Commerce and Treasury Announce Further Amendments to the Cuba Sanctions Regulations

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are announcing new amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), respectively.  These amendments further implement the new direction toward Cuba that President Obama laid out in December 2014. The changes will take effect on January 27, 2016, when the regulations are published in the Federal Register.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker:
Today’s Commerce rule builds on previous changes by authorizing additional exports including for such purposes as disaster preparedness; education; agricultural production; artistic endeavors; food processing; and public transportation.  These regulatory changes will also facilitate exports that will help strengthen civil society in Cuba and enhance communications to, from and among the Cuban people.  Looking ahead, we will continue to support greater economic independence and increased prosperity for the Cuban people, as we take another step toward building a more open and mutually beneficial relationship between our two nations.

To see the Treasury regulations, which can be found at 31 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part 515, please see here.

​To see the Commerce regulations, which can be found at 15 CFR part 746, please see here. Effective January 27, major elements of the changes in the revised regulations pertain to the following areas:

• Financing
  Removing financing restrictions for most types of authorized exports.
• Exports
  Additional amendments to increase support for the Cuban people and facilitate authorized exports.
• Air Carrier Services
  Additional amendment to facilitate carrier service by air and with Cuban airlines.
• Travel​
  Expanding authorizations within existing travel categories to facilitate travel to Cuba for additional purposes.​​

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