The virtual meeting was attended by businessmen, academicians, government officials and independent journalists from Japan, who expressed their interest in knowing the real impact of these measures in the Caribbean country.

In this regard, Ramirez pointed out that the measures do not mean a lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, nor do they reverse the arbitrary and fraudulent inclusion of Cuba in the list of alleged countries sponsoring terrorism.

Likewise, he pointed out that travel to Cuba for U.S. tourists, bilateral trade (except for exceptions related to food and agricultural products), and the use of the dollar in international financial transactions to and from the island continue to be prohibited.

“However, this is a limited step in the right direction, a response to the complaint of the Cuban people and government. These are just demands that have been ignored by Washington at a very high cost to our population,” the diplomat added.

Masako Goto, a professor at Kanagawa University, mentioned that this slight change in Cuba policy responds to the complex international situation that weighs on the United States.

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