White House Plans to Remove Cuba From Terror List
President Barack Obama initiated a 45-day Congressional review process to remove Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. That review period is required by U.S. law, said the White House in a statement (here). Obama sent a memo to Congress confirming the Cuban government has not supported terrorism over the past six-months. Cuba also vowed to not support terrorism in the future, Obama's memo said. “After a careful review of Cuba’s record, which was informed by the Intelligence Community, as well as assurances provided by the Cuban government, the Secretary of State concluded that Cuba met the conditions for rescinding its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism,” the White House said. “The Secretary of State therefore recommended that the President make and submit to Congress the statutorily-required report and certification.”
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
Sanctions experts recently warned the removal won’t result in immediate sanctions relief (see 1504090066). The National Foreign Trade Council applauded the decision following the announcement. "The embargo has long stood in the way of what would be a mutually beneficial relationship for both the United States and Cuba," said Richard Sawaya, vice president of USA*Engage in an emailed statement. "Lifting the embargo is not only long overdue, but crucial to restarting the U.S.-Cuba relationship as one made for the 21st century.”