Please have a look at this sentence

[poli]

Pero lo más estimulante es que hay varios proyectos de ley con gran consenso entre parlamentarios demócratas y republicanos que, si bien no suprimen el embargo, implican una mejora en la relación.

My question is in the highlighted portion. I translate this way: if they don't lift the embargo.
My question is the use of bien. Is this usage common? I'm a little confused about it.

Thank you.

[Bolboreta]

Si bien es una expresión culta que significa "aunque". Podrías decir: ...que aunque no suprimen el embargo implican una mejora en la relación.

[poli]

De acuerdo. Tambien lo guguelí y esán de acuerdo contigo, pero en la frase (si el significado es although) no hace sentido. ¿Puede significar provided that?

[Marsopa]

How about as long as for si bien...?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

No. Bolboreta is right. "Si bien" = "aunque" always. It is used to oppose two concepts or to designate an exception.

Your sentence says that it's positive that there is an agreement in the Congress about bills that even though (although) they won't lift the embargo, they will actually improve the relationship between countries.

[poli]

Thanks very much for all your clear explanations