S. 136: United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025

This bill, titled the United States-Cuba Trade Act of 2025, aims to lift the existing trade embargo on Cuba and establish new trade relationships between the United States and Cuba. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

1. Lifting Trade Restrictions

The bill seeks to repeal various laws and provisions that currently restrict trade and relations with Cuba. This includes:

• Repealing the embargo established by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
• Nullifying certain provisions of the Trading With the Enemy Act that apply to Cuba.
• Removing prohibitions on exports to Cuba that are in effect under the Export Administration Act of 1979 and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.
• Repealing both the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Libertad Act of 1996.
• Ending restrictions tied to U.S. intellectual property regarding transactions with Cuba.

2. Telecommunications

The bill allows U.S. telecommunications companies to establish and maintain services in Cuba. This includes:

• Installing, maintaining, and repairing telecommunications equipment and facilities.
• Upgrading telecommunications infrastructure within Cuba.

3. Travel Regulations

Individuals who are U.S. citizens or residents would face fewer travel restrictions, allowing for:

• Travel to and from Cuba without regulations that would not apply to travel within the U.S.
• Normal transactions related to travel, such as banking and maintenance while in Cuba.

4. Negotiations with the Cuban Government

The bill encourages the U.S. President to negotiate with the Cuban government to:

• Resolve claims involving U.S. nationals regarding property taken by the Cuban government.
• Enhance the protection of human rights in Cuba.

5. Trade Treatment

The legislation also includes provisions for normalizing trade relations, which would ensure:

• Non-discriminatory trade treatment for products coming from Cuba.
• Amendments to the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule to remove references specific to Cuba.

6. Remittance Rules

Restrictions on the amount of money that U.S. residents can send as remittances to Cuba would be lifted, allowing:

• No limitations on the quantity of remittances sent by individuals to Cuba.

7. Reporting Requirements

The bill mandates that the President report to Congress regarding the current status of trade relations with Cuba within 18 months after the bill is enacted.

Effective Date

The provisions of this bill would go into effect 60 days after its enactment, unless specified otherwise for particular sections.

Relevant Companies

• VZ - Verizon Communications: Potentially impacted by the ability to provide telecommunications services in Cuba.
• T - AT&T Inc.: May benefit from expanded telecommunications and services in Cuba.