As the president and first family tour Cuba in an historic visit to the nation, diplomats are meeting to continue to work out plans to open trade and tourism between the two nations.
Nearly a year and a half ago, U.S. president Barack Obama and Cuban leader Raul Castro announced plans to remove impediments to travel and financial dealings between the two countries after an embargo was put into place some 60 years ago.
Here are some of the changes that have taken place between Cuba and America during the past 15 months and before.
Travel
- The general ban on travel to Cuba remains in effect. Only certain types of travel to Cuba are available for Americans.
- Travel restrictions that kept Americans from going to Cuba for individual or "people-to-people" educational trips have been lifted. Previously, Americans could only travel in groups for such trips.
- Pending approval from Cuba, some U.S. cruise lines will begin service to the country.
- The U.S. is restoring up to 110 direct, commercial roundtrip flights a day. The Transportation Department will award the first flight routes soon.
- More "general licenses" for travel to Cuba will be approved -- more Americans can travel to Cuba without having to apply for permission in advance.
- When you travel to Cuba from the U.S., you may now be allowed to bring back up to $400 of merchandise, including tobacco and alcohol products. However the alcohol and tobacco products cannot be worth more than $100 combined.
- The online lodging service Airbnb has received a special license allowing them to book stays in private homes in Cuba.
- Cuban-Americans may now have unlimited visits with family members in Cuba.
Financial
- U.S. institutions will be permitted to open accounts at Cuban financial institutions so as to be able to authorized transactions between the counties and other countries.
- U.S. credit and debit cards will be permitted for use by travelers to Cuba.
- Cuban citizens may open bank accounts in the United States and can use them to send money to Cuba.
- The exports of goods such as construction materials are now allowed.
- A U.S. factory will be built in the country. It is an assembly plant that will build small tractors.
- Cuban citizens may not earn salaries in the United States without having to start the immigration process.
- The limit on how much people in the United States may send to Cuba has been increased. Now people in the U.S. may send $2,000 every three months. The previous amount was $500 every three months with a $1,200 annual cap.
Political
- The Cuba Embassy was reopened in Washington D.C. and the United States Embassy was reopened in Havana.
- Prisoners were released in each country -- three Cubans jailed in the U.S. were let go; Cuba released American Alan Gross.
- President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro met in Panama for the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries in 60 years.
- The State Department removed Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Communications
- Only an estimated 5 percent of Cubans have access to wifi. The new rules have authorized the commercial export of some communications and Internet devices. That would include hardware, software and other internet services.
Misc.
- Restored direct mail service. The first flight of direct mail from the United States to Cuba left just prior to the president's trip this weekend.
Here are the categories for which general licenses for travel to Cuba:
1. Family visits
2. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
3. Journalistic activity
4. Professional research and professional meetings
5. Educational activities
6. Religious activities
7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions
8. Humanitarian projects
9. Activities of private foundations, research, or educational institutions
10. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials
11. Certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines
Source: Whitehouse.gov; Associated Press; Washington Post
About the Author
