US-Cuban relations: Obama fights Congress and encourages a lift on 53-year-old embargo

Obama and Castro begin talks

The United States has been veering toward implementing new rules to the restrictions of trade, travel and investment with Cuba. Further discussions with Cuban President Raul Castro continue.

MUNTINLUPA CITY, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - New rules attached to the restrictions existing between the United States and Cuba were released last Friday. The rules were set to further simplify the trade, travel and investment restrictions between Cuba and the United States. However, Cuban President Raul Castro is still reaching out to Barack Obama to lift economic embargo restrictions. 

A rare phone call between the two leaders followed the implementation of changes in the economic and trade restrictions in Cuba that allows certain US companies to establish offices in Cuba and expand banking and internet activities in the country. The elimination of money limits taken from the US to Cuba has also been altered by the new restrictions, according to US officials.
Despite President Raul Castro's appeal, the 53-year-old US embargo remains intact. Congress holds the power to remove the embargo but has refused to do so. 
Obama defied critics in Congress when he used his executive powers to implement new rules that will boost businesses and promote economic and political reform in Cuba. 

Critics of the US President continue to slam the move and see it as a reward to Cuba. The changes, despite their significance, were stopped short from allowing across-the-board investment by US companies and general U.S. tourism, both of which remain banned by the embargo.
A "normal" relationship between Cuba and the US has not existed for nearly half a century -not since the Cuba 1959 revolution. However, the recent restored diplomatic ties between the two countries have reopened embassies between the two countries earlier this summer.

READ ABOUT POPE FRANCIS' VISIT TO CUBA HERE

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