The Treasury and Commerce departments will ease travel to Cuba and lift other trade-related sanctions beginning Wednesday to further President Obama’s goal of normalizing relations with the communist island nation.
“By expanding people-to-people ties, business opportunities and greater access to information, we are promoting the transformation of our relationship in ways that advance U.S. interests and improve the lives of the Cuban people,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price stated on Tuesday.
The new regulations, which will be printed in Wednesday’s Federal Register and take immediate effect, “will allow blocked space, code-sharing and leasing arrangements” with Cuban airlines to facilitate authorized travel, such as for professional meetings. Crews flying to Cuba will be allowed to stay, temporarily, on the island.
But pure tourism travel to Cuba remains illegal.
Payment and financing restrictions on allowable exports and re-exports will also be lifted, but not for agricultural products.
As of Wednesday, exports for “disaster preparedness, education, agricultural production, artistic endeavors, food processing and public transportation,” among other items, will be allowed, according to a joint release issued by the Treasury and Commerce departments.
“These regulatory changes will also facilitate exports that will help strengthen civil society in Cuba and enhance communications to, from and among the Cuban people,” stated Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.
“Looking ahead, we will continue to support greater economic independence and increased prosperity for the Cuban people, as we take another step toward building a more open and mutually beneficial relationship between our two nations,” stated Pritzker, who in October embarked on a fact-finding mission to Havana.
