Sen. Klobuchar pushes to lift Cuba trade embargo

Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Havana, Cuba
Sen. Amy Klobuchar at the U.S. Embassy in Havana on Friday, Aug. 15, 2015.
Courtesy of the office of Amy Klobuchar

In a whirlwind, one-day trip, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar got to witness a bit of history and set foot in Cuba, where she hopes to lift a trade embargo.

The Minnesota Democrat visited Cuba on Friday, where the U.S. reopened its embassy, which had closed 54 years before.

In December, the two countries began to normalize relations with each other. Since then, the U.S. has loosened some travel and financial restrictions between the former Cold War adversaries.

Klobuchar has introduced legislation that would allow more U.S. goods to be exported to Cuba.

"It's the only country where we have an embargo like this," said Klobuchar. "Where basically American businesses and American workers are banned from doing business and selling American goods in Cuba except for certain humanitarian exemptions. And that's what my bill does, is change that."

Klobuchar also co-sponsored legislation to lift the Cuba travel ban.

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