Cuba Trade Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3238
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6]
Introduced: 2015-07-28
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agricultural trade

Caribbean area

Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Cuba

Foreign aid and international relief

Human rights

Latin America

Licensing and registrations

Sanctions

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status

Terrorism

Trade restrictions
Latest action: action_date: 2015-08-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong></strong><b>Cuba Trade Act of 2015</b></p> <p>This bill repeals or amends current laws restricting trade with Cuba. </p> <p>The prohibition on assistance to Cuba, and the President's authority for the embargo on Cuba, under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 are eliminated. </p> <p>The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 is amended to eliminate: </p> <ul> <li>presidential authority to impose sanctions against Cuban trading partners, </li> <li>restrictions on transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, </li> <li>limitations on direct shipping between Cuban and U.S. ports, and </li> <li>restrictions on remittances. </li> </ul> <p> The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 is amended to eliminate: </p> <ul> <li>the enforcement of an economic embargo of Cuban provisions, and </li> <li>the prohibition on indirect financing of Cuba.</li> </ul> <p> The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 is amended to:</p> <ul> <li>remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism subject to agricultural and medical export restrictions; </li> <li>eliminate the prohibition on U.S. assistance, including foreign assistance, export assistance, and any credit or guarantees being made available for exports to Cuba; </li> <li>eliminate the prohibition against a U.S. person's providing payment or financing terms for sales of agricultural commodities or products to Cuba; </li> <li>prohibit the United States from providing any foreign assistance to Cuba or any financial assistance, loans, loan guarantees, extension of credit, or other financing for exports to Cuba; and </li> <li>eliminate the prohibition on the U.S. entry of merchandise that is of Cuban origin, is or has been located in or transported from or through Cuba, or is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce, or manufacture of Cuba.</li> </ul> <p>The federal government may not obligate or expend any funds to promote trade with or develop markets in Cuba, except through certain commodity promotion programs.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3238 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 28, 2015 Mr. Emmer of Minnesota (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida , Mr. Boustany , Mr. Sanford , Mr. Ribble , Mr. Abraham , Mr. Amash , and Mr. Jones ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means , Financial Services , and Agriculture , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To lift the trade embargo on Cuba, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cuba Trade Act of 2015 . 2. Removal of provisions restricting trade with Cuba (a) Authority for Embargo (1) In general Section 620(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ( 22 U.S.C. 2370(a) ) is amended by striking (1) No assistance and all that follows through (2) Except and inserting Except . (2) Conforming amendment Section 1709 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6008 ) is amended by striking section 620(a)(2) and inserting section 620(a) . (b) Cuban Democracy Act (1) In general The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6001 et seq. ) is amended— (A) by striking section 1704 ( 22 U.S.C. 6003 ); (B) by striking section 1706 ( 22 U.S.C. 6005 ); and (C) by striking section 1708 ( 22 U.S.C. 6007 ). (2) Conforming amendment Paragraph (3) of section 204(b) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 ( 22 U.S.C. 6064(b) ) is amended to read as follows: (3) section 1705(d) of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 ( 22 U.S.C. 6004(d) ); . (c) Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 ( 22 U.S.C. 6021 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by striking section 102 ( 22 U.S.C. 6032 ); (2) by striking section 103 ( 22 U.S.C. 6033 ); and (3) in section 109(a) ( 22 U.S.C. 6039(a) ), by striking (including section 102 of this Act) . (d) Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 The Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 ( 22 U.S.C. 7201 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 906(a)(1) ( 22 U.S.C. 7205(a)(1) ), by striking Cuba, ; (2) by amending section 908 ( 22 U.S.C. 7207 ) to read as follows: 908. Prohibition on United States assistance and financing (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no United States Government assistance, including United States foreign assistance, United States export assistance, and any United States credit or guarantees shall be available for commercial exports to Iran, Libya, North Korea, or Sudan. (b) Prohibition on foreign assistance and financing of trade with Cuba Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the United States Government may not provide any foreign assistance to Cuba or any financial assistance, loans, loan guarantees, extension of credit, or other financing for exports to Cuba. (c) Waiver The President may waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) to the degree the President determines that it is in the national security interest of the United States to do so, or for humanitarian reasons. ; and (3) by striking section 909 ( 22 U.S.C. 7208 ). 3. Prohibition on use of taxpayer funds to promote trade with Cuba (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Government may not obligate or expend any funds to promote trade with or develop markets in Cuba. (b) Exclusion of certain Federal commodity promotion programs Subsection (a) does not prohibit the obligation or expenditure of funds by Federal commodity promotion programs established in accordance with a commodity promotion law, as defined by section 501(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 ( 7 U.S.C. 7401(a) ).