Congress Stands In The Way Of Lifting The U.S. Embargo On Cuba

Despite the monumental shift on Wednesday toward U.S. diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than half a century, a cornerstone of American policy is here to stay for the foreseeable future: the economic embargo.

Lifting the embargo is a two-step process that requires approval from the executive branch as well as Congress, experts say.

First there would have to be inter-agency approval for lifting the designation of Cuba as a terrorist state, something that President Barack Obama said Wednesday he has asked his administration to review. Then Congress would have to remove the embargo in order to pave the way for the U.S. to establish treaties or trade agreements on Cuba.

"On the trade issue, the beginning of that conversation would have to do with changing Cuba's designation as a terrorist country," said Carl Meacham, the director of the Americas program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "As far lifting the embargo, that would have to be through Congress. ... You need legislative action in order to lift the embargo."

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