EU Scraps Cuba Sanctions

"European Union states agreed on Thursday to scrap sanctions against Cuba in a move aimed at encouraging democratic reforms on the Communist island, officials said," Reuters reports. "The lifting, agreed despite U.S. calls for the world to remain tough on Havana, will pave the way for a new dialogue with Cuba but come with calls that it address human rights concerns and free political prisoners. Relations would be reviewed in one year, they said." Daniel T. Griswold, director of Cato's Center for Trade Policy Studies, comments: "The European Union's decision to repeal certain sanctions against Cuba further isolates the United States. For almost half a century, the U.S. government has enforced a comprehensive embargo in a failed effort to change the Castro regime. The change in leadership in Cuba and the modest reforms... [read full story]