<P> Cuba and the United States restored diplomatic relations on 20 July 2015 , which had been severed in 1961 during the Cold War . U.S. diplomatic representation in Cuba is handled by the United States Embassy in Havana , and there is a similar Cuban Embassy in Washington , D.C. . The United States , however , continues to maintain its commercial , economic , and financial embargo , which makes it illegal for U.S. corporations to do business with Cuba . Leaders in both houses of Congress as well as President Donald Trump support the embargo , although the Cuban government has called for it to be repealed . </P>
when did the us cut off trade with cuba
1961