The Obama administration is embarking on a “policy shift” to normalize diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Cuba, according to senior administration officials who spoke with reporters on background Wednesday morning. One official described the current Cuban policy as “past its expiration date.”
The administration officials said the shift, which will include reestablishing an American embassy in Havana and opening up some trade, is the “most significant change to our Cuban policy in nearly 50 years.” The government will be licensing travel by Americans to Cuba, though it will not be lifting the travel ban, which administration officials say will require legislation from Congress. Cuban cigars will not be available for commercial importation, though the officials noted Americans traveling to Cuba will be allowed to bring back to the U.S. up to $100 of alcohol or tobacco products.
