Terminating diplomatic relations with Cuba would “deal a significant economic blow” to its people, the White House has advised President-elect Trump.
“It’s just not as simple as one tweet would make it seem,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday. “There are significant diplomatic, economic, [and] cultural costs that will have to be accounted for if this policy is rolled back.”
In a tweet on Monday, Trump called for “a better deal” for both the Cuban people and Americans in the wake of Fidel Castro’s death, noting that he will move to reverse the current administration’s efforts to normalize relations between both countries if one is not reached.
“That would be a difficult thing to unwind,” Earnest said. “Unwinding that ship is not as easy as just the stroke of a pen.”
“There will be an economic impact in the U.S. and Cuba of unwinding that policy,” he added. “To cancel all of that would deal a significant economic blow to the Cuban citizens.”
Earnest pointed to the economic benefits Cuban citizens have reaped since Obama eased decades-old restrictions on trade and travel last fall.
“There are up to 110 daily flights that are scheduled to take off from the U.S. and land in Cuba on a daily basis in the coming months,” he said, noting that many American tourists visiting the country opt to stay in homes or bed and breakfasts owned by Cubans.
“Some 50,000 Americans in just the last 18 months have availed themselves of this opportunity,” Earnest told reporters. “That’s money that benefits the Cuban people.”
