It’s been more than 50 years since the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Cuba. Now, Sen. Angus King and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, would like to lift the trade embargo with the country just 90 miles off Florida’s coast.
The two have introduced a bill that would allow the private sector to trade goods and services with Cuba. They are also sponsoring a bill to loosen travel restrictions to the country. Currently U.S. citizens could be fined thousands of dollars for traveling to Cuba if their reasons for travel don’t meet certain guidelines.
The bills come after years of easing tensions. The U.S. has plans to open an embassy in Havana, and President Barack Obama’s administration recently crossed Cuba off a list of state sponsors of terrorism.
But 55 years ago, Fidel Castro was nationalizing all foreign assets in Cuba, raising taxes on American imports and establishing trade deals with the Soviet Union. See all the changes in the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba by scrolling through this timeline by the Council on Foreign Relations. Click on the horizontal arrows beneath the image slider.
