Townhall.com
Katie Pavlich
June 16, 2017

President Donald Trump officially rescinded major parts of President Obama's "normalization of relations" with the Cuban regime Friday afternoon from Miami while keeping the door open for the government to submit a better deal for the Cuban people.

Here are ten things you need to know about the new policy.

1) The U.S. Embassy in Havana will remain open

2) The Wet-Foot, Dry-Foot policy will not be reinstated after being ended under the Obama administration

3) The U.S. is open to the Cuban government submitting another deal, which will be scrutinized on a number of conditions

4) Cuba must take concrete steps toward open and Democratic elections for a deal to be made

5) Lifting of sanctions on the regime will only happen when political prisoners and dissidents are permanently released

6) Cuban workers must receive direct paychecks from businesses instead of being forced to route payments through the government

7) Travel for non-academic educational purposes by U.S. persons will be limited to group travel. Individual travel by U.S. persons to the country is no longer allowed.

8) Cuban-Americans are allowed to visit family in Cuba and can legally send monetary resources

9) Allows Americans to do business with private small businesses in the country, not the government. From the White House:

The new policy channels economic activities away from the Cuban military monopoly, Grupo de Administración Empresarial (GAESA), including most travel-related transactions, while allowing American individuals and entities to develop economic ties to the private, small business sector in Cuba. The new policy makes clear that the primary obstacle to the Cuban people’s prosperity and economic freedom is the Cuban military’s practice of controlling virtually every profitable sector of the economy. President Trump’s policy changes will encourage American commerce with free Cuban businesses and pressure the Cuban government to allow the Cuban people to expand the private sector.

10) The economic embargo has been reinstated (you can still legally buy Cuban rum and cigars)

The new policy will be implemented in 30-days after the Treasury Department sets up and reviews the new regulations.

Link

Darn, and I was so looking forward to deciding on not going to Cuba.

Though there was a Cuban restaurant in LA called Versailles, that served a great lemon/garlic chicken. Hmmm

I'm not opposed on general principles or broad strokes to eventually normalizing relations with Cuba, but to do it while any Castros are still breathing is pointless.

So according to # 7 I can't visit ??? My Government is restricting my Travel decisions???? What do they do if I go thru Canada or Mexico??

quote:

6) Cuban workers must receive direct paychecks from businesses instead of being forced to route payments through the government

Versus how we do it here where the name on the check is from the business but the government has been there first to take their fistful?

quote:

Originally posted by roarindan:
So according to # 7 I can't visit ??? My Government is restricting my Travel decisions???? What do they do if I go thru Canada or Mexico??

Impose harsh fines for violating the embargo/travel restriction, if they find out/care. Same thing they've had in the quiver o' arrows for over 50 years.

Still pretty weak. They can sell us rum and cigars, individuals can still send money to individuals in Cuba and U.S. businesses can do business with Cuban 'small' businesses. Meanwhile the Castros still control the banks in Cuba. Americans still get Cuban rum and cigars. U.S. funds still flow into the Cuban economy. I'm sure the Castros will be forced to straighten up their act real soon.

Regarding #6 paychecks, why? Our payments must go through our government?

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Regarding #6 paychecks, why? Our payments must go through our government?

The only paycheck I ever received that 'went thru the government' was when I was in the military. None of my private employers pay the government for my labor.

In Cuba:

quote:

Because the Cuban state has owned almost every enterprise on the island, it has been nearly the sole employer. Even foreign companies that operate in Cuba are required to pay Cuban workers' salaries in dollars to a state organization called CUBALSE (Cubans at the Service of Foreigners). The Cuban state then pays its workers in pesos, at a rate that shortchanges the employee.

http://www.nationsencyclopedia...S.html#ixzz4kGfXUt8i

^^^ I think he's talking about withholding.

quote:

10) The economic embargo has been reinstated (you can still legally buy Cuban rum and cigars)

So, cane sugar is out (unless it's mollassasized, distilled and bottled)? The oil reserves haven't been developed yet, we don't need their doctors and engineers, and there are only so many neato cars (and parts) from the 1950s. What exactly are they supposed to sell us? Short stories and the occasional ballad?

Some people are idiots,(rich actors,singers,etc.), and don't understand the Castro's are the ones who make out with tourist dollars. I have many Cuban friends who wouldn't even go to Cuba themselves,even though they are American citizens. Some have family there still and you hear many sad stories of how they are manipulated by the government. I don't advocate violence against anyone but the Castro family need to be dealt with like Kim in North Korea. Evil leaders controlling the people.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
^^^ I think he's talking about withholding.

Yes. Our government has their cut taken out first then we get our pay.

I and my family came to the US from Cuba in 1968. The reason .... FREEDOM!

The reason we left Cuba, is still there.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank You President Trump!