Cuba travel

Obama to further ease Cuba travel, business restrictions

By Nick Gass

The White House announced Friday that it is relaxing additional restrictions on Cuba regarding travel, commerce and investment, stemming from President Barack Obama's call to ease Cuban sanctions last December.

The regulatory changes include making it easier to travel to the island country, expanding general licenses for telecommunications and Internet-based services, allowing certain people and businesses to set up shop in the country, as well as to open bank accounts.

The Monday start date for the new rules coincides with Pope Francis’s visit to the island, just a day before he arrives in the United States. The White House has credited the pontiff with driving the initial thawing of relations in December, and Francis is seen as a key ally in their effort to persuade Congress to further lift sanctions.

“Today’s announcement underscores the Administration’s commitment to promote constructive change for the Cuban people. These regulatory changes build on the revisions implemented earlier this year and will further ease sanctions related to travel, telecommunications and internet-based services, business operations in Cuba, and remittances," Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in a statement. "A stronger, more open U.S.-Cuba relationship has the potential to create economic opportunities for both Americans and Cubans alike. By further easing these sanctions, the United States is helping to support the Cuban people in their effort to achieve the political and economic freedom necessary to build a democratic, prosperous, and stable Cuba."

U.S. nationals are allowed to provide and receive goods and services to and from Cuban nationals but the ban on the export commercial exportation of goods or services remains. Imports from Cuba and other merchandise originating from the country will be allowed, provided that it is not alcohol or tobacco, is worth less than $100, and is not being carried by a traveler.

The changes are also intended to make it easier for cruise ships to dock in Cuba, but only with trips that go between the U.S. and the country and no third countries.

According to a fact sheet from the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, rules limiting donative remittances to Cuban nationals (other than prohibited government or Communist Party members) to just $2,000 will be lifted entirely.

Academic restrictions will also fall by the wayside, permitting academic exchanges and other joint non-commercial research between American and Cuban universities.

“The regulations published today are designed to support the emerging Cuban private sector and bring us one step closer to achieving President Obama’s historic policy goals. These actions build upon previous Commerce regulatory changes, and will ease travel restrictions, enhance the safety of Americans visiting the country, and promote more business opportunities between U.S. and Cuban companies. In addition to expanding our commercial engagement with the Cuban people, these additional adjustments have the potential to stimulate long overdue economic reform across the country," said Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker in a statement.