, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on several shipping companies and vessels that transported Venezuelan oil to Cuba. In July 2019, it sanctioned Cuba's s tate-run oil import/export company. LaIwsuits Related to ConfiscatedProperty. Effective May 2, 2019, the Administration allowed the right to file lawsuits against those trafficking in confiscatedproperty in Cubapursuant to Title I of the Cuban Liberty and A A '2 Updated August 19,2020

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