Cuba Sanction
Here’s a detailed and up-to-date overview of U.S. sanctions on Cuba as of mid‑August 2025:
#Cuba_Sanction
1. The Ongoing Economic Embargo
The U.S. has maintained a comprehensive trade embargo against Cuba since 1962. Most exports to, and imports from, Cuba are strictly prohibited unless specifically licensed by the U.S. government  .
This embargo is enforced primarily through the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) (31 CFR Part 515), originally enacted under Kennedy in 1963 and administered by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) .
Key Legal Instruments Include:
Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA), under which CACR operates.
Helms–Burton Act (1996), which bolsters the embargo, including provisions penalizing foreign entities that engage in business involving property confiscated in the Cuban Revolution  .
2. Recent Policy Shifts & Presidential Actions
January–February 2025 (Biden Era)
President Biden removed Cuba from the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list—but only temporarily. He notified Congress on January 14, 2025; however, this change required a 45-day Congressional review period before taking effect .
Meanwhile, the administration also stopped U.S. foreign aid to Cuban media initiatives and intensified visa restrictions on individuals tied to Cuba’s overseas medical missions, citing concerns over forced labor .
January 2025 Onward (Trump’s Return)
In one of his first acts, President Trump reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism and revived lists of “restricted entities” tied to the Cuban government .
On June 30, 2025, Trump signed an executive order reinstating and strengthening Cuba sanctions, including travel restrictions, broader economic embargo action, and tighter enforcement against companies tied to Cuba’s military—including those linked to GAESA, the military conglomerate .
Also in mid‑2025, the 2025 National Security Presidential Memorandum‑5 (NSPM‑5) was reissued (much like its 2017 predecessor), effective July 14, 2025, updating Cuba’s Restricted Entities and Prohibited Accommodations lists—banning transactions with businesses tied to the Cuban military or government .
3. Focus on Cuban Medical Missions & Visa Measures
The U.S. has expanded visa restrictions on Cuban and foreign officials involved in Cuba’s medical missions abroad, which U.S. officials characterize as “forced labor.” This includes revoking visas of some Brazilian officials who oversaw Cuba’s “Mais Médicos” program .
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized penalties for those facilitating or benefiting from coercive medical export schemes .
4. Summary Table: Evolution of the Sanctions Landscape
Timeframe Key Actions Taken
Since 1962 Comprehensive trade embargo via CACR, TWEA, and Helms‑Burton Act
Jan–Feb 2025 (Biden) Removal from terrorism list proposed; visa restrictions & aid cuts enacted
Jan 2025 (Trump reinstates) Re-adds terrorism designation; restores restricted entities list
June 30, 2025 Executive order tightening sanctions, targeting military-linked businesses
July 14, 2025 Updates to Restricted Entities & Prohibited Accommodations Lists via NSPM‑5
Mid-2025 Heightened visa bans, medical mission sanctions, remittance/logging restrictions
5. What This Means Practically
Businesses, especially non‑U.S. firms, may face secondary sanctions if they engage with entities tied to Cuba’s military or intelligence apparatus.
Tourism remains heavily restricted; U.S. individuals cannot legally stay in properties on the Prohibited Accommodations List without risk    .
Financial transactions with Cuban entities—especially those newly placed on restricted lists—are now more tightly controlled or banned.
• Remittances, medical exports, and travel authorizations are under increased scrutiny and subject to potential future rollbacks.
Overall, U.S.–Cuba relations, from a sanctions standpoint, are once again firmly in the “maximum pressure” camp—as of August 2025, with reinforced restrictions, legal tools, and administrative enforcement easing relenting and further tightening.
#Cuba
