WORLD.- The diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cuba will go its current course, but the embargo won't be gone any time soon, at least for a year. President Barack Obama renewed the law that makes the economic sanctions against the island possible, the Trading With The Enemy Act from 1917, although it is just one of six laws that sustain the embargo:

Foreign Assistance Act Cuban Assets Control Regulations Cuban Democracy Act Helms-Burton Act Punishment Reform and Export Improvement Act

This way, even if the Trading With The Enemy Act isn't signed, the embargo is still the law. Then, why authorize it one more year? The reason of its extension wouldn't be to preserve the embargo per se, but to maintain the president's ability to modify and ease sanctions against Cuba, given that it is this act that gives power to Obama to supervise trade and relations with "hostile" nations such as Cuba.

Since the embargo, Cuba has limited any commercial trading with the US and not just that, given that this punishment includes that no American citizen can travel to Cuba and spend its money on the island. While it's true that Obama is in favor of removing the embargo from Cuba and allowing more tourism and commercial trade, renewing the act means preserving his authority so he can regulate the way the sanction is applied.

If he didn't renew it, Congress would probably pass a resolution reminding the president that, even if he doesn't want to, the embargo has to be enforced and would a tedious political and legal fight to determine if the embargo is still legal (it probably would still be) and is basically just unneeded drama for Obama and Democrats during an election season.

Stay connected to San Diego Red through Facebook and Twitter.

Elizabeth.rosales@sandiegored.com