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1 1 (August 29, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemrn0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Con gressionol Research Service Informing the IegisIative debate since 1914 Updated August 29, 2023 Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Polit al and Economic Developments Cuba remains a one-party authoritarian state with a government that has sharply restricted freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and other basic human rights since the early years of the 1959 Cuban revolution. Miguel Diaz-Canel succeeded Radl Castro as president in 2018 and as head of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) at its eighth party congress in April 2021. Cuba's National Assembly elected Diaz-Canel to a second (final) five-year presidential term in April 2023. The departure of Castro and other older leaders from the PCC's Politburo reflects the generational change in Cuban leadership that began several years ago. While in power (2006-2018), Radl Castro (who succeeded his brother, longtime leader Fidel Castro) relaxed restrictions on private economic activities, but his government's slow, gradualist approach did not produce major improvements. Cuba adopted a new constitution in 2019 that introduced some reforms but maintained the state's dominance over the economy and the PCC's predominant political role. Socioeconomic Conditions The Cuban economy was hard-hit by the economic shutdown associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has yet to fully recover. Cuba reports the economy contracted by 10.9% in 2020 and grew by 1.3% and 2% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Cuban government forecasts growth of 3% in 2023. However, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Cuba's economic output will not return to its pre-pandemic level until 2024. Recovery has been slowed by fuel oil shortages due to reduced imports from Venezuela, a slower-than- expected return of hard currency-wielding foreign tourists, continuing distortions and inefficiencies in the centrally planned economy, and the effects of U.S. sanctions. Cuba unified its dual currency system in 2021; the long- debated reform contributed to high inflation (with estimates ranging between 150% and 500% in 2021). The EIU estimates that inflation averaged 76% in 2022 and forecasts an average rate of 62% in 2023. increased Repression Beginning in November 2020, the government cracked down on the San Isidro Movement (MSI), a civil society group opposed to restrictions on artistic expression. On July 11, 2021, anti-government demonstrations broke out in Havana and throughout the country, with thousands of Cubans protesting economic conditions (food and medicine shortages, blackouts) and long-standing concerns about the lack of political freedoms. The government responded with harsh measures, including widespread detentions of protesters, civil society activists, and bystanders. Hundreds of the July 2021 protestors have been tried and convicted, including more than 30 minors. The human rights group Cuban Prisoners Defenders (CPD) reported that there were 1,047 political prisoners at the end of June 2023 (up from 152 on July 1, 2021), of which 806 were imprisoned and considered prisoners of conscience by CPD, 212 were under some form of conditional release, and 29 were imprisoned for other politically motivated acts. Increased Cooperation with China and Russia In the aftermath of Venezuela's economic crisis, Cuba has increased its commercial and military ties to China and Russia. In June 2023, in response to press reports regarding Cuba-China security cooperation, the Biden Administration asserted that China had upgraded its intelligence collection facilities in Cuba in 2019. Cuba also has strengthened its diplomatic and commercial ties to Russia and has resisted international efforts to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Among other reported agreements, Russia has pledged to deliver 32,000 barrels of oil and oil products per day to Cuba and Cuba has offered to provide 30-year land concessions to Russian firms in Cuba. U.S. Policy 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 Cuban government. The Obama Administration initiated a policy shift away from sanctions and 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 restoration of diplomatic relations (July 2015); and eased restrictions on travel, remittances, trade, telecommunications, and banking and financial services (2015-2016). In contrast, the Trump Administration introduced new sanctions in 2017, including restrictions on transactions with companies controlled by the Cuban military. By 2019, the Trump Administration had largely abandoned engagement and significantly increased sanctions, particularly on travel and remittances. In its initial months, the Biden Administration announced it was conducting a review of policy toward Cuba, with human rights a core pillar, and would review policy decisions made by the prior Administration. In the aftermath of the Cuban government's harsh response to the July 11, 2021 protests, the Biden Administration criticized Cuba's repression and imposed targeted sanctions on those involved, including financial sanctions on three Cuban security entities and eight officials, and visa restrictions against 50 individuals involved in repressing protesters. In May 2022, the Administration announced several policy changes aimed at increasing support for the Cuban people. It increased immigrant visa processing at the U.S. Embassy in Havana and said it would reinstate the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) program. It eased travel

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