[ti:Castro's Death, Trump Presidency Raise Questions About US-Cuba Ties] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51VOA.COM [00:00.04]During his life, Fidel Castro blamed Cuba's economic problems [00:06.80]on the United States and its restrictions on trade with Cuba. [00:13.56]Now, after Castro's death, many people are wondering [00:19.76]what will happen to the economic relationship between the two countries. [00:27.00]The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president [00:33.24]will likely make the situation even more complex. [00:39.48]The U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba [00:44.00]¨C or, the embargo ¨C remain in place. [00:48.72]But President Barack Obama recently eased some of those limits. [00:56.12]Obama reestablished diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States. [01:03.96]The two sides opened embassies in each other's capitals in 2015. [01:12.36]And the improved relations [01:15.68]have led to an increase in the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba. [01:22.68]Yet many U.S. companies say the government in Cuba [01:28.04]makes it hard for foreigners to do business there. [01:33.20]U.S. Senator Bob Menendez says [01:37.12]economic links remain firmly connected to Castro's family. [01:43.68]"Do you want to do business in Cuba, do you want to be a part of the hotel industry, tourism industry? [01:49.36]You have to see Raul's (Cuban President Raul Castro) son. [01:51.61]You want to go ahead and do agriculture business in Cuba? You have to do it with his son-in-law, [01:56.64]both high-ranking officials of the Cuban military." [02:00.76]Jose Azel is an expert on Cuba at the University of Miami in Florida. [02:09.88]He agrees that the Cuban government has too many restrictions on foreign businesses. [02:19.20]Azel said that foreign investors must share control of their business interests with the Cuban military. [02:30.64]And, he adds, the foreigners cannot control who works for their company in Cuba. [02:38.32]But Azel does not believe the country will change its central planning system soon. [02:47.56]Another issue for U.S.-Cuba relations is the election of businessman Donald Trump. [02:56.84]During the presidential campaign, [02:59.53]Trump criticized President Obama's moves to ease tensions with between the two countries. [03:07.48]Trump said he will undo Obama's actions [03:12.48]unless Cuba gives more religious and political freedom to its people. [03:19.41]He also wants Cuba to release political prisoners. [03:25.20]I'm Ashley Thompson.