ATimelineoftheU.S.-CubaRelationshipSincetheThaw
December17,2014-Present
Contents
ALookBack:Top10ChangesSincetheThawinU.S.-CubaRelations.......................................................1
TimelineofKeyActions&Accomplishments.............................................................................................2
ALookBack:Top10ChangesInThePastYearofU.S.-CubaRelations
1. PresidentsObamaandCastroannouncerapprochementafterahalf-centuryofhostilerelations.
2. ThefreeflowofinformationontheislandincreasesasCubaexpandsinternetaccessto50areas
acrossthecountry.
3. Morethan25publicopinionpollsshowconsistentmajoritysupportfrombothAmericansand
CubansinsupportofnewCubapoliciesfortradeandtravel.
4. Privateentrepreneurshipsurgesontheislandfueledbyincreasedtravelandremittancesfromthe
UnitedStates.
5. Diplomaticrelationsareofficiallyrestored;embassiesarereopened.
6. CubaandtheU.S.signbilateralaccordsoncivilaviation,environmentalprotection,anddirectmail
service.Diplomaticdiscussionprogressesonissuesofcounternarcotics,migration,propertyclaims,
andhumanrights.
7. Congressbeginstomoveforwardwithlegislationtodismantletheembargo,includinghistoric
bipartisanvotesintheSenateAppropriationsCommitteeonthreeamendmentsfavorabletolifting
sanctionsonCuba.
8. LeadingAmericancompaniesfromacrossindustriesoverwhelminglyexpresspublicinterestin
operatinginCuba.U.S.companiesbegintosignbusinessagreementswithCuba.
9. FiveroundsofU.S.regulatorychangeseaserestrictionsonAmericantravel,exports,andfinancingto
Cuba.
10. TheFirstFamily,cabinetsecretaries,andabipartisancongressionaldelegationtravelCubaonan
officialstatevisit(March2016).
TimelineofKeyActions&Accomplishments
December17,2014:PresidentObamamovestonormalizerelationswithCuba(WashingtonPost).
• Decisionfollows18monthsofsecretnegotiationsbetweenU.S.andCubaandthereleaseof
AmericanaidcontractorAlanGross.
• AnnouncementofplansoverthecomingmonthstoeasetravelandfinancialrestrictionsonCuba.
• PavesthewayforU.S.-Cubatorestorediplomaticties,reopenembassies,andpotentiallyliftthe
embargo.
January16,2015:DepartmentsofCommerceandTreasuryannounceregulatorychangestoCubasanctions
(U.S.DepartmentoftheTreasury).
• TheamendmentsimplementthechangesPresidentObamaannouncedonDecember17,2014.
January20–24,2015:RobertaJacobson,AssistantSecretaryofStateforWesternHemisphereAffairs,
travelstoHavanaforthefirstroundofdiplomaticconversationsbetweentheU.S.andCuba(Miami
Herald).
February27,2015:JosefinaVidal,GeneralDirectorofCuba’sU.S.DivisionintheMinistryofForeignAffairs,
travelstoWashingtonforthesecondroundofdiplomatictalksbetweenthetwocountries(Reuters).
March31,2015:U.S.andCubaholdfirstformaltalksonhumanrights(Reuters).
April8,2015:ApublicopinionpollofCubansontheislandisreleased;showsthatanoverwhelmingmajority
ofCubanssupportanendtotheembargo(WashingtonPost).
• NearlyallCubans(97percentofthosepolled)believenormalizationoftherelationshipbetween
CubaandtheUnitedStatesisgoodforCuba.
April11,2015:PresidentsObamaandCastromeetattheSummitoftheAmericasinPanama(CNN).
• Marksthefirsttimethetwonations'topleadershavesatdownforsubstantivetalksinmorethan50
years.Bothpresidentsagreeitistimetoendtheembargo.
• TheinclusionofCubaintheSummitoftheAmericascomesafterLatinAmericancountriespressured
theUnitedStatestoallowCubatoparticipate.
April20,2015:GovernorAndrewCuomoleadsdelegationtoCuba(NewYorkTimes).
• GovernorAndrewCuomoleadsadelegationofNewYorkbusinessownersandpoliticianstoHavana.
• HisvisitmarksthefirsttimeaU.S.governorhastravelledtotheislandsincetheU.S.andCuba
normalizedrelations.
• ThetripincludesofficialsfromJetBlueAirways,thePlattsburghInternationalAirport,Pfizer,
MasterCard,andthefounderofChobani.
• ThetripleadstoanagreementbetweenCuba’sCenterforMolecularImmunologyandRoswellPark
CancerInstituteinBuffalo,NewYorktoimportalungcancervaccineandbeginclinicaltrialsinthe
UnitedStates(TheHuffingtonPost).
May4,2015:NewCubaPAClaunches(MiamiHerald).
• NewCubaPACpledgestodonatetopoliticalcandidateswhosupportfavorablepolicytowardending
theCubanembargo.
May20,2015:TheCubanInterestsSectioninWashingtonreachesanagreementwithSouthFlorida’s
StonegateBanktoreestablishbankingservices,whichhadbeensuspendedsince2014(Reuters).
May21,2015:Thefourthroundofconversationsregardingthereestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationstakes
placeinWashington(NewYorkTimes).
May29,2015:UnitedStatesremovesCubafromstateterrorsponsorslist(POLITICO).
• PresidentObamainformsCongressofhisdecisioninmid-April;Congresshasa45-dayreviewperiod.
• SomecongressionalRepublicansopposethemove;however,theydonotmakeanyefforttoblock
thedecision.
• Cubahadbeenonthelistsince1982.BeinglistedsubjectsacountrytoU.S.restrictionsonsuch
thingsasforeignaidanddefensesales.
June18,2015:CubaexpandsWi-Fiaccessacrosstheisland(NBCNews).
• 35Wi-Fihotspotsarecreated.
• Previously,Wi-Fiwasonlyavailableattouristhotelsathourlypricesthatwouldamounttonearlya
quarteroftheaveragemonthlysalaryforCubans.
July2015:UnitedStatesrestoresdiplomatictieswithCuba(CNN).
• OnJuly1,PresidentObamaannouncesthattheU.S.andCubawouldreopentheirembassiesnearly
55yearssincetheyfirstclosed.
• OnJuly20,diplomaticrelationsareofficiallyre-established;Cubanembassyholdsflag-raising
ceremonyinWashington.EngageCubahostsprivatedinnerbetweenCubanForeignMinisterBruno
Rodríguez-ParrillaandAmericanbusinessleaders.
• OnJuly22,EngageCubahostsabriefingattheWhiteHousefortheCuban-Americancommunity
aboutU.S.-Cubarelations.
July23,2015:SenateAppropriationsCommitteeapprovesthreeamendmentsfavorabletoliftingsanctions
onCuba(Reuters).
• TheamendmentswouldendrestrictionsontraveltoCuba,allowprivatefinancingforagricultural
salestoCuba,andliftrestrictionsonshipsdockingatCubanports.
August14,2015:SecretaryofStateJohnKerrypresidesovertheflag-raisingceremonyatAmericanembassy
inHavana(BBC).
• Sec.Kerry’svisitmarksthefirsttimein70yearsthataU.S.SecretaryofStatehasvisitedCuba.
September11,2015andNovember6,2015:Cuba-U.S.SteeringCommitteeholdsitsfirstandsecond
meetingsinHavanaandWashington,D.C.,respectively(MiamiHerald).
• Thecommittee,firstannouncedbySecretaryofStateJohnKerryandCubaForeignMinisterBruno
RodriguezduringtheopeningoftheU.S.embassyinHavanainAugust,meetstodiscuss
opportunitiesforcooperationbetweentheU.S.andCubaonissuesincludingdirectmailservice,
humanrights,environmentalprotection,andhumantrafficking.
September18,2015:ObamaadministrationfurthereasestravelandbusinessrestrictionsagainstCuba
(WallStreetJournal).
• TheannouncementexpandstelecommunicationopportunitiesinCubaandallowscertainAmerican
businessestoestablishofficesandbankaccountsontheisland.
• CubanbusinessesandresidentsarenowabletosetupofficesandbankaccountsintheUnited
States.
September19,2015:PopeFrancisarrivesinCuba(AlJazeera).
• ThePopevisitsCubabeforecomingtotheUnitedStates.Duringhisvisit,helaudsthenormalization
processbetweenthetwocountries.
September2015:Telecommunicationscontractsbegintobesignedontheisland.
• VerizonbeginstooffervoiceanddataroaminginCubathroughathirdparty(CNBC).
•
SprintsignsaninterconnectionagreementwithCuba'sstatetelecomsmonopolyEtecsa(WallStreet
Journal).
September28,2015:GovernorAsaHutchinsonleadsArkansasdelegationtoCuba(Reuters).
• GovernorAsaHutchinsonasksCongresstoliftrestrictionsthatpreventU.S.foodcompaniesfrom
sellingtoCubaoncredit.
• In2000,theU.S.authorizedcash-onlyagriculturalexportstoCuba,whichbrought$30millionin
salestoArkansasannually.SinceCubapreferstobuyoncredit,saleshavefallen.
September29,2015:PresidentsObamaandCastromeetonthesidelinesoftheUnitedNationsGeneral
Assembly(ABCNews).
• Forthefirsttimeinmorethan60years,aU.S.presidentmeetswithaCubanpresidentonU.S.soil.
October6,2015:SecretaryofCommercePritzkermakesofficialtriptoCuba(NewYorkTimes).
• Sec.PennyPritzkerbecomesthesecondU.S.cabinetofficialtovisittheislandsinceFidelCastro's
1959revolution.
• Sec.PritzkertoursMariel,thesiteofa$1billioninvestmenttocreateamajorshippinghubinCuba.
October14,2015:NinestategovernorssignontobipartisanlettersupportingendtoCubanembargo
(AL.com).
• ThegovernorsofAlabama,California,Idaho,Minnesota,Montana,Pennsylvania,Vermont,Virginia
andWashingtonwritelettertoCongressionalleadershiphighlightingtheharmthattheembargohas
donetoAmericanagricultureexports.
October27,2015:DeputySecretaryofHomelandSecurityAlejandroMayorkasvisitsCubatodiscusssecurity
andtradeissueswithCubangovernmentofficials(LosAngelesTimes).
•Mayorkasbecomesthehighestcabinet-levelsecretaryofCubandescenttovisitthecountry.
November2,2015:Cubahostsannualinternationaltradefair(Reuters).
• Itisestimatedthat50U.S.companiesattendthefair.
November18,2015:U.S.andCubasignhistoricenvironmentalpact(AssociatedPress).
• Theagreementmarksthefirstaccordbetweenthetwocountriessincetheannouncementthatthey
wouldbenormalizingdiplomaticrelations.
• Theaccordwillprotectnearbyfishandmarinelifelivingoffthecoastsofbothcountriesandallow
U.S.andCubanscientiststocollaborateonresearch.
• Cuba’smarineecosystemisconsideredoneofthebestpreservedandmostdiverseintheworld.
November19,2015:DebitcardsbecomeavailableforuseinCuba(USAToday).
• MasterCardandStonegateBank(basedinFt.Lauderdale)announcethattheircardsarenowactive
foruseinhotels,restaurantsandotherstoresinCuba.
• TheybecomethefirstfinancialinstitutionstotakeadvantageofnewbusinessopeningswithCuba.
• AmericanstravellingtoCubawillbeabletousethesecardsat10,000merchantsthatacceptthe
cards.
November29,2015:GovernorGregAbbottleadsadelegationofTexasagricultureandportsofficialsand
localbusinessestoCuba(DallasMorningNews).
December8,2015:U.S.andCubaholdthefirstroundofdiscussionsonmutualpropertyclaims(WallStreet
Journal).
•
ThetwogovernmentsbeginnegotiationsoverU.S.individuals’andcompanies’propertiesthatwere
seizedafterthe1959revolution;Cubaalsopresentscounterclaimsofeconomicdamagesstemming
fromtheembargo.
December11,2015:U.S.andCubamovetore-establishdirectmailservice(WashingtonPost).
• TheagreementbetweentheStateDepartmentandCubanofficialswillestablishapilotprogramto
providedirectmailflightsbetweentheU.S.andCuba.
• Previously,allmailbetweenthetwocountrieswasdeliveredthroughathirdcountry.
• Ifthepilotprogramissuccessful,thetwocountrieswilldiscussexpandingitpermanently.
December16,2015:TheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesformsthebipartisanCubaWorkingGroup(POLITICO).
• TenbipartisanmembersoftheHouseofRepresentativescometogethertovoicetheirsupportfor
endingtheCubanembargo.
• ThemembersofCongresswhohavejoinedtheworkinggrouprepresentawidearrayofindustries,
includingagriculture,manufacturing,andtourism,thatwouldbenefitfrombusinessrelationswith
Cuba.
December17,2015:Ontheone-yearanniversaryofPresidentObama’sannouncementtonormalize
relationswithCuba,thetwocountriesagreetostartcommercialflights(ABCNews).
• U.S.airlineswillnowbeabletonegotiatedirectlywiththeCubangovernmenttoplanroutestothe
island.
• EstablishingdirectflightswillbringthousandsofdailyvisitorstoCubaandhelpspureconomic
developmentrelationsbetweenthetwocountries.
• TheStateDepartmentannouncesthatauthorizedtravelbyAmericanstoCubahasincreased50%
sincethereestablishmentofdiplomaticrelationsbetweenthetwocountries.
December18,2015:U.S.governmentappropriationsfundingbillpassesonabipartisanvotewithoutany
restrictionsonU.S.-Cubapolicy,despitethreatsfromsomeHouseRepublicans(RollCall).
January3,2016:VirginiaGovernorTerryMcAuliffetravelstoCubawitha30-memberdelegationof
businessesandeducationalinstitutions(WashingtonPost).
• VirginiaCommonwealthUniversityandtheUniversityofHavanasignamemorandumof
understandingforacademicexchangeprogramsandresearchcollaboration–thefirstforaVirginia
university.
• OfficialsfromthePortofVirginiaandthePortofMarielformallypledgeaworkingrelationship.
January26,2016:U.S.DepartmentsofTreasuryandCommerceannounceathirdroundofregulatory
changesintrade,exports,andtravelwithCuba(Reuters).
• ThenewmeasuresmakeiteasierforU.S.companiestofilmmovies,financeexportsanddobusiness
withCubaonpublicinfrastructureprojects.
January31,2016:Cubanstatetelecommunicationscompanyannouncesitwilllaunchitsfirstbroadband
homeInternetservice(CBSNews).
• Restaurants,bars,andcafeswillalsobeeligibletoapplyforservice.
• 30moreWi-Fihotspotswillbeaddedin2016.
• TheCubangovernment’sgoalistoreach50%householdbroadbandpenetrationand60%mobile
penetrationby2020.
March15,2016:U.S.DepartmentsofTreasuryandCommerceannounceafourthroundofregulatory
changesinfinancialservices,exports,andtravelwithCuba(NewYorkTimes).
• “People-to-people”travelforU.S.citizenscanbedoneonanindividualbasis.
•
•
Authorizedfinancialtransactionsareexpanded(e.g.,useofUSdollar,U-turnpayments).
CubannationalscanopenU.S.bankaccounts.
March15,2016:FirstdirectmailservicebetweentheU.S.andCubaresumes(USAToday).
• TheU.S.PostalServicenowoffersfull-rangeservice.
• PresidentObama’slettertoa76-year-oldCubanwomanisamongthefirstbatchofmail.
March20-22,2016:TheFirstFamilyoftheUnitedStatesvisitsCubaonanofficialstatevisit(NewYork
Times).
• AbipartisancongressionaldelegationaccompaniesPresidentObama.
• BusinessdealsbetweenU.S.companiessuchasStarwoodandGeneralElectricarestruckwithCuban
counterparts.
• PresidentsObamaandCastrogiveremarksandanswerquestionsatjointpressconference.
• PresidentCastrohostsanofficialstatedinner.
• PresidentObamameetswithCubandissidents,civilsocietyorganizations,andCubanentrepreneurs.
• FirstLadyMichelleObamatourslocalartspacesandspeakswithuniversitystudents.
• PresidentObamadeliversaspeechattheNationalTheaterinHavana,whichisbroadcastonnational
Cubantelevisionandradio.
• TheFirstFamily,theU.S.congressionaldelegation,Americanbusinessleaders,andCuban
governmentofficialsattendanexhibitionbaseballgamebetweentheTampaBayRaysandthe
CubanNationalTeam.
May2,2016:CarnivalCruiseLine’sAdoniashipbecomesthefirstcruisetodockinCubainnearly40years
(CBSNews).
• TheCubangovernmentdroppedalongstandingbanonCuban-bornpeoplereturningtotheir
homelandbysea,astepthatallowed16Cuban-AmericanstomakethejourneyfromMiami.
• CarnivalCruiseLine–amemberofEngageCuba’sBusinessCouncil–useditsFathombrandtobring
704passengersundera“people-to-people”travellicense.
May16,2016:TheU.S.andCubaholdafourthroundofofficialdiplomaticdiscussionsinHavana(Reuters).
• Thecountriesaimtoreachnewagreementsoncooperationinlawenforcement,healthand
agricultureoverthecomingmonths.
• Thetwosidesdiscussedholdingfuturedialoguesonhumanrightsandpropertyclaims.
May24,2016:TheCubangovernmentannouncesitsplantolegalizesmallandmedium-sizedprivate
businesses(AssociatedPress).
• Thedecisionispartofamasterplanforsocialandeconomicdevelopmentapprovedduringthe
CubanCommunistPartyCongressinApril2016.
• Thegovernmentcurrentlyallowsprivateenterprisebyself-employedworkersinseveralhundredjob
categories.
June10,2016:TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportationauthorizessixU.S.airlinestoscheduleroundtripflights
fromtheU.S.toCuba(NPR).
• ThepassengerflightsareapprovedforninecitiesoutsideofHavanaandareexpectedtostartinfall
2016.
June13,2016:U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices(HHS)andtheCubangovernmentsigna
memorandumofunderstandingtoencouragecooperationonhealthmatters(TheHuffingtonPost).
• HHSSecretarySylviaMathewsBurwellandCubanMinisterofPublicHealthRobertoMoralesOjeda
meetinWashington,DCandagreetoworktogetheronglobalhealthissues,includinginfectious
diseaseslikeZika,andthemedicalchallengesthatcomewithagingpopulations.
June16,2016:U.S.SenateFinancialServicesCommitteeapprovesfourCuba-relatedamendmentsinfavorof
liftingthetravelbanandtradeembargo(USAToday).
• AmendmentsregardingAmericantraveltoCuba,theextensionofcredittoCubaforagricultural
goods,U.S.telecommunicationscompaniesinCuba,andtransportregulationsarepassed.
June20,2016:U.S.SmallBusinessAdministration(SBA)ChiefMariaContreras-SweetvisitsHavana(Cuba
Headlines).
• Contreras-SweetmeetswithCubanForeignTradeandInvestmentMinisterRodrigoMalmiercaand
withCubandeputyministersfromtheDomesticTradeandLaborandSecurityMinistries.
July7,2016:TheU.S.DepartmentofTransportationawardseightairlinesflightroutestoHavana(USA
Today).
• Thedecisiongives10U.S.airportsatleastoneweeklynon-stopflighttotheCubancapital.
July13,2016:TheU.S.StateDepartmentandtheCubanMinistryofForeignAffairsholdathirdroundof
regulatorydialogueinHavana(Xinhua).
• Thedialoguefocusesonmigratoryissues.
July28,2016:TheU.S.andCubaholdasecondofficialroundoftalksinWashingtononclaims(WallStreet
Journal).
• Thetalksmarkanacceleratednegotiationprocesstosettletheclaims.
August31,2016:ThefirstU.S.passengerflighttoCubainoverfiftyyearstoCubalandsinSantaClara
(Fortune).
• TransportationSecretaryAnthonyFoxxisamongthepassengersonboardJetBlueAirwaysFlight387.
September12,2016:TheUnitedStatesandCubaholdtheinauguralEconomicDialogueinWashington,D.C.
(StateDepartment).
• Thedelegationsdiscusstradeandinvestment,laborandemployment,renewableenergyandenergy
efficiency,smallbusiness,intellectualpropertyrights,economicpolicy,regulatoryandbanking
matters,andtelecommunicationsandinternetaccess.
September14,2016:FloridaInternationalUniversityreleasesapollofMiamiCubansshowingstrongsupport
forU.S.policyofnormalizationwithCuba(WLRN).
• Thepollshowsalmosttwo-thirds,or64percent,ofMiami-Dade’sCubancohortbacknormalization.
• 69percentbackre-establishmentofdiplomaticyrelations.
• 63percentnowopposetheembargo,thehighestlevelofsupportforliftingtheembargosincethe
FIUpollbeganin1997.
September30,2016:TheU.S.andCubaholdthefourthBilateralCommissioninWashington,DC(Cuba
BusinessJournal).
• TheCubandelegationischairedbythedirectorgeneralfortheU.S.intheMinistryofForeignAffairs,
JosefinaVidalFerreiro;theU.S.delegationischairedbytheStateDepartment’sAssistantSecretary
fortheWesternHemisphereMariCarmenAponte.
• TheU.S.andCubandelegationsdiscussthewayforwardonissuessuchasagriculture,health,
environmentalprotection,economicengagement,scienceandtechnology,civilaviation,regulatory
affairs,claims,cultureandeducation,lawenforcement,nonproliferation,traffickinginpersons,
humanrights,maritimeborders,andmigration.
TimelineofEngageCubaKeyActions&Accomplishments
June16,2015:EngageCubaofficiallylaunches(NewYorkTimes).
• EngageCubareleasestelevisionadonCNBC,FoxNewsandMSNBCcallingonCongresstoendthe
embargo.
November17,2015:EngageCubapartnerswiththeAtlanticCounciltoreleaseapollfromAmerica’s
“Heartland”votersprofilingtheiropinionsonCuba(Reuters).
• Thepoll’sfindingsshowbipartisansupportin“Heartland”states–Iowa,Ohio,Indiana,and
Tennessee–forrestoringdiplomaticrelationswithCuba,liftingthetravelbanandendingthe
embargo.
December7,2015:EngageCubalaunchesTennesseeStateCouncil(TheTennessean).
February17,2016:EngageCubalaunchesOhioStateCouncil(Crain’sCleveland).
February25,2016:EngageCubalaunchesLouisianaStateCouncil(TheAdvocate).
March28,2016:EngageCubalaunchesMinnesotaStateCouncil(CBSMinnesota).
April11,2016:EngageCubalaunchesArkansasStateCouncil(ArkansasDemocrat-Gazette).
May23,2016:EngageCubalaunchesGeorgiaStateCouncil(SoutheastFarmPress).
June3,2016:EngageCubalaunchesIowaStateCouncil(IowaRadio).
June16,2016:EngageCubalaunchesTexasStateCouncil(WacoTribune-Herald).
June28,2016:EngageCubalaunchesAlabamaStateCouncil(AL.com).
June29,2016:EngageCubalaunchesMississippiStateCouncil(AssociatedPress).
July7,2016:EngageCubalaunchesIdahoStateCouncil(AssociatedPress).
August2,2016:EngageCubalaunchesColoradoStateCouncil(DenverPost).
August3,2016:EngageCubalaunchesNewMexicoStateCouncil(AlbuquerqueJournal).
September19,2016:EngageCubalaunchesKansasStateCouncil(TheWichitaEagle).
September19,2016:EngageCubalaunchesMissouriStateCouncil(TheKansasCityStar).