President Barack Obama kept in his hands the course of US policy toward Cuba on Friday, when renewed the Trade Act of 1917 with the Enemy. The legislation, approved by the Federal Congress on October 6 of that distant year, gives the president the power to restrict trade with countries 'hostile' to the United States and the possibility of economic sanctions in wartime or in any other period of national emergency, and prohibits trading with the enemy or allies of the enemy during armed conflicts.
President Barack Obama kept in his hands the course of US policy toward Cuba on Friday, when renewed the Trade Act of 1917 with the Enemy. The legislation, approved by the Federal Congress on October 6 of that distant year, gives the president the power to restrict trade with countries 'hostile' to the United States and the possibility of economic sanctions in wartime or in any other period of national emergency, and prohibits trading with the enemy or allies of the enemy during armed conflicts.
Under this law, the oldest of its kind, are the Regulations adopted for the Cuban Assets Control in 1963, after it was declared the blockade against Cuba in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy.
The Greater Antilles is the only country for which this legislation is in force in 2008 after it was suspended for North Korea. Other countries like China and Vietnam were also subject to the application of this legislation in the past.
Although the White House never declared a national emergency with respect to the Caribbean nation since 1959, successive US presidents extended the regulations.
However, with this measure Obama maintains his executive authority to relax sanctions against Cuba in bilateral normalization process by executive decree.
In a communication sent to the Secretaries of State and Treasury, Obama explained his decision to extend for one year the rules, until September 14, 2016, it is "in the national interest" of the United States.
The step taken by Obama could be misinterpreted in the current context of rapprochement between the two countries as a harmful action.
However, this measure Obama maintains his executive authority to relax sanctions against Cuba in bilateral normalization process by executive decree.
Legal experts say the action maximizes flexibility in managing the blockade of Cuba and authorize certain actions to pursue its policy of restructuring of relations until Congress removes rule on whether the aggressive policies.
Most Americans, including Republicans, are in favor of abolishing the laws of economic, financial and commercial blockade that Washington has maintained against the Cuban people.
According to Peter Boogaard, a spokesman for the National Security Council, was quoted by the media, Obama believes the Legislature should lift the blockade against Cuba and meanwhile advanced measures to 'normalize relations'.
Meanwhile, the Law on Trading with the Enemy is all that gives the president the executive activity to relax the blockade against Cuba, believes Robert Muse, an attorney considered the leading expert on US law regarding the island.
Source: PL