Washington, DC. There is an saying in American politics of meet the new boss, same as the old boss, but that seems to fail when it comes to the Trump Administrations plans for Cuban policy. Where they are rolling back virtually all of Obama’s measures to open a bridge with the nation only 90 miles from the USA.
Trump’s advisers are crafting recommendations that will call for tightening of the trade and travel rules that Obama eased in his restoration of relations with Havana but which are expected to stop short of breaking diplomatic relations restored in 2015 after more than five decades of hostility. The White House did not respond to a request for comment from News Front.
The policy review, coordinated by the National Security Council, is expected pick up steam now that Trump has returned from his first foreign trip, one administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Donald Trump administration has completed a policy review to determine how far it goes in rolling back former President Barack Obama’s engagement with Cuba and will make an announcement next month, according to current officials and people familiar with the discussions.
Donald Trump had threatened in a tweet shortly after his election in November to “terminate” Obama’s approach unless Cuba made significant concessions, something its Communist leadership is unwilling to consider.
Barack Obama implemented his Cuba restoration measures through executive actions that bypassed Congress, and Trump is believed to have the same power to undo much of it with the stroke of a pen.The White House said in February that Cuba policy was under comprehensive review and that human rights on the island would be a major part of any revised strategy.
The Republican administration has been under heavy pressure from Cuban-American lawmakers such as Senator Marco Rubio and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart to take a much harder line than Trump’s Democratic predecessor. The options under consideration are tightening restrictions on American firms doing business with Cuban state or military enterprises and re-imposing stricter rules on Americans travelling there, according to people familiar with the discussions.