“These regulatory changes build on the revisions implemented earlier this year and will further ease sanctions related to travel, telecommunications and internet-based services, business operations in Cuba, and remittances”, Mr. Lew said. Still, he said, the rules would deepen connections among Cubans and Americans in the interim and expose Cuba’s citizens to American values while helping US businesses.
Cuba is seeking the return of the U.S. Navy Base at Guantanamo Bay and payment for damages caused by the U.S.’s embargo on the island nation (Anadolu Agency).
“We’re hoping that we can be in solidarity with the Catholic community in Cuba”, said Maria Arazora who traveled with an adult pilgrim group with the Miami Archdiocese. The governments have been speaking about re-establishing a postal link since Obama entered office, but the talks stalled when Cuba imprisoned US contractor Alan Gross.
American companies in a range of sectors will also be allowed to set up physical shop in Cuba for the first time in decades.
“These new regulations are another desperate attempt to ignore the iron grip that the Castro regime maintains on the island’s economy and will only serve to benefit the coffers of the regime”, she said.
The two men chatted briefly about the current state of bilateral relations, especially in the wake of the first meeting of the Cuba-US Bilateral Commission in Havana on September 11.
The announcement comes just before Pope Francis, who played a key role in bringing Cuba and the USA closer together last December, visits the two countries. Although the congressionally authorized embargo on Cuba remains, the changes are designed to chip away at legislation that lawmakers so far have refused to lift.
Companies will also be able to import Cuban mobile applications to the USA and hire Cuban nationals to work on them.
Starting Monday, the new rules will also make it easier for cruise ships, ferries and other recreational vessels, including aircraft, to go to Cuba.
All travelers can now open a bank account in Cuba as well.
After US President Barack Obama announced the formal restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba on on July 1, 2015, the building resumed its role as the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Within that framework, airlines including JetBlue, American and others have teamed up with charter companies that fly to Cuba.
Kavulich said the new rules might allow FedEx Corp. or United Parcel Service Inc.to open drop-off locations in Cuba, or Deere & Co.to have a showroom there.
Washington and Havana are slated to begin a “pilot program” allowing Cubans and Americans to send mail directly to one another, the official said. It’s important to mention that the Cuban government has been attempting to improve connectivity in the country, offering Wi-Fi back in March, and then in June, more than halving the price of Wi-Fi to $2 per hour from $4.50 per hour.