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US Criticizes Cuba's Economic Reforms as 'Superficial'
🇩🇪 Germany /Economy & Trade

US Criticizes Cuba's Economic Reforms as 'Superficial'

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Cuba has passed its largest package of economic reforms since the 1959 revolution, including allowing large private companies and foreign investment in the private sector.
  • The U.S. State Department criticized the reforms as superficial and a

Cuba's government has enacted its most significant economic reforms since the 1959 revolution, a package of 176 measures approved unanimously by parliament. The reforms aim to introduce market-oriented changes, including the potential allowance of large private companies and foreign investment within the private sector.

modest, long overdue, and ultimately a superficial smoke signal

— U.S. State Department spokespersonDescribing Cuba's newly approved economic reforms.

Despite the sweeping changes, the U.S. State Department has sharply criticized the measures. A spokesperson described the reforms as "modest, long overdue, and ultimately a superficial smoke signal" from the Cuban leadership, characterizing them as part of a "dictator's handbook." Washington maintains that such announcements are often reversed once the regime's control is perceived to be threatened. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to continue applying pressure for more substantial economic and political reforms.

part of the dictator's handbook

— U.S. State Department spokespersonCharacterizing the Cuban government's reform package.

The reforms come as Cuba grapples with its most severe economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and the disruption of oil supplies from Venezuela. The nation faces widespread power outages and fuel shortages. Experts have called the reform package a "radical shift" but expressed skepticism about its implementation.

will continue to exert pressure to advance substantially deeper economic and political reforms

— U.S. State Department spokespersonStating the U.S. intention regarding Cuba.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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