Sen. Menendez open to Cuba changes with Trump

Changes could soon be coming for relations between Cuba, the U.S. and Cuban Americans with the death of Fidel Castro and a new U.S. president about to take office. President-elect Trump tweeted Monday,

News 12 Staff

Nov 29, 2016, 3:00 AM

Updated 2,715 days ago

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Sen. Menendez open to Cuba changes with Trump
Changes could soon be coming for relations between Cuba, the U.S. and Cuban Americans with the death of Fidel Castro and a new U.S. president about to take office.
President-elect Trump tweeted Monday, "If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate the deal."
The U.S. lifted a trade embargo and restored diplomatic relations under President Barack Obama. Sen. Bob Menendez, a Cuban American, is open to changes that Trump could make.



"I could certainly work with him if in fact we are going to particularly look at stopping the commercial aspects of President Obama's decisions," says Menendez.



New Jersey is home to one of the nation's largest populations of Cuban Americans, who are now able to travel freely back home for the first time in more than five decades.
But Menendez, who is a critic of Cuba's human rights record, says lifting U.S. sanctions only helped the family of President Raul Castro, Fidel's brother.



"When we do business and investments with Cuba, it's not with the Cuban people, which would be great," says Menendez. "It is with the Cuban military, Raul's son and son-in-law."



Menendez doubts Cuba will improve human rights or allow political dissent as long as the Castro family is in charge.
During the presidential campaign, Trump also threatened a rollback unless Cuba met certain conditions for political and religious freedom.


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