Castro's Death, Trump Presidency Raise Questions About US-Cuba Ties

Castro's Death, Trump¹ Presidency² Raise Questions About US-Cuba Ties

During his life, Fidel Castro blamed Cuba’s economic problems on the United States and its restrictions³ on trade with Cuba.

Now, after Castro’s death, many people are wondering what will happen to the economic relationship between the two countries. The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president will likely make the situation even more complex.

The U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba – or, the embargo⁴ – remain in place. But President Barack Obama recently eased some of those limits.

Obama reestablished diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States. The two sides opened embassies in each other’s capitals in 2015. And the improved relations have led to an increase in the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba.

Yet many U.S. companies say the government in Cuba makes it hard for foreigners to do business there.

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez says economic links remain firmly connected to Castro's family.

"Do you want to do business in Cuba, do you want to be a part of the hotel tourism industry? You have to see Raul's (Cuban President Raul Castro) son. You want to go ahead and do agriculture business in Cuba? You have to do it with his son-in-law, both high-ranking officials of the Cuban military."

Jose Azel is an expert on Cuba at the University of Miami in Florida. He agrees that the Cuban government has too many restrictions on foreign businesses.

Azel said that foreign investors⁵ must share control of their business interests with the Cuban military. And, he adds, the foreigners cannot control who works for their company in Cuba.

But Azel does not believe the country will change its central planning system soon.

Another issue for U.S.-Cuba relations is the election of businessman Donald Trump. During the presidential campaign, Trump criticized President Obama's moves to ease tensions with between the two countries.

Trump said he will undo⁶ Obama’s actions unless Cuba gives more religious and political freedom to its people. He also wants Cuba to release political prisoners.

Words in This Story

embargo – n. a government order that limits trade in some way

high-ranking – adj. having a high rank or position

central planning – adj. In a centrally planned economy, the government makes most economic decisions

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

5 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

6 undo   

vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销

参考例句：

• His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
• I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。