Ramping up the Embargo 1980-present

After several years of a warming relationship, Reagan re-tightens the embargo.
In 1982, Reagan removed a 1977 fishing treaty and re-instituted the travel restrictions that Carter had let lapse as a symbolic gesture of renewed relations, symbolizing another new era of sanctions. In 1986, Reagan dismantled the allowance of imported small gifts an remittances to Cuban relatives. In 1988, Reagan put up restrictions on subsidiaries making shipments to and from Cuba, which had been mainly through third party countries.
Throughout Reagan's term, the US Treasury was ordered to crack down on previously overlooked aspects of the embargo, including examining what special visa holders were doing in Cuba. Of particular interest were journalists, scholars, and lawyers. Numerous cases and lawsuits were filed to send the message that Cuban relations and trading were going to be strictly monitored.
The Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 further restricted trade: Third party nations and foreign US-owned or operated subsidiaries were again forbidden from trading with Cuba, boats belonging to third party nations were disallowed from docking in the United States for 180 days after trading with Cuba, and the treasury department got the right to prosecute any violators, with fines of $1M for corporations, and $100K for civilians. It also reinstated the denial of American aid to countries that provided assistance to Cuba.
The CDA was met with a resounding disdain in the international community, leading to a UN resolution directed at the United States expressing a deep concern for the US extraterritorial legislation. The list of countries opposed to the CDA included Canada, Britain, France, Japan, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. Despite its overwhelming unpopularity, the CDA was not be revoked.
Following the election of Bill Clinton, small reforms were passed, but nothing that really affected the overall policy. It wasn't until the passage of the Helms-Burton Act in March of 1996 that a big change was initiated in the Cuban sanctions. The act included the following:
• International Sanctions against the Castro Government. Economic embargo, any non-US company dealing economically with Cuba can be subjected to legal action and that company's leadership can be barred from entry into the United States. Sanctions may be applied to non-U.S. companies trading with Cuba. This means that internationally operating companies have to choose between Cuba and the US, which is a much larger market.
• United States opposition against Cuban membership in international financial institutions.
• Television broadcasting from the United States to Cuba.
• Authorization of United States support for democratic and human rights groups and international observers.
• U.S. policy towards a transition government and a democratically elected government in Cuba. (Sanctions to be lifted when these things occur)
• Protection of property rights of certain United States nationals.
• Exclusion of certain aliens from the United States, primarily senior officials or major stock holders, and their families, of companies that do business in Cuba on property expropriated from American citizens. To date, executives from Italy, Mexico, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom have been barred.
• Legislative Branch granted power to override an Executive Branch cancellation of the embargo.
• Prohibits recognition of a transitional government in Cuba that includes Fidel or Raul Castro
• Prohibits recognition of a Cuban government that has not provided compensation for U.S. certified claims against confiscated property, defined as non-residential property with an excess of $50,000 value in 1959.
The US continues to fund terrorist and anti-Cuban organizations today.