US: Obama extends Cuba embargo 1 year
Tue Sep 15 04:02:52 EST 2009
Mon Sep 14 18:02:52 UTC 2009
WASHINGTON, Sept 14 AP - President Barack Obama has extended the US trade embargo on Cuba for one year, the White House said in a statement released on Monday.
The extension was expected and has been the practice of all US presidents dating to the 1970s under a section of the so-called "Trading With the Enemy Act."
Obama extended the embargo even though he has made reaching out to old US foes a key plank in his foreign policy.
There have been signs of a possible thaw in US-Cuban ties since Raul Castro early last year took over as president from his brother, Fidel, who was in failing health and surrendered the leadership post he had held since heading the revolution that ousted the US-backed Batista regime on January 1, 1959.
In signing the extension, Obama was taking a symbolic step because existing law, the Helms-Burton Act, requires Congress to take action specifically ending the embargo.
But in signing the extension Obama also bypassed an opportunity to suggest a willingness for easing US-Cuban animosity.
The White House statement renewing the provisions was dated September 11 but only released on Monday, when the last extension, issued by former President George W. Bush, was to expire.
"I hereby determine that the continuation for one year of the exercise of those authorities with respect to Cuba is in the national interest of the United States," Obama said in a memorandum addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
