WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier this week, Malmierca proposed the US government permit certain Cuban exports, such as rum and cigars, into the United States, and allow Cuba to use the US dollar in third party transactions.
"The Secretary [Kerry] is going to meet this afternoon with Cuban Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca to discuss economic relations between our two countries, also the regulatory dialogue, economic reforms by the Cuban government and the human rights situation in Cuba," Kirby stated.
On Thursday, White House National Security spokesman Ben Rhodes said the White House.
was considering taking the steps proposed by Malmierca, and could roll out those policy changes in the coming weeks.
Earlier in the day, the White House has announced that President Barack Obama will visit the Cuba on March 21-22, marking the first official visit by a US head of state to the Caribbean island nation since 1928.
