The United States maintains a comprehensive economic embargo on the Republic of Cuba. In February 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed an embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba, in response to certain actions taken by the Cuban Government, and directed the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury to implement the embargo, which remains in place today.
On June 16, 2017, President Trump issued a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba. On November 8, 2017, the Departments of State, Commerce, and the Treasury announced certain changes to implement President Trump’s June 2017 NSPM. For additional information, please visit the relevant links below and the Cuba Restricted List.
Releases
- 01/15/2021: United States Places Global Magnitsky Sanctions on the Cuban Ministry of Interior and Its Minister; Washington, DC
- 01/15/2021: Treasury Sanctions the Cuban Ministry of the Interior and Its Leader for Serious Human Rights Abuse ; Washington, DC
- 09/23/2020: Announcement of the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List; Washington, DC
- 09/06/2019: United States Restricts Remittances and “U-Turn” Transactions to Cuba; Washington, DC
- 09/06/2019 Treasury Issues Changes To Strengthen Cuba Sanctions Rules ; Washington, DC
- 07/26/2019: State Department Updates the Cuba Restricted List; Washington, DC
- 06/04/2019: United States Restricts Travel and Vessels to Cuba; Washington, DC
- 06/04/2019: Treasury and Commerce Implement Changes to Cuba Sanctions Rules ; Washington, DC
- 03/11/2019: State Department Updates the Cuba Restricted List; Washington, DC
- 11/14/2018: State Department Updates the Cuba Restricted List; Washington, DC
- 11/08/2017: Fact Sheet: Treasury, Commerce, and State Implement Changes to the Cuba Sanctions Rules
- 06/16/2017: Remarks by President Trump on the Policy of the United States Towards Cuba
- 06/16/2017: White House Fact Sheet on Cuba Policy ; Washington, DC
- 06/15/2017: White House Background Briefing on the President’s Cuba Policy ; Washington, DC
Please visit the state.gov archive to view material related to Cuba Sanctions from prior to January 21, 2017.
Executive Orders
Legislation
- Trade Sanctions and Export Enhancement Act of 2000
- Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996
- Cuban Democracy Act of 1992
- Sections 5 and 16 of the Trading With the Enemy Act
- Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2370(a)(1)-(a)(2))
Presidential Memoranda
Regulations
- 09/09/2019 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 06/05/2019: Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 06/05/2019: Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- 11/08/2017 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 11/08/2017 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- 10/17/2016 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 10/17/2016 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- 03/15/2016 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 03/15/2016 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- 09/21/2015 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 09/21/2015 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- 07/22/2015 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations (Cuba: Implementing Rescission of State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation)
- 06/15/2015 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations; Terrorism List Government Sanctions Regulations
- 01/16/2015 Amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations
- 01/16/2015 Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations
- Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR Part 515
- Export Administration Regulations, 31 CFR Part 746.2
Section 515.582: Authorized Importations Into the United States From Independent Cuban Entrepreneurs
- 04/22/2016 The State Department’s Section 515.582 List
- 04/22/2016 Fact Sheet: U.S. Department of State Section 515.582 List
- 02/24/2015 CBP Public Notice on Process for Imports from Cuba