US and Cuba trade and travel rules take effect
January 16, 2015
The new regulations allow Americans to visit Cuba for any of a dozen specific reasons, including family visits, education and religion, research, journalism and professional meetings, without first obtaining a special license from the US government as was previously the case. The visitors will be able to use US credit and debit cards while they are there.
As of Friday, US citizens can also start bringing home small quantities of Cuban cigars. The limit is $100 (86 euros) for alcohol and tobacco products, and a total of $400 for all items they take into the US. But there will no longer be a limit on how much money US citizens can spend in Cuba each day.
The new regulations came into force the same week that US officials confirmed the release of 53 political prisoners which Cuba had promised to free.
Restrictions loosened
Most US travelers will still have to visit Cuba as part of a supervised group but from now on, almost any US company or organization can offer trips without the paperwork and inspections that had previously discouraged all but the most determined visitor.
President Barack Obama announced last month he would loosen restrictions, saying "these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked." Obama has also said the US will open an embassy in Cuba.
But only US Congress can fully end the 54-year embargo.
US companies will be allowed to export telephones, computers and internet technology and to send supplies to private Cuban firms.
Obama's spokesman Josh Earnest said in an email statement: "These changes will immediately enable the American people to provide more resources to empower the Cuban population to become less dependent upon the state-driven economy, and help facilitate our growing relationship with the Cuban people."
There has been no announcement from the Cuban authorities on any limitation on US products coming into the Cuban market.
Commercial flights
The US and Cuban governments will have to sign a treaty before regular commercial air services are resumed.
Airlines which had permission to fly to Cuba in the 1950s will have to wait until a new accord is met: "The US government will engage with the government of Cuba to assess our aviation relations and establish a bilateral basis for further expansion of air services," Susan Kurland, the US Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, announced in a statement.
United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways have all expressed an interest in flying the US to Cuba route.
Some 170,000 US travellers were authorized to visit Cuba last year, according to the US Department of Commerce.
jm/ng (AP, Reuters)