Tillerson signals tough Trump
administration stance on Cuba
Send a link to a friend
[June 14, 2017]
By Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of
State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday a policy of engagement with Cuba has
financially benefited the island's government in violation of U.S. law,
further fueling expectations that President Donald Trump this week will
roll back parts of former President Barack Obama’s opening to Havana.
Speaking ahead of Trump’s expected trip to Miami on Friday to announce
his new Cuba policy, Tillerson insisted that Havana "must begin to
address human rights challenges" if it wants Washington to continue
normalizing relations between the Cold War-era foes.
Tillerson, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
acknowledged that rapprochement with the communist-ruled island has led
to an increase in U.S. visitors and U.S. business ties.
However, Tillerson added: "We think we have achieved very little in
terms of changing the behavior of the regime in Cuba .... and it has
little incentive today to change that."
His comments came as Trump’s aides sought to finalize rules that,
according to U.S. officials and people familiar with the discussions,
are likely to bar U.S. trade with Cuban enterprises linked to the
military – which controls a large part of the economy – and tighten some
rules on Americans traveling there.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/14/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
But the new policy will stop short of closing embassies or breaking off
relations re-established in 2015 after more than five decades of
hostility, the sources said.
In his speech, Trump is expected to claim fulfillment of a campaign
promise to the Cuban-American community to tighten the screws on the
government of Cuban President Raul Castro.
While Tillerson declined to confirm any details, he left no doubt that
the Trump administration was prepared to undo some pieces of Obama’s
policy that it sees as boosting the Cuban government financially, which
would violate U.S. law.
“As we're developing these business relationships and as we're enjoying
the benefits on the economic and development side, are we inadvertently
or directly providing financial support to the regime? Our view is we
are,” Tillerson said.
“And the question is ... how how do we bring that back into compliance
with longstanding statutory obligations” he said.
"DARK SIDE"
Many of Trump's fellow Republicans, and some Democrats, objected to
Obama's policy shift, saying he gave too much for too few concessions
from Cuba. But Obama’s measures have proven popular with the public,
U.S. businesses and many lawmakers from both parties.
Tillerson agreed that moves toward more normal relations with the United
States have helped some Cubans lift themselves out of poverty and
provided opportunities for U.S. companies.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/14/images/ads/current/ldn_business_directory_small_2016.png)
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/061417pics/news_u41.jpg)
A man sits in his apartment across from the U.S. embassy in Havana,
Cuba June 13, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/14/images/ads/current/brickey_lda_061314.png)
However, Tillerson said there is a "dark side" to relations with
Cuba, noting that the government in Havana continues to jail
political opponents and harass dissidents.
"We are supportive of the continued economic development, as long as
it is done in full compliance with our existing statutes to not
provide financial support to the regime," Tillerson said. "That's
the focus of our current policy review."
But divisions remain within the Trump administration over how far to
go.
Some aides have argued that Trump, a former real estate magnate who
won the presidency promising to unleash U.S. business and create
jobs, would have a hard time defending any moves that close off the
Cuban market.
But other advisers have contended that it is important to make good
on a promise to Cuban-Americans whose support they considered
significant in winning Florida in the 2016 election. Miami is home
to the largest Cuban-American community.
One proposal under consideration, according to the U.S. sources,
would tighten enforcement to make sure Americans legally fit the
authorized categories they claim to be traveling under.
Another tougher change being weighed would revert to regulations
requiring at least some types of U.S. travelers to seek a special
license to travel to Cuba.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2017/Jun/14/images/ads/current/pacesetter_lda_041116.png)
However, airline officials say they do not expect the Trump
administration to revoke any flights to Cuba approved by the Obama
administration but said new measures to restrict visits to Cuba
could result in less demand for seats.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Matt Spetalnick; Additional
reporting by David Shepardson and Arshad Mohammed; Editing by James
Dalgleish and Lisa Shumaker)
[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |