HAVANA (Sputnik) – US Congressman Sam Farr’s remarks come after US President Barack Obama on Tuesday finished a historic three-day visit to Cuba, the first by a US president since 1928. According to Farr, Obama’s trip, which included participation of multiple US officials, is "a big deal" for the US-Cuba normalization.
"There are some people [in the Congress] that are very nervous and very supportive of continuing to condemn Cuba. It’s a minority opinion but they are senior members of Congress of Republican party," Farr said.
In December 2014, Obama announced that the United States would begin to normalize relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of non-engagement and hostilities. While the two countries reopened embassies in their respective capitals in July 2015, the congressionally-mandated US trade embargo continues to remain in effect.
On Tuesday, Obama called again on Congress to lift the embargo. Later in the day, Congressman Don Beyer told Sputnik that the US Congress could lift trade sanctions on Cuba before the end of 2016.
