In another step in the process to thaw relations with Cuba, a group of lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation to lift the trade embargo that has existed with the country for decades.
The legislation comes two months after the White House announced its plans to normalize relations with Cuba, and two weeks after a group of lawmakers introduced legislation to relax travel restriction between the U.S. and Cuba.
The opening to Cuba is a complicated, multipronged effort – part of which Congress can influence, part of which the administration can, and has, implemented on its own authority. The December announcement by the White House already loosened some travel and financial restrictions. But the major controls on travel and trade are much stronger and reversing them would require congressional action.
The legislation was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who was joined by Sens. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.; Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; and Dick Durbin, D-Ill.
According to its sponsors, the bill would eliminate legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba and “pave the way for new economic opportunities for American businesses and farmers.” If passed, it would repeal laws on the books that block Americans from doing business in Cuba; it would not repeal laws addressing human rights or property claims against the Cuban government.
Said Klobuchar in a statement: “It’s time to the turn the page on our Cuba policy. Fifty years of the embargo have not secured our interests in Cuba and have disadvantaged American businesses by restricting commerce with a market of 11 million people just 90 miles from our shores.”
The legislation is being pushed by farm interests, including the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba.
As for its chances for success, experts on the Cuban policy say that overturning the embargo will be difficult – although a coalition of Democrats, libertarian Republicans and farm state lawmakers from both parties could eventually make it happen.
However, asked in a recent interview with the CBS News program “60 Minutes” whether the trade embargo would stay in place, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said, “I would think so.”
Comments