The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden will revoke U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism as part of a prisoner release deal.

President-elect Donald Trump reinstated the designation in the final days of his first presidential term in 2021, banning U.S. economic aid and arms exports to the country.

But on Tuesday, Biden administration officials said an assessment of the situation “did not provide any information to support this designation.”

Cuba said the move was a step “in the right direction” despite its “limited nature”.

“This decision puts an end to specific coercive measures that, together with many other measures, have caused serious damage to the Cuban economy and have had a severe impact on the people,” the Cuban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The hope is that the move will lead to the release of some protesters jailed following massive anti-government protests amid Cuba’s 2021 economic recession.

White House officials said a “significant number” of prisoners would be released “in the short term” as part of the deal, with a push from the Catholic Church.

Cuba is currently fighting alongside North Korea, Syria and Iran List of U.S. countries that sponsor terrorism.

This means that they are considered by the United States to have “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism.”

Trump put Cuba back on the list in 2015 after it was removed by U.S. President Barack Obama, citing the communist country’s accusations against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. support.

At the time, Cuba called the move “cynical,” “hypocritical” and an act of “political opportunism.”

In addition to prompting the release of prisoners, the decision is also important because it can be seen as a step toward normalizing relations between Cuba and the United States.

This could pave the way for dialogue on other contentious issues.

It could also help ease Cuba’s dire economic situation, as some major banks and foreign investors have struggled to operate legally in the country.

A White House statement said Biden will brief Congress on his plan, which also includes reversing Trump-era financial restrictions on some Cubans.

He will also suspend the ability of individuals to file claims for confiscated property in Cuba, the statement said.

It is unclear whether Trump will reverse this latest decision when he returns to office on January 20.

Marco Rubio, the president-elect’s nominee to be the next U.S. secretary of state, has long advocated sanctions against Cuba.

His family left the country in the 1950s, before the communist revolution brought Fidel Castro to power.