Gerald Ford (R)
(1974-1977)

As a result of the existing correlation of power between 1974 and 1975, there was a continuation of the tendency initiated by the former administration regarding the adoption of temporary measures to adjust the blockade against Cuba.

A review of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to outline a policy of license approval and the first trip of American businesspeople were highlights under the Ford Administration.

1974

10.07.74, 07.08.74 & 14.08.74 Amendment to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, adding an interpretation to the provision prohibiting American citizen to engage in the trade of goods and services abroad, unless duly authorized by a license; an interpretation excluding heirs from the authorization to charge personal expenses to a block account was added; addition of an interpretation on license granting for American-owned companies abroad, specifying that it did not apply to American citizens who were officers or directors of such companies abroad; license issuance was provided, following the submission of satisfactory evidence that the goods to be imported had left Cuba before 8 July 1963; specific licenses were provided, under certain circumstances, in the case of Cuban-origin goods sent as gifts to American citizens, and the import of Cuban-origin books, films and tapes.

The issuance of specific licenses for the import of samples for research was also provided; as well as for the payment for overflights of Cuban territory and emergency landing; it included issuing specific licenses to unblock non-Cuban citizens who were in Cuba on 8 July 1968 or thereafter (but not at this moment), to unblock up to 50% worth of dollar accounts representing the interests of surviving spouses; to unblock part of insurance credits, under certain conditions; to pay official representatives of foreign governments in Cuba; to unblock assets of Cuban companies totally- or partially-owned by American citizens; to authorize payment of US$100 allowance charged to blocked accounts of Cuban residing outside Cuba; to pay for Cuban societies when its members left Cuba for the United States or any other authorized territory; to unblock accounts which are exclusive properties of Cuban citizens when the owner has left Cuba for the United States or any other authorized territory. (39 FR 25317; 25318; 25319; Sec. 515.410-515.414; 515.543; 515.545-558; July 10, 1974; 39 FR 28434; Sec. 515.544; August 7, 1974 y 39 FR 29182; 29l83z Sec. 515.545; 515.552; 515.556; August 14, 1974).

1975

03.01.75 Passage of the Trade Act of 1974, whose Title IV reinforced the restrictions on the tariff treatment to communist countries and provided that in order to grant MFN status to such countries, the President must certify that free migration is allowed and that certain commercial advantages are given to the United States; likewise, it prohibited the Import-Export Bank to extend credits to Cuba, unless the President determines that Cuba grants its citizens their right to free migration.

21.08.75 The State Department announced that the Department of the Treasury’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations were amended, providing that specific licenses would be issued to cases fitting certain categories of transactions between companies owned or controlled by American citizens in third countries and Cuba, when required by local laws or when it is a policy of the third country to favor trade with Cuba. For that, goods must be manufactured in that third country, must not be strategic items, or no U.S.-origin technical information must be transferred, except for operation or maintenance information. Also, no accounts or financing in US dollars must be used for export transactions by any company owned or controlled by American citizens, except for standard short-term financing; in addition, American directors cannot engage in trade with Cuba (even though their subsidiary is at liberty to do so).

08.10.75 Treasury Department’s Cuban Assets Control Regulations were amended to outline the license approval policy for export and import transactions between firms owned or controlled by America and Cuba, under certain conditions; compliance responsibility was transferred from the various officers and directors of branches abroad to the branches themselves. Section 515.412 and 515.541 were struck down; section 515.559 was added. (FR, Vol.40, No.196, 8 October 1975):

1976

24.09.76 The first privately chartered flight between the United States and Cuba was flown, carrying four American businesspeople to Cuba. The aircraft was withheld by two Customs officers in Miami Customs and confiscated under orders of the Department of Commerce. Kirby Jones, the business consultant who organized the trip, was ordered to provide information to the Treasury Department under oath. (Letters among Kirby Jones, his attorney Donald Rehm and the Treasury Department):

15/10/1976 Fidel Castro, First Secretary of the Comunista Party of Cuba, gave a speech in the last honors to the victims of the Cubana airliner blown up in midair by a terrorist act on 6 October.

22/10/1976 Raúl Roa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in an interview about the bombed Cuban airliner that “the imperialists want to throw a smoke screen over the criminal act of sabotage, are trying to divide the countries of the region and get away with the crime.”

1977

27/04/1977 Cuba and the United States signed a provisional agreement on fisheries and maritime boundaries. Likewise, both parties agreed to cancel the agreement on shrimp fishing and licor trade.

05/06/1977 A Ministry of Foreign Affairs communique in connection with the opening of a U.S. Interest Section attached to the Swiss Embassy in Havana and a Cuban Interest Section attached to the Embassy of Czechoslovakia in Washington. A delegation of the U.S. Communist Party arrived in Cuba, led by Secretary general Arnold Becchetti.