US tightens travel rules to Cuba, blacklists many businesses

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Josh Lederman, Associated Press
 Updated 9:21 pm, Wednesday, November 8, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans seeking to visit Cuba must navigate a complicated maze of travel, commerce and financial restrictions unveiled Wednesday by the Trump administration, part of a new policy to further isolate the island's communist government.

Now off-limits to U.S. citizens are dozens of Cuban hotels, shops, tour companies and other businesses included on a lengthy American blacklist of entities that have links to Cuba's military, intelligence or security services. And most Americans will once again be required to travel as part of heavily regulated, organized tour groups run by U.S. companies, rather than voyaging to Cuba on their own.
 
The stricter rules mark a return to the tougher U.S. stance toward Cuba that existed before former President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro restored diplomatic relations in 2015. They come as President Donald Trump tries to show he's taking action to prevent U.S. dollars from helping prop up the Cuban government.
 
"These measures confirm there is a serious reversal in bilateral relations which has occurred as a result of the decisions taken by the government of President Donald Trump," said Josefina Vidal, the top Cuban diplomat for North America.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/article/US-takes-steps-to-make-it-harder-for-Americans-to-12340949.php

[Angry Dragon]

1. Trump really hates Obama

perhaps he is racist

[mamas]

4. No more than other low esteem racists and bigots.

He will be haunted by Obama-hate until he draws his last breath.

[ancianita]

2. I was just there in August. It's the jewel of the Caribbean, treated like a US colony.

[nitpicker]

3. LInk to DW

http://www.dw.com/en/us-tightens-terms-for-americans-traveling-to-cuba/a-41307804

[Judi Lynn]

5. Trump administration restricts Cuba travel and trade dealing unfair blow to Cubans

By Roberta Rampton and Sarah Marsh
Updated 9 November 2017 – 06:23pm first published at 12:16pm

Washington/Havana: From Thursday, it will be tougher for Americans to visit Cuba and do business in the country, making good on a pledge by President Donald Trump to roll back his Democratic predecessor’s move toward warmer ties with Havana.

The restrictions, which take effect on Thursday, are aimed at preventing the military, intelligence and security arms of Cuba’s Communist government from benefiting from American tourists and trade, the White House said.

They fill in the regulatory detail on a Trump policy speech in June, in which the Republican president called for a tightening of restrictions. He said then that the Cuban government continued to oppress its people and former president Barack Obama had made too many concessions in his 2014 diplomatic breakthrough with Washington’s former Cold War foe.

The regulations include a ban on Americans doing business with some 180 Cuban government entities, holding companies, and tourism companies. The list includes 83 state-owned hotels, including famous hotels in Old Havana such as Ernest Hemingway’s erstwhile favourite haunt the Hotel Ambos Mundos, as well as the city’s new luxury shopping mall.

More:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/central-america/trump-administration-restricts-cuba-travel-and-trade-dealing-unfair-blow-to-cubans-20171109-gzhvli.html