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ARTICLE · 15 APRIL 2016

Obama Administration Further Eases Cuba-Related Sanctions And Export Controls

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The latest relaxation of sanctions provides greater opportunities for certain U.S. businesses to engage with Cuba.

United StatesInternational Law
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Christian Davis
Christian Davis
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On March 16, 2016, ahead of President's Obama's visit to Cuba, OFAC and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented amendments to the CACR and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that further ease the U.S. sanctions and export controls targeting Cuba, particularly related to financial transactions, travel and certain trade-related activities.

The latest relaxation of sanctions provides greater opportunities for certain U.S. businesses to engage with Cuba. U.S. exporters of authorized or exempt goods, entities providing mail or parcel transmission services or cargo transportation services, and providers of carrier and travel services are now able to establish a business presence, such as a joint venture, in Cuba to facilitate authorized transactions. The changes also ease restrictions on cargo shipping by allowing cargo vessels from the United States to transit through Cuban territory en route to other countries

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