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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO END THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA AND FOR THE REMOVAL FROM THE STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM LIST
WHEREAS, Since 1962, the United States government has imposed a strict economic, commercial, and financial embargo on the Republic of Cuba; and
WHEREAS, On December 17, 2014, former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Cuban President Raul Castro executed an agreement to reestablish diplomatic relations and cooperation between the two countries on certain matters of mutual interest. Despite executive decisions by President Obama easing some restrictive regulations, the central portions of the embargo affecting trade and travel continue to be enforced; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, former President Donald Trump's administration reinstated Cuba to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, reversing former President Barack Obama's 2015 removal from it without providing any reasonable justification for doing so; and
WHEREAS, Complete restoration of trade and travel between the two countries would be of great benefit to both, particularly in the areas of food production, economic opportunities, education, healthcare, tourism, the arts, music, and sports - along with medical and biotechnological research; and
WHEREAS, Cook County would greatly benefit from the restoration of trade with the Republic of Cuba by permitting the export of industrial and agricultural products to this neighboring nation of 11 million people and the importation of Cuban products applicable to the county, such as life-saving medicines Heberprot-p and CIMAvax; and an extreme interest in providing healthcare-related expertise including products and services, and cooperating with Cuban institutions in the development of pharmaceuticals; and
WHEREAS, Businesses and institutions in Cook County and across Illinois have expressed the desire to trade with Cuban counterparts on matters related to biomedical research, technology, and procedures...
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