WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called on the Departments of Treasury and Commerce today to allow American hotels to operate in Cuba. Since launching in Cuba in 2015, Airbnb has accumulated more than 2,000 listings for travelers to rent but U.S. hotel chains cannot operate in Cuba due to Treasury and Commerce Department regulations. Additionally, hotel operators from Spain and the U.K. are already negotiating deals to build hotels in Cuba. In a letter to Secretaries Lew and Pritzker, Klobuchar, the Chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, urged the Treasury and Commerce Department to consider amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and Export Administration Regulations to authorize U.S. investment in the Cuban hotel industry.
“As diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba continue to progress, there are increasing opportunities to do business and improve economic opportunities and the quality of life in Cuba,” Klobuchar wrote. “I strongly believe that continuing to isolate Cuba will be contrary to our interests and disadvantage American businesses and farmers. Removing regulatory barriers and ensuring that the U.S. hospitality industry has a fair shot in Cuba is another way that we can continue to make progress towards officially ending the embargo.”
Klobuchar is leading the bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Act—which currently has 23 Senate cosponsors. The bill lifts the current embargo and allows more U.S. goods to be exported to Cuba. The bill would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba, boosting job creation and exports. It does not repeal provisions of current law that address human rights in Cuba or that allow individuals and businesses to pursue claims against the Cuban government. Klobuchar attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba with Secretary of State John Kerry in August. She also recently testified before the International Trade Commission to highlight the benefits of lifting the trade embargo with Cuba.
