Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has introduced legislation that would end the Cuba trade embargo. The “Freedom to Export to Cuba Act” would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba.

Klobuchar said, “It’s time to the turn the page on our Cuba policy. Fifty years of the embargo have not secured our interests in Cuba and have disadvantaged American businesses by restricting commerce with a market of 11 million people just 90 miles from our shores. There are many issues in our relationship with Cuba that must be addressed, but this legislation to lift the embargo will begin to open up new opportunities for American companies, boost job creation and exports, and help improve the quality of life for the Cuban people.”

The legislation repeals current legal restrictions of doing business with Cuba. This includes the original 1961 authorization for establishing the trade embargo; subsequent laws that required enforcement of the embargo; and other restrictive statues that prohibit transactions between U.S.-owned or controlled firms and Cuba, and limitations on direct shipping between U.S. and Cuban ports. It does not repeal human rights provisions or provisions relating to property claims against the Cuban government.

Senators co-sponsoring the bill are Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Pat Leahy (D-VT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).