New rules on US-Cuba trade and travel published

The United States' Department of the Treasury's office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has issued new regulations that ease restrictions on trade and travel with Cuba.

Effective on January 16, 2015, OFAC eased restrictions in certain key areas. The principal changes are as follows.

Travel to Cuba

It is still not possible to travel to Cuba for general tourism. However, it is possible for get a general licences for 12 types of travel that would formerly have required a specific application each time. Each traveler who relies on a general licence for travel must retain specific records for five years that indicate that the travel was covered by the terms of a general license.

Broadly speaking, the general licences are available for 

• family visits
  
• official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
• journalistic activity
  
• professional research and professional meetings
  
• educational activities
  
• religious activities
  
• public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions
  
• support for the Cuban people
  
• humanitarian projects
  
• activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
  
• exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials
  
• certain authorized export transactions.

For a more detailed explanation of these categories, please see the FAQs on the OFAC website.

Sending/bringing money to Cuba

The limits on the amount of money that can be sent to Cuba is increased to $2000 per quarter (from $500). the amount that a traveler can bring to Cuba is now $10,000 (up from $3,000).

Travelers can bring up to $100 of alcohol or tobacco (yes, that limits the import of Cuban cigars!) from Cuba.

Travellers can now use many US-issued credit/debit cards in Cuba (check with your bank before travelling).

Trade with Cuba.

U.S.-owned or controlled entities in a third country are now authorized to provide goods and services to a Cuban national who is located outside of Cuba, provided that the transaction does not involve a commercial exportation, directly or indirectly, of goods or services to or from Cuba. A licence from the US Commerce Department may still be required, however, if the transaction involves the release of controlled technology to a Cuban national. 

The Commerce Department regulations now authorize certain transactions related to communications to take place without the need for a license. This includes commercial sales and donations of the export and re-export of consumer communications devices (personal computers, mobile phones, televisions, memory devices, recording devices, and consumer software) and exports of items for the establishment and upgrade of communications-related systems and infrastructure. 

The regulations also permits the export and re-export to Cuba of items to support private economic activity, including building materials, goods for use by private sector entrepreneurs such as auto mechanics, barbers and hairstylists and restaurateurs, and tools and equipment for private sector agricultural activity. 

For more information, please see these links:
OFAC Cuba page
Commerce Dept, Bureau of Industry and Security, Cuba page.
Commerce Dept. Fact Sheet

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