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 U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue, a longtime
opponent of the embargo, said Republican opposition to removing Cuba
sanctions could be overcome before the next presidential campaign.
U.S. President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has eased parts of the
embargo as part of his recent opening to Cuba and has asked Congress
to work toward overturning it, but he faces opposition from the
Republican leadership in both houses.
"I'm not worried about Republicans," Donohue told Chamber members
and reporters in Panama, where he is attending a business event
ahead of a Summit of the Americas that brings together regional
leaders, including Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro.
"We're going to get it done before that," he said, referring to the
presidential election.
When asked if he was saying Congress would lift the embargo before
the next president takes office in January 2017, he said, "I don't
make those kind of predictions, but there's a lot of time ... I have
some hope that this thing can move in a pretty orderly manner."
The Chamber has long opposed the U.S. embargo against Cuba as
government interference in the private sector.
Under the embargo, U.S. companies have been banned from doing
business with the communist-led island, which trades with the rest
of the world.
It was imposed in 1962 amid Cold War tensions and was supported by
nine U.S. presidents until Obama reset Cuba policy with the
announcement in December that the two longtime adversaries would
restore full diplomatic ties and seek to normalize overall
relations.
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Critics of Obama's policy shift say the embargo should remain in
force because of Cuba's human rights record.
Donohue visited Havana in May and is constantly in contact with
power brokers in Washington.
He warned U.S. businesses that lifting the embargo would not assure
them a place on the island, as any hopefuls would still need to
reach a deal with the Cuban government.
"Nobody's going to hand America the business. You've got to compete
for the business that's the opportunity we haven't had down there,"
Donohue said.
(Corrects spelling of Donohue throughout)
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Kieran Murray)
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