US eases travel, trade rules on Cuba ahead of Obama's visit
The United States has announced that it would further ease travel and trade regulations on Cuba, days ahead of President Barack Obama’s historic visit to the island nation.
The new rules, announced by the US Treasury and Commerce Departments on Tuesday, will allow Americans to travel to Cuba as individuals, and give Cubans more access to US banks.
The changes will go into effect on Wednesday as part of the broader easing of diplomatic relations between the two former Cold War adversaries.
Cubans will now be able to open US bank accounts, and those who live in the US can earn a salary or compensation.
Previously, Americans could visit Cuba only in group tours, but the new changes will allow them to take “people to people” educational trips.
“The simple basis of our policy is that by loosening these restrictions we are better able to engage the Cuban people, to support them and to build bridges between our two countries,” Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said.
Obama is scheduled to travel to Cuba on March 20, making him the first sitting US president to visit the island nation in 88 years.
The two countries have reopened embassies in Washington and Havana, and restored commercial air travel.
The newly amended sanctions regulations, however, fall short of ending the embargo which has been in place for more than 55 years.
“We believe that the best way to support a better life for the Cuban people would be through lifting the embargo and the travel ban that have not succeeded in bringing change to the lives of the Cuban people, and improving their livelihoods,” Rhodes said.
Lifting the embargo will require congressional approval.
In December 2014, Obama announced the US would normalize relations with Cuba.
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