If this initiative is to move forward in any form from diplomatic relations to some sort of trade expansion over the next two years (the duration of the remaining years of Obama's term as well as the 114th Congress), it will be a complex political and policy process.With President Obama's announcement of his intent to "chart a new course on Cuba," there are a number of policy issues to be considered including: The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 Helms/Burton legislation in 1996 Both of the above codified the embargo into statute. Thus, either the president's initiative would have to leverage democratic reforms in Cuba in order to trigger a review of the law or Congress must change the statute under these two legislative initiatives. With...

TAGS – North America