According to the document “Under the new policy, the United States expands and promotes authorized engagements with Cuba to advance cooperation on areas of mutual interest, and increase travel to, commerce with, and the free flow of information to Cuba,” although the over 50-year economic, financial and commercial blockade remains in force.

The text disseminated by the White House notes that “Since the United States announced on December 17, 2014, that it would chart a new course with Cuba, we have re-established diplomatic relations and have made progress toward the normalization of our bilateral relationship,” including the opening of embassies, among other actions.

“This new directive consolidates and builds upon the changes we’ve already made, promotes transparency by being clear about our policy and intentions, and encourages further engagement between our countries and our people,” reads a statement issued the same day by President Obama, regarding the new policy directive.

The cited document continues, “Consistent with this approach, the Departments of Treasury and Commerce issued further regulatory changes today, building on the progress made over the last two years, to continue to facilitate more interaction between the Cuban and American people, including through travel and commercial opportunities.”

According to the U.S. President “These changes are representative of the progress I saw firsthand when I visited Havana,” last March. The new measures announced by the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Commerce, which are set to enter into effect on Monday, October 17, include new avenues for joint cooperation projects in the fields of scientific research, and U.S. imports of Cuban manufactured pharmaceutical products.

Meanwhile, U.S. citizens permitted to travel to the island under the 12 authorized categories will be able to import, for their personal use, unlimited quantities of Cuban rum and cigars in their luggage.

The U.S. agriculture sector will be able to export items such as pesticides or tractors to Cuba; transactions which will no longer require the island to pay in advance and in cash.

The restriction which prevented hundreds of foreign ships which had docked in Cuba from making port in the United States in order to load or unload for a period of 180 days, is also being lifted. The U.S. Department of the Treasury also announced that scholarships for scientific research and religious activities will be made available.

(Prensa Latina)

Below are some of the actions taken to date by President Obama:

1. The 12 categories of U.S. citizens permitted to travel to Cuba can do so now under a general license. Travelers are no longer subject to spending limits on the island and can use their credit and debit cards. Approved travelers can be accompanied by their families.

2. In the area of telecommunications, exports of goods and services to Cuba are authorized. The main limitation is the requirement to pay cash in advance.

3. The list of U.S. products which can be exported to Cuba without having to request authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce is reduced to telecommunications products and services, construction materials and equipment and tools for the use of the non-state sector, including agriculture.

4. The authorization to import Cuban goods and services produced by the non-state sector – which excludes key items for the Cuban economy such as tobacco.

5. The modifications to the regulations on maritime transport, which allow for cargo ships carrying humanitarian goods to Cuba to enter U.S. ports before the 180 day limit applied to others – irrelevant since in practice the majority are not limited to transporting food, medicines, medical equipment or other authorized exports.

6. Changes in the financial sphere merely facilitate processing of authorized transactions relating to travel, exports and remittances.

7. The sale to Cuba of products by other countries containing up to 25% U.S. made components is permitted – the previous limit was 10%.

8. The establishment of offices in Cuba by companies approved to have relations with the island was authorized.

Listed next are measures which the President has the authority to implement, to substantially modify the blockade:

1. Authorize the use of the U.S. dollar in Cuba’s international transactions.

2. Permit Cuban entities (banks, companies, etc.) to open corresponding accounts with U.S. banks.

3. End the policy of financial persecution against Cuba, which has included the imposition of fines and sanctions.

4. Allow the granting of credits, loans and finance to Cuba, in order to purchase products from the U.S. market (excluding agricultural products, prohibited by law).

5. Authorize U.S. products to be directly exported to Cuba.

6. Allow Cuba to import products from third countries which contain over 25% U.S. made components.

7. Allow the U.S. to import Cuban products and services which constitute exportable goods key to the Cuban economy, such as tobacco, rum and biotechnology products, including products manufactured in third countries which contain Cuban raw materials such as nickel or sugar.

8. Allow U.S. companies to invest in Cuba.

9. Eliminate the value limit on Cuban goods that U.S. travelers can import from Cuba, for personal use or as gifts.

10. Allow U.S. citizens to receive medical treatment in Cuba.

11. Instruct U.S. representatives in international financial institutions not to impede the granting of credits or other financial services to Cuba.

Five important aspects of the blockade which require Congressional action:

1. Permitting travel for the purposes of tourism (Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000)

2. The ban on U.S. subsidiaries in other countries trading with Cuba (Torricelli Act)

3. The prohibition on doing business with formerly U.S. owned companies in Cuba which were nationalized (Helms-Burton Act)

4. The obligation to pay cash in advance for purchases of agricultural products from the U.S. (Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000)

5. The complete elimination of the blockade (Helms-Burton Act)

Mr. President:

Consistent with the announcements made on December 17, 2014, and the high level discussions between our two governments, I am pleased to address this letter to you in order to confirm that the Republic of Cuba has agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations with the United States of America and open permanent diplomatic missions in our respective countries on July 20, 2015.

In making this decision, Cuba is encouraged by the reciprocal intention to develop respectful and cooperative relations between our two peoples and governments.

Cuba is likewise inspired by the principles and purposes enshrined in the United Nations Charter and International Law, namely, sovereign equality, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, non-interference in matters which are within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, the development of friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and cooperation in solving international problems and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all.

All of the above is consistent with the spirit and the norms established in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18, 1961, and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of April 24, 1963, which both the Republic of Cuba and the United States of America are Parties to, and will govern diplomatic and consular relations between the Republic of Cuba and the United States of America.

H.E. Mr. Barack H. Obama

President of the United States of America

I avail myself of this opportunity to express to you, Mr. President, the assurances of my consideration.

Raúl Castro Ruz

(Original signed)