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Clinton Signs Cuba Trade Bill into Law
US President Bill Clinton on Saturday signed into law a bill that eases US embargo against Cuba by allowing exports of food and medicine to the Caribbean country.
The bill was passed earlier this month separately by the House and the Senate, which also set restrictions for the sales like prohibiting financial support from the federal government and US banks.
The bill, part of a 78-billion-dollar agriculture funding package, also bans travel to Cuba unless Americans obtain a license or are invited by a non-American group that pays the bill.
While signing the bill, Clinton expressed his dissatisfaction over these restrictions.
"It purports to allow the export of American products to Cuba, yet it makes it virtually impossible for family farmers to arrange the financing that enables such sales to take place," Clinton told reporters after signing the bill.
"The legislation is designed to impose new restrictions on our efforts to foster people-to-people contacts and bring reform in Cuba," he said.
Clinton signed the bill nevertheless as the bill "advances the interests of the American people."
Washington imposed trade sanctions against Cuba in 1962 to contain its Communist neighbor.
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