On June 16 2017, President Trump announced changes to the United
States' economic sanctions against Cuba. This article provides
a brief synopsis of the announced changes and potential impact.
It is important to note that the announced changes may not be as
comprehensive as they may appear at first glance. The changes
were announced via a Presidential Memorandum ("the
Memorandum"). Most of the Cuba relaxation that was
accomplished under the Obama administration remains. All 12 general
licenses outlining "authorized travel" to Cuba remain.
The U.S. embassy will continue operations in Havana.
The new changes will prohibit "direct financial
transactions" with a specific list of entities linked to the
Cuban military, intelligence, and security services. This
restriction specifically covers Grupo de Administracion Empresarial
S.A. ("GAESA"), which is said to control at least 60% of
the Cuban economy. However, it is unclear if "indirect"
transactions will also be
