Embargo Still Stands in the Way
Washington, DC – Today, USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) commended the Obama Administration’s decision to remove Cuba from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
“We welcome the Administration’s decision to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism as a positive step toward normalizing U.S. relations with Cuba,” said Jake Colvin, Vice President, Global Trade Issues, NFTC. “As we move closer to a more open, commercial relationship with Cuba, American businesses and consumers, as well as the Cuban people, are realizing new opportunities that will benefit both economies. The latest example is Airbnb’s entry into Cuba.”
“On the heels of the bilateral meeting Presidents Obama and Castro held on the sidelines of the Summit of the Americas, today’s announcement is an encouraging sign of the Administration’s commitment to modernize U.S.-Cuba policy,” said Richard Sawaya, Vice President, USA*Engage. “But this is just one step. The embargo has long stood in the way of what would be a mutually beneficial relationship for both the United States and Cuba. Lifting the embargo is not only long over due, but crucial to restarting the U.S.-Cuba relationship as one made for the 21st century.”
In a recent blog post, Sawaya lays out the arguments for lifting the embargo against Cuba, which USA*Engage and NFTC have long advocated.
About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.
About the NFTC
National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 
