Obama chips away at Cuba embargo, easing business and travel rules

The USA has announced eased restrictions on business and travel with Cuba, the latest move by President Barack Obama to improve relations with the country.

The changes also allow United States of America companies to provide Internet and communications services in Cuba.

“It seems like it should be positive”, said Dave Salmonsen, a trade policy specialist with the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The White House also looks to open relations between US and Cuban universities, allowing a lifting of academic sanctions with standardized testing services and internet-based courses will become available for the Cuban people to participate in.

US corporations have been working behind the scenes with the Obama administration for months to bring about the normalization the president promised, which began with an initial set of regulatory changes in January.

“Today’s announcement underscores the administration’s commitment to promote constructive change for the Cuban people”, said Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in a statement.

The loosening of sanctions will take effect Monday and includes granting American businesses the ability to do business in Cuba as well as open offices there.

Analysts worry, for example, that while Washington now will allow USA companies to open offices in Cuba and hire Cubans directly, Havana usually requires hiring through Cuban government agencies.

Authorized American citizens now will be able to travel by cruise ship or ferry to Cuba without seeking specific authorization from the US government, though a USA official told the AP earlier this week that a direct maritime route probably won’t be established until next year.

The new rules do not allow carte blanche for USA firms to invest in Cuba nor complete freedom for tourists to travel there.

Speaking to Cuban daily Granma after the ceremony, Cabanas said that “exchanging ambassadors since ancient times is a sign of normality and respect among nations”.

Cuban President Raul Castro spoke with President Obama by phone Friday, and, according to the leader’s office in Havana, he “emphasized the need to deepen the reach” of the relaxed rules and “reiterated his call to end the full embargo”, the AFP said.

The changes, while significant, stop short of allowing across-the-board investment by USA companies or general US tourism, activities banned under the broader embargo.

The news was announced by an American official who demanded anonymity, Fox News Latino reported from The Associated Press. Pope Francis’s visit to the USA will also increase pressure on lawmakers to take steps to lift the embargo.

USA and Cuban officials met in Havana last week to try nail down some of the first steps toward normalizing relations.

Regularly scheduled airline flights connecting the Cuba and the United States could be back on the schedule as soon as next year. “It is very important that USA companies can both lease space and open accounts at Cuban banks.This will help make it easier for US companies to do business”. The US and Cuban governments haven’t said if Messrs.