SUMMARY: Chinese and Trump administration officials are supposed to meet later this week to hammer out a trade agreement, but the challenge may be more difficult now that Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods. NPR’s Laura Sullivan talks to Yamiche Alcindor about how Trump’s more hawkish advisers are influencing his policy to depart from that of previous administrations.
SUMMARY: The economy, and the U.S. trade deficit specifically, is a major focus of President Trump’s agenda, driving his decision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods. But the latest data indicates the trade gap is actually growing, to its highest level in over a decade. Amna Nawaz talks to the Brookings Institution's David Wessel about rising American consumption and a healthy way to manage the deficit.
SUMMARY: With trade negotiations between the U.S. and China now in high gear, President Trump has suggested he might delay the latest round of tariffs on Chinese goods, currently scheduled to take effect March 1. Paul Solman reports on the disadvantages China faces in these trade negotiations, what options the country may have to retaliate and why trade wars can be "very, very stupid" maneuvers.
SUMMARY: At the annual United Nations General Assembly, President Trump met Monday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to talk about trade and the auto industry, as well as diplomatic outreach to North Korea. Nick Schifrin joins Judy Woodruff to discuss what they said, and what to expect from the rest of the week.
SUMMARY: China set out to retaliate against new U.S. import taxes on Chinese goods on Tuesday by saying it would levy tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods, ranging from agricultural products and machinery to chemicals. John Yang talks with David Wessel of the Brookings Institute about the affected industries and the outlook for a resolution.
SUMMARY: President Trump has long criticized NAFTA, so it’s little surprise that he is pursuing an alternative trade deal with Mexico. The tentative agreement reached this week contains provisions for keeping auto manufacturing in North America, ensures workers earn higher wages and addresses new industries. But where do talks stand with Canada? Judy Woodruff speaks with Greg Ip of the Wall Street Journal.
SUMMARY: The United States and Canada failed to reach a new free trade agreement by a self-imposed deadline Friday. Instead, President Trump announced he will sign a pact with Mexico in 90 days, and that Canada could still join it. The Canadian foreign minister said she's confident they can get a deal. Judy Woodruff learns more from Yamiche Alcindor.
SUMMARY: After leaving the G-7 summit in Quebec early, President Trump withdrew from the group's joint statement on trade and blasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "dishonest" for criticizing the U.S. tariffs and moving to retaliate. As Lisa Desjardins reports, a key relationship for both sides is at risk.
SUMMARY: President Trump has grown frustrated with Canada on a lack of progress in crafting a new NAFTA agreement, says Marc Short, director of legislative affairs for the Trump administration. Short sits down with Judy Woodruff to discuss reactions to the G-7 summit, the President’s focus on Canada and more.
SUMMARY: President Trump came into office insisting that the U.S. wouldn't be taken advantage of, by allies or adversaries. What do we learn from the most recent rancor at the G-7? Judy Woodruff gets analysis on Trump’s trade complaints from Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group.
SUMMARY: Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s news, including the Trump administration’s move to impose tariffs on U.S. allies, the President’s move to pardon conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza, reactions to Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet and Samantha Bee’s vulgar insult, plus veterans are running for Congress in record numbers.
Judy Woodruff (NewsHour): And that bring us to the analysis of Shields and Brooks. That’s syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Welcome to both of you.
So, Mark, do we believe that being a veteran this year is going to help these candidates?
Mark Shields, syndicated columnist: I think it will, Judy. And I will tell you why, why I think that.
And I thought Lisa’s piece captured it, but particularly with Mr. Avery there.
We now are in an era, irrespective of how you feel about parties, of the era of self politically, the era of me. And it’s — I was thinking how out of sync this era is with John McCain. John McCain’s message in 2000, 2008 was to serve a cause greater than yourself and my cause and my country, which I have served imperfectly.
Well, I think voters crave people who do have a sense of service, whether military service, certainly, but the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, that they have had a cause greater than themselves.
And I think we’re yearning for that in the country and I — it’s missing in our national leadership. It’s missing in the White House. And I think it’s prized by voters. I truly do.
Judy Woodruff: How do you see this?
David Brooks, New York Times: Yes.
Well, it’s always the case that voters want to know how a person’s character is formed before politics. And so strong candidates have military, maybe a business background, a faith background, something that will say, this is who made me who I am. It’s not just being a politician.
So, that’s perennial. I think this year in particular the veterans are surging, in part — I have met a bunch of them through a group called With Honor. And what strikes me is, when you meet them, is they bring that can-do attitude that they all learned in Iraq and Afghanistan or elsewhere, and they bring that to office.
I would say party identification is a smaller part of their personal identity than other people. They are running as Republicans and Democrats, but that’s not quite the same team they grew up in, which is not the case for a lot of people who have spent their lives working as staffers, and then moving up ranks.
And so they want to come to Congress and be less partisan. Whether that can actually happen is another question. Once you get here, you know, the fund-raising takes a ton of time. The party — the team spirit takes a lot out of you.
So we will see if they can actually do it. But it’s — they’re certainly all amazingly impressive people that you meet through this.
The final I will say is, so far, their win/loss record is not perfect. A bunch of them are losing too, which is what you would expect. So it’s not a lock-in, as we heard from Lisa’s piece.
Mark Shields: I will say the Democratic nominee in that race that Lisa just reported on in the 11th will almost surely be Mikie Sherrill, the former helicopter pilot.
And Amy McGrath, of course, did win Kentucky last week, a colonel, Marine Corps jet fighter pilot. And I think do think, Judy, that the reason that veterans are sort of prized is that at a time of universal draft, when four out of five senators that served, now we’re down to 7 percent of Americans who have ever worn the uniform, and just very few in the Congress.
Judy Woodruff: Well, we’re going to continue to watch and see how they do as the year goes on.
SUMMARY: Prospects for averting an all-out trade war grew dimmer as the second round of negotiations between the U.S. and China kicked off in Washington [D.C.]. The President said China had been “spoiled" by lenient U.S. trade policies for too long. Yamiche Alcindor reports, and Judy Woodruff talks with David Lampton of Johns Hopkins University about questions surrounding Chinese telecom ZTE and more.
SUMMARY: China counterpunched with new tariffs against U.S. products in the latest round of an escalating trade fight between the world's two largest economies. The Chinese announced plans for 25 percent tariffs on a list of American goods, including soybeans, cars, and chemicals, mirroring a Trump administration action hours earlier. Lisa Desjardins reports.
SUMMARY: As a trade showdown between the U.S. and China escalates, there's fears of how a trade war could hurt both countries. Special correspondent Katrina Yu reports from Beijing on how recently announced tariffs will affect farmers, importers, retailers, and consumers on both sides of the Pacific.
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump ran on a campaign promise that he would “put America first” by pulling out of multilateral trade agreements. But for many top industries, outsourcing in the global market is essential for business, not to mention vital to Americans’ standard of living. Is it feasible in the 21st century for America to go it alone? Economics correspondent Paul Solman reports.
SUMMARY: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) joins Judy Woodruff to discuss the chances of avoiding a government shutdown, rethinking American trade policy and the introduction of legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15, what Democrats need to do to build a grassroots movement and 50-state party.
SUMMARY: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with President Trump Friday amid growing concerns in Asia over trade, North Korea's missile and nuclear programs and China flexing its military muscle. Judy Woodruff speaks with Evan Medeiros, former Senior Director for Asian Affairs during the Obama administration, about what U.S. relations with Asia look like going forward.
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): As we mentioned earlier, the prime minister of Japan was at the White House today, the beginning of several days of talks with the president.
The visit comes amid growing concerns in Asia over trade, over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, and over China flexing its military muscle.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: The bond between our two nations and the friendship between our two peoples runs very, very deep.
JUDY WOODRUFF: The two leaders presented a united front, despite differences that have emerged in the early days of the Trump presidency.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had pushed hard for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, but President Trump has officially abandoned it.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: On the economy, we will seek a trading relationship that is free, fair, and reciprocal, benefiting both of our countries.
SHINZO ABE, Japanese Prime Minister (through interpreter): I am quite optimistic that good results will be seen from the dialogue. Now the free and fair common set of rules will be created for free trade in the region. That was the purpose of TPP. That importance has not changed. I, myself, believe that.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Abe also talked up Japanese industry's contributions to the U.S. economy, after Mr. Trump blasted Toyota last month for planning a new plant in Mexico.
Defense is another potential flash point. During the campaign, candidate Trump suggested Japan and South Korea could pay more for their own defense, up to and including nuclear weapons.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: North Korea has nukes. Japan has a problem with that. I mean, they have a big problem with that. Maybe they would in fact be better off if they defend themselves from North Korea.
QUESTION: With nukes?
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Including with nukes, yes, including with nukes.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Today, however, the president appeared to step back.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It is important that both Japan and the United States continue to invest very heavily in the alliance to build up our defense.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Some 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan, the largest American outpost in Asia. Last week, Secretary of Defense James Mattis made Asia his first overseas visit. In Japan, he reassured Abe that the U.S. will maintain its presence there.
The U.S. military also serves as the main counterweight to China's increasing aggressiveness in the South China Sea. Today, Abe said that must continue.
SHINZO ABE (through interpreter): We need to maintain the freedom of navigation and rule of law. Such international order there must be maintained.
SUMMARY: Bill Clinton’s tarmac talk with Attorney General Loretta Lynch gave the GOP more ammo in their portrayal of Democrat Hillary Clinton as playing outside the rules, syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review senior editor Ramesh Ponnuru tell Judy Woodruff. It comes as the FBI decides whether to push for an indictment in the email probe. Also, a look at Donald Trump’s trade policies.
SUMMARY: Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including the Republican search for a new Speaker of the House and Hillary Clinton’s coming out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): And now to the analysis of Shields and Brooks. That’s syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Welcome, gentlemen.
So, please explain what is going on.
Mark?
MARK SHIELDS, syndicated columnist: Sure, Judy.
(LAUGHTER)
MARK SHIELDS: Turmoil, chaos, toxic upheaval. And those are the friendly sources that are describing what’s going on in the House Republican Caucus.
What you basically have is a group of Republicans, one-sixth of the House Republicans, who view their election as a mandate to stand up and oppose the Democratic President and his overreach, by their judgment, in power, to frustrate him, to oppose him, and to repeal what — the Obama thing, and do not accept the concomitant responsibility of the governing party, of which they’re a member, to govern.
They’re the majority party, and so they’re essentially holding the entire caucus hostage.
JUDY WOODRUFF: But they’re holding the Congress, I mean, the House of Representatives…
MARK SHIELDS: They’re holding the House. But it means that the majority cannot operate the House.
Speaker Boehner after four years, said, I have had enough, leaving. Kevin McCarthy, his heir apparent, could not get to the 218. You have to get a majority of your own caucus. There’s 247 House Republicans. You have to get 218 of them in order to get elected speaker.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Right.
MARK SHIELDS: So, I guess that’s it, pretty simply. And so there is paralysis, quite honestly. And the party is in turmoil. And it has an implication nationally in the presidential election, because this is supposed to be the governing example of the Republicans.
SUMMARY: The U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations have struck the largest trade deal in a generation. The wide-ranging Trans-Pacific Partnership sets new rules for labor and environmental standards and reduces and phases out thousands of tariffs on American producers, among other provisions. But there's substantial opposition to the accord. Jeffrey Brown learns more from Greg Ip of The Wall Street Journal.
JEFFREY BROWN (NewsHour): It’s a wide-ranging accord that seeks to lower trade barriers and expand agricultural markets.
Among other things, it sets new rules for labor and environmental standards, reduces and phases out thousands of tariffs on American producers, provides between five and eight years of intellectual property rights for biologic drugs made here, and makes it easier for the U.S. to sell dairy products in countries like Canada and Japan.
But many provisions are the subject of deep skepticism and outright opposition from voices across the spectrum. And getting it approved by Congress during an election year is no small matter.
Greg Ip is chief economics commentator for The Wall Street Journal and the author of the forthcoming book “Foolproof,” and joins us now.
Welcome back, Greg.
GREG IP, The Wall Street Journal: Thanks, Jeff.
JEFFREY BROWN: First, an overview, huge dollar amounts, right, wide range of areas covered, and enormous economic stakes. It’s a big deal.
GREG IP: It’s a very big deal. It’s the biggest trade deal that has been negotiated since the Uruguay agreement of the World Trade organization, which was some 20 years ago.
It’s also the first trade agreement to be negotiated by the United States under the Obama presidency. The scope is very large, roughly 40 percent of world GDP. It covers areas that have heretofore not been covered in agreements of this size, like services, like intellectual property.
It’s important in geostrategic terms because it’s as important for the countries that are in it as the countries that are not, more importantly China.
JEFFREY BROWN: All right, we will get to that afterwards.
But in strictly economic terms first, the Obama administration and supporters point to what they see as benefits. Give us a couple of examples that they’re pointing to that’s in this deal.
GREG IP: Well, there are specific areas where the United States is very competitive that it has had trouble getting to other countries’ markets, agriculture, for example.
Under the agreement, countries like Japan and Canada, which have highly protected dairy sectors, will have to open up more to the United States. Then there are newer industries where the U.S. is very advanced like drugs, intellectual property, high-end services like accounting and engineering. When those services are exported to other countries, signatories to this agreement can no longer discriminate against American companies.
And there will be mechanisms that American companies that feel they have been discriminated against can challenge countries in their own courts.
SUMMARY: U.S. and Cuban diplomats resumed talks to iron out details of normalizing relations after decades of hostility. Judy Woodruff learns more from senior correspondent Jeffrey Brown, reporting from Cuba, and chief foreign correspondent Margaret Warner, who has been following the talks in Washington.
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): Officials from the U.S. and Cuba resumed talks today in Washington. They’re trying to iron out the details of reestablishing diplomatic relations, which were broken off more than 50 years ago.
At issue today, what it will take to reopen embassies in each other’s capitals? In December, Presidents Obama and Castro announced that they reestablish ties. And meeting in Panama, they reaffirmed that commitment.
Our own Jeffrey Brown is in Cuba all this week, reporting on what the opening up of that country means for them. And chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Warner has been following the progress of the talks here.
And we welcome both of you.
So, Margaret, you have been following these talks. What’s the latest?
MARGARET WARNER (NewsHour): The latest is, Judy, that they have wrapped up for the day and there is still no deal. Now, this is the fourth time they have met over the fairly confined issue of opening up embassies in each other’s capitals. And it’s proved tougher than they thought.
That said, apparently, things went encouragingly enough today that the two negotiators, Roberta Jacobson, assistant secretary, and her counterpart from Cuba, are having back-to-back news conferences tomorrow morning here in Washington. But then Ms. Vidal is returning to Havana.
There is some concern among U.S. officials that Cuba may be dragging its feet here a bit. Cuba has gotten what it wanted here, which was to have the President take it off the state sponsors of terrorism list and also help in finding a U.S. bank that was willing to handle Cuban money for the interests section.
SUMMARY: Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s news, including a death sentence for Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, an Amtrak funding and safety debate after the deadly derailment, the Senate fight over the possible Asia trade deal and questions for Jeb Bush on shifting support for the Iraq war.
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): So, I want to ask you first, though, both about the Boston verdict, sentencing verdict.
Mark, you’re from Boston. This is the death sentence, unanimous death sentence.
MARK SHIELDS, Syndicated columnist: It is, Judy.
And the one just outstanding image I have is that of Bill and Denise Richard, the parents of little Martin, the little angel 8-year-old who was blown up in front of their eyes while their daughter, Jane, lost her leg, and their request to give life without parole. Otherwise, they said, the death sentence, we will relive this. Every appeal that is made, we will relive the worst day of our life.
It is an aspect that — and a perspective, I think, that appealed to me, given my feelings on the death penalty. But as pointed out by the prosecution, he put — he put the bomb four feet away from a row of children. It was a horrific, horrific, inhuman act. So, you know, my heart goes out to the Richard family and to everybody else who was touched and remains pained.
JUDY WOODRUFF: But the jury went in the other direction.
DAVID BROOKS, York Times columnist: Yes. And some of the other families wanted this outcome. I think there was division among them.
I’m — personally, I am skeptical of the death penalty in cases where we don’t know, we’re not certain. There have been so many wrongful convictions, and so I’m not a fan of the death penalty. Nonetheless, I thought what Loretta Lynch, the new attorney general, said today was that this was truly the most horrendous crime imaginable, and for the most horrendous crime, the ultimate penalty is fitting.
I have some sympathy. And this is not a case where we really have too much doubt about who did it. We know this guy did it. It killed those children, and then killed the cop a couple of days later. And so if there’s ever going to be a death penalty, I guess I think this is the case. Whether he will actually ever get executed, I’m a little dubious. I don’t [think] he ever will. A lot of the federal cases, they rarely actually execute the people, because the appeals take so long. But I guess it’s fitting in this case.
SUMMARY: Senate Democrats blocked debate on renewing fast-track negotiating authority for President Obama, deemed vital for winning passing a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. Opponents of the bill, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, say details of the negotiated plan have been kept secret by the White House. Gwen Ifill reports.
GWEN IFILL (NewsHour): One of the president’s remaining top legislative goals is to get a major new trade accord with Asia. But he suffered a stinging defeat today in the opening battle to gain the authority to speed a deal through Congress. The magic number to start a full Senate debate was 60 votes. But, in falling short, it showed just how polarizing the disagreement over international trade really is.
MAN: On this vote, the yeas are 52; the nays are 45.
GWEN IFILL: In the end, trade politics put the President at odds with many in his own party and in line with most Republicans.
SEN. ORRIN HATCH, (R) Utah: We’re talking about President Obama’s top priority, his top legislative priority, and one of the most important bills in this President’s service as President of the United States of America.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER, (D) New York: We know the global economy is a rough sea. And Republicans are asking us to pass a trade package that forces the American worker to navigate those waters in a leaky boat. We want to plug up those leaks.
GWEN IFILL: The result, at least for now, is that the Senate has blocked renewal of the fast track negotiating authority that Mr. Obama wanted. That would allow Congress to approve, but not amend, future trade deals.
It’s deemed vital to winning passage of a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. TPP, as it’s known, would include 11 mostly Asian nations that, together with the U.S., account for some 40 percent of the global economy. Supporters say it would bring greater prosperity by removing tariffs and other barriers and opening trade.
The President visited the sportswear manufacturer Nike last week, which announced the deal would create allow them to create 10,000 American jobs.
SUMMARY: Supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership say the deal would bring greater prosperity by opening trade, but opponents say it fails to include labor protections and could cost jobs. In the first in a series of conversations about what’s at stake, Gwen Ifill talks to Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO about why he opposes the trade deal.
SUMMARY: Supporters of a proposed trade pact with Asia ran into a roadblock Tuesday when a test vote on giving President Obama fast-track authority failed in the Senate. Judy Woodruff talks to Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, a co-sponsor of the fast-track legislation, about a new compromise reached by lawmakers and why he supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
SUMMARY: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is one of the more vocal opponents in the debate over granting President Obama fast-track authority on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Judy Woodruff talks to Warren about her concerns about transparency and how American workers may be hurt.
SUMMARY: Days after Senate Democrats blocked debate over the president’s fast-track authority, the Senate put the trade deal with Asia back on track. To get a business perspective on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Hari Sreenivasan talks to John Murphy of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents 3 million businesses and employers and has been pushing hard for the deal.
Starting Friday, the Obama administration will significantly loosen restrictions on American trade and investment with Cuba allowing U.S. companies to export mobile phones, televisions and computers while easing travel restrictions opening the communist island to more American travelers.
The new rules will put a large dent in the U.S. embargo against Cuba and will even allow U.S. citizens to start bringing home small amounts of Cuban cigars after more than a half-century ban.
As of Friday, U.S. companies will also be able to export mobile memory devices, recording devices, and software to a country with notoriously poor Internet and telecommunications infrastructure. The goal is to "contribute to the ability of the Cuban people to communicate with people within Cuba, in the United States, and the rest of the world," according to a Treasury Department fact sheet. Internet-based communications will fall under a general license.
Americans permitted to travel to Cuba for family visits, official U.S. government business, journalism, research, education, religious activity and other reasons fall under a U.S. general license and don't need to apply for a separate license. A limit on remittance payments to family members in Cuba will be raised to $8,000 per year, from $2,000 per year. Americans visiting Cuba will be allowed to bring home $100 in alcohol and tobacco products, and $400 in total goods.
Other changes include:
—No more limits on how much money Americans spend in Cuba each day or what they spend it on.
—Remittances allowed to be sent to Cuban nationals has increased from $500 to $2,000 per quarter
—Permissible use of U.S. credit and debit cards.
—Travel agents and airlines can fly to Cuba without a special license.
—Insurance companies can provide coverage for health, life and travel insurance policies for individuals residing in or visiting Cuba.
—Financial institutions may open accounts at Cuban banks to facilitate authorized transactions.
—Investments can be made in some small businesses and agricultural operations.
—Companies may ship building materials and equipment to private Cuban companies to renovate private buildings.
—Certain micro-financing project and entrepreneurial and business training is now authorized.
Thursday's announcement of new Treasury and Commerce Department regulations are the next step in President Barack Obama's ambitious goal of re-establishing diplomatic relations with the government of Cuban President Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother. They come three days after U.S. officials confirmed the release of 53 political prisoners Cuba had promised to free.
Only Congress can end the five-decade embargo. But the measures give permission for Americans to use credit cards in Cuba and U.S. companies to export telephone, computer and Internet technologies. Investments in some small business are permitted. General tourist travel is still prohibited, but Americans authorized to visit Cuba need no longer apply for special licenses.
Obama vowed to soften the embargo last month and begin restoring diplomatic ties with Havana, saying "these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked." The deal was the product of 18 months of secret talks that culminated in the exchange of imprisoned spies and release of Alan Gross, a U.S. government contractor who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years.
The sudden rapprochement between Cold War foes has divided U.S. lawmakers across party lines and interests. Among Republicans and Democrats in Congress, Cuban-Americans such as Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Bob Menendez of New Jersey have been particularly vocal in opposition.
But some pro-business types have welcomed the opportunity to open up a new export market in a country so close to American shores. The head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for example, said Wednesday it was better for the U.S. to sell computers, smartphones and cars to Cuba than to cede such business to countries like Russia and China. Still, the embargo as a whole appears unlikely to fall anytime soon.
The U.S. and Cuba are scheduled to hold migration talks in Havana next week, the next step in their normalization process. Leading the American delegation is Roberta Jacobson, the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America. Her visit marks the highest-level trip to Cuba by a U.S. official since 1980.
Further down the road, Washington envisions reopening the U.S. Embassy in Havana and carrying out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments. Secretary of State John Kerry could travel to the island later this year.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
