City Council Calls for An End to U.S. Embargo Against Cuba

During this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo against Cuba and opening up of new travel and collaborative cultural, medical and academic opportunities between the two countries.

Since March 14, 1958, the United States has maintained the most enduring trade embargo against Cuba in our nation's history. On December 17, 2014, President Barack Obama and former Cuban President Raul Castro executed an agreement to re-establish diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest. Despite executive decisions by President Obama easing some restrictive regulations, the central portions of the embargo affecting trade and travel continue in force.

The resolution states that, “full restoration of trade and travel between the two countries would be of great benefit to both, particularly in the areas of economic opportunities, education, health care, tourism, the arts, music, and sports, along with medical and biotechnological research, especially in relationship to COVID-19.”

The Council and the Massachusetts State Legislature strongly urge the Massachusetts Representatives and Senators in the United States Congress to promulgate and pass legislation that will finally end the unsuccessful and harmful 59-year-old economic, financial, and commercial embargo, as well as the travel restrictions on U.S. citizens and residents to Cuba, and Cuban citizens to the United States.