Relaxed Cuba regs encourage ‘meaningful interactions’ but not individual tourism
The US government is relaxing some of the sanctions imposed against Cuba, with OFAC following through on a 16 May announcement that the government would take steps to ‘increase support for the Cuban people and safeguard our national security interests,’ in line with a ‘policy review’ centred on ‘human rights, and empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future.’
A 9 June final rule explains that OFAC is ‘amending the general license at § 515.564 to include an authorization for travel-related and other transactions incident to travel to Cuba to attend or organize professional meetings or conferences in Cuba.’
It says that OFAC is also ‘amending the general license at § 515.565 to add an authorization for group people-to people educational travel that takes place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction and that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact,’ but that ‘such travelers must be accompanied by an employee, paid consultant, or agent of the sponsoring organization,’ and that authorized travel-related transactions ‘must be for the purpose of engaging, while in Cuba, in a full-time schedule of activities that are intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities; and will result in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba.’
OFAC is also removing ‘certain restrictions on authorized academic educational activities.’ But, it points out, ‘This amendment does not authorize individual people-to-people travel-related transactions. OFAC is not authorizing travel-related transactions for travel to, from, or within Cuba for tourist activities, which are prohibited by statute.’
The relaxation also includes removal of a ‘$1,000 quarterly limit on remittances to Cuban nationals who are close relatives.’
