The new administration in Washington has amended the rules for all travelers who wish to visit Cuba with the goal of diverting American dollars from government enterprises while favoring private business in Cuba. For sailors and cruisers, the new rules prohibit visits to many marinas outside of Havana and designate Hemingway Marina as the selected if not sole destination in the country. The details will become clearer as the rules are reviewed and implemented.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515 (the “CACR”), to implement the National Security Presidential Memorandum issued by the President in June. These regulatory changes are intended to channel economic activities away from the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services, while maintaining opportunities for Americans to engage in authorized travel to Cuba and support the private, small business sector in Cuba. The CACR amendment will be published in the Federal Register on Thursday (November 9, 2017), at which time the changes will take effect. OFAC is also publishing a number of new and updated Frequently Asked Questionsand a Fact Sheet pertaining to this regulatory amendment.
