On January 30, 2015, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) issued a press release announcing their launch of an investigation on the economic impact of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

According to the release, “The investigation, Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions, was requested by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in a letter received on December 17, 2014.”

USITC will report on the following elements:

• An overview of Cuba’s imports of goods and services from 2005 to the present, including identification of major supplying countries, products, and market segments
• A description of how U.S. restrictions on trade, including those relating to export financing terms and travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, affect Cuban imports of U.S. goods and services
• For sectors where the impact is likely to be significant, a qualitative and quantitative estimate of U.S. exports of goods and services to Cuba, in the event that statutory, regulatory, or other trade restrictions on U.S. exports of goods and services as well as travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens are lifted.

A public meeting for the investigation will be held on March 24, 2015. Written comments must be submitted by April 15, 2015.

The press release can be accessed here