Regulations designed to relax travel and trade rules between the U.S. and Cuba took effect Friday, just weeks after President Barack Obama announced an agreement between the two countries to normalize relations.
The new rules, announced by the Treasury and Commerce departments, significantly ease travel restrictions imposed on Americans wanting to visit the country, and permit various technologies to be exported. However, only Congress has the authority to completely end the 54-year embargo, reported The Associated Press. Obama took executive action last month to begin the normalization process.
While most American travelers will still be required to go on supervised group trips to Cuba, nearly any U.S. organization can now offer trips without the need for paperwork and inspections, as previously required, according to the AP.
The rules also permit U.S. companies to begin exporting technology such as telephones, computers and internet devices, and to send supplies to private Cuban businesses.
U.S. citizens can also now bring home $400 worth of Cuban goods, including $100 worth of Cuban cigars, rum and tobacco, The Hill reported. Travelers are allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on the island, and can now use their U.S. credit and debit cards for purchases.
Cuban-Americans who have family living in Cuba can send up to $2,000 per quarter as well.
Commercial airlines are expected to soon begin offering flights to Cuba, with United Airlines airlines announcing on Thursday plans to offer flights to Cuba from its terminal in Houston and Newark, according to BBC.
It's still not clear what, if any, restrictions Cuban authorities might impose on U.S. products entering the country.
The new changes "immediately enable the American people to provide more resources to empower the Cuban population to become less dependent upon the state-driven economy," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, the AP reported.
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Thursday that the rules are "one step closer to replacing out-of-date policies."
