Trump Administration Issues First Suspension Of Title III Of Libertad Act; Will There Be A Second Suspension?

The Trump Administration has issued a six-month suspension of Title III of the Libertad Act of 1996.  This decision was expected.

Not anticipated was to have The Honorable Thomas Shannon, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, announce the decision.  Since 1996, the bi-annual notification has generally been made by the President or Secretary of State.  

Within the structure of the United States Department of State, there is the Secretary of State, there are two (2) Deputy Secretaries of State, and six (6) Under Secretaries of State.

The Trump Administration may have lowered the profile of the decision as a political signal that the issue should not have, does not have, or does not (yet) have, significance.  Or, this may be a political signal to the government of the Republic of Cuba that there is an opportunity awaiting a response.

The next decision to suspend Title III of the Libertad Act of 1996 will be in January 2018.
    
Link To Bog Post: Memo From NSC To POTUS: This Week For Title III Suspension; Capitulate, Incapacitate or Negotiate?

U.S. Determination of Six-Month Suspension Under Title III of LIBERTAD

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
July 14, 2017

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon reported on July 14, 2017, to the appropriate congressional committees, consistent with Section 306(c)(2) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-114; 22 U.S.C. 6021-6091) and pursuant to the authority delegated to the Secretary by the President on January 31, 2013, and as authorized under Delegation of Authority 284-1, dated February 13, 2009, that he had made the statutorily required determination in order to suspend for six months beyond August 1, 2017, the right to bring an action under Title III of the Act.