HAVANA (AP) — The U.S. is loosening rules on travel to Cuba and the Cuban government’s use of the dollar, removing obstacles to closer ties between the two countries five days before President Barack Obama makes a historic trip to Havana.
The Obama administration announced Tuesday that Americans can now take “people-to-people” trips to Cuba on their own instead of on expensive group tours. That means any American can legally go to Cuba as long as they fill out a form asserting that their trip was for educational purposes instead of tourism. The measure is expected to help fill demand for direct flights that U.S. airlines hope to launch in coming months.
The new measures also allow U.S. banks to process Cuban government transactions that pass even momentarily through the U.S. banking system. A ban on those transactions crippled Cuba’s ability to buy and sell goods internationally and become one of Cuba’s biggest complains about the U.S. trade embargo on the island.
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Sanity comes creeping in using tiny steps.
have the rules been changed vis-a-vis cigars and rum yet?
I’ll be furthering my education in the areas of rum and cigars. Continuing ed, really.
Sort of. For the most part there never was a problem ( other than forfeiture ) if you did not deny you had the stuff. I don’t smoke but my friends do and I’ve brought many Cuban’s back home. I usually stick them in my photo bag and say nothing unless asked. If asked I tell them what I have. Rarely do they take them. Lie and you are in deep shit. Avoid the big asshole custom’s guy in Atlanta though…he’s a problem. I’ve never had Rum taken even if US Customs left a note in the bag the bottles were in.
But it’s Cuba man! The place is spectacularly beautiful, dirt cheap and fun. Perhaps the biggest con job every laid on the American people. Drink and smoke there…it’s a must.
I dunno about cheap anymore. I’ve been going there [legally] since 1999 and it’s been pretty expensive in Havana the last few times.