New York, 29 August 2016.The economic, commercial and financial Embargo against Cuba remains in force. The restrictions imposed by this policy continue to be applied.
In spite of the measures adopted by President Barack Obama since December 17th, 2014 and his repeated calls on Congress to lift the blockade, the main laws and regulations supporting the Embargo against Cuba, continue to be in force and are being applied rigorously by U.S. government agencies, especially by the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce, and in particular by OFAC.
During 2015 and 2016, the Departments of the Treasury and Commerce of the United States made several amendments to the Embargo’s regulations. These, despite being positive steps, are not enough.
In March 2016, during his visit to Cuba, President Barack Obama acknowledged once more that the “Embargo” policy towards the Island is obsolete and must be eliminated. In his speech at the Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso on March 22nd, President Obama stressed in reference to the “Embargo” that it “only harms the Cuban people instead of helping them” and he again called on the U.S. Congress to put an end to this policy.
Despite the new scenario, on September 11th 2015 President Obama again renewed sanctions against Cuba under the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 constituting the foundation for the laws and regulations that make up the Embargo, alleging foreign policy interests.
The economic repercussions on the Cuban people due to the application of the Embargo of the United States against Cuba, from April 2015 to April 2016, amount to $753,688,000,000. Since this policy began to be applied over 50 years ago, the Embargo has caused damages for over $125,873,000,000 at current prices.
The economic, commercial and financial Embargo against Cuba continues causing damage to the Cuban people. It should never have existed and it must cease once and for all. (Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations).