United States Extends Trade Restrictions on Cuba for Another Year

WASHINGTON, August 25. /TASS/. The United States has extended trade restrictions on Cuba for another year, according to a statement by US President Donald Trump published in the Federal Register, the official journal of the US government.

"I hereby determine that the continuation for 1 year of the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States," Trump said. The trade embargo, which was due to expire on September 14, has thus been extended through September 14, 2027.

The United States severed diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1961 after US-owned property on the island was nationalized and subsequently imposed a trade and economic embargo. In December 2014, then-US President Barack Obama acknowledged that Washington's previous policy toward Havana had failed and announced steps toward normalizing bilateral relations and easing sanctions. In 2015, the Obama administration removed Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The rapprochement between the two countries stalled after Republican Donald Trump took office in January 2017. He tightened travel rules for US nationals visiting Cuba and prohibited business dealings with organizations controlled by the Cuban military. The Trump administration also redesignated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

On March 5, Trump said Washington planned to determine its next steps toward Cuba after the operation against Iran ends. On February 27, the White House chief said that the United States could take control of Cuba. Politico reported on May 18 that the US government was increasingly leaning toward using military force against Cuba. In an interview with Axios in June, the US president did not rule out an operation to change Cuba's leadership.