[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]American agricultural exporters can start opening offices and storage facilities in Cuba[/title][fusion_text]Friday, September 18th, 2015
American agricultural exporters can start opening offices and storage facilities in Cuba, under a series of steps finalized by the Obama administration to ease restrictions on business and travel. The businesses also will be authorized to hire Cuban nationals and maintain bank accounts in the country, under regulations released by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The regulations allow companies handling agricultural commodities and other authorized exports to have offices, retail outlets and warehouses in Cuba. In July, U.S. food exports to Cuba were down by more than 8 percent from the year before, according to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council. Cuba imported $3.3 million in food and agriculture products this July, compared to $17 million in 2014. The release of the regulations came just before Pope Francis’ arrival in Cuba ahead of his U.S. visit next week. The new regulations also will relax restrictions on passenger and cargo vessels and allow Americans to provide some telecommunications and Internet services in Cuba.
[/fusion_text][/fullwidth]