President of the United States Joe Biden has extended for another year the Trading with the Enemy Act, a 1917 regulation under which the blockade of Cuba was imposed, Cuban media reported on Wednesday.
The continuation of the exercise of these authorities with respect to Cuba for one year, until September 14, 2025, is in the national interest of the United States, Biden said in the brief memorandum sent to the Treasury Department, published in the Federal Register.
The Trading with the Enemy Act, enacted under the administration of Woodrow Wilson who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921 during the period of World War I (1914 to 1918), empowers the government in power in Washington to restrict commercial activities with any nation that they consider an adversary.
Based on this legislation, on February 7, 1962, Democratic President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 3447, which officially began an economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba that has survived 11 White House administrations.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on Thursday that the blockade constitutes a massive, flagrant and systematic violation of the human rights of the Cuban people and the main obstacle to the country's development.
At current prices, the accumulated damages of the economic, commercial and financial blockade and trade embargo over the past six decades have amounted to the astronomical figure of 164.141 billion U.S. dollars, according to Rodriguez.
Since 1992, the United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution presented by Cuba to lift the blockade. Last year, the draft resolution was approved by 187 countries and opposed only by the United States and Israel, with Ukraine abstaining.
US extends blockade of Cuba for another year
US extends blockade of Cuba for another year
US extends blockade of Cuba for another year
US extends blockade of Cuba for another year
The 2025 Spring/Summer Beijing Fashion Week concluded on Tuesday, embracing new consumer trends and creating innovative consumer experiences through various activities.
This year's edition, running from Sept. 12 to Sept. 17, featured 74 online and offline events, drawing 297 brands. More than 30 percent of the brands were led by well-established designers and major names in the industry.
A key highlight was the "China-Chic Creative Show", which focused on promoting homegrown brands.
In addition, the event introduced a digital fashion segment, demonstrating the growing influence of digital technology within the fashion world.
The fashion week also featured a forum on China's fashion economy under the theme "AI-driven innovation leads the future".
The forum brought together industry leaders, scholars, prominent entrepreneurs, and fashion pioneers to explore how artificial intelligence, driven by new quality productive forces, is unlocking new opportunities for Chinese fashion brands and companies, helping them navigate future development trends.
"This year, we introduced a program to support young designers. We aim to foster emerging talent through initiatives that cover everything from lreleases, showcasing, promotion and monetization," said Gu Weida, chairman of the presidium of organizing committee of the Beijing Fashion Week.
The event also made its its efforts to turn the rich cultural resources of Yushu Zang Autonomous Prefecture, a city in northwest China's Qinghai Province, into commercial success.
Designers and brands from both Beijing and Yushu, inspired by Yushu's cultural assets, collaborated to create collections, which were showcased on the Beijing Fashion Week.
"Thanks to two years of continuous collaboration and innovation, the event has significantly elevated Yushu's popularity, helping local apparel companies with high-quality development and boosting the region's culture and tourism industry," said Zhao Liping, deputy head of Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Yushu.
The Beijing Fashion Week, launched in 2016, leverages the city's rich historical and cultural heritage along with its international fashion industry resources to promote original design concepts from Chinese brands.
Beijing Fashion Week wraps up, highlighting China-chic, AI-driven innovation
