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cuba travel restrictions

A series of measures increasing limits on Americans’ dealings with Cuba have been published by the White House.

The measures include a blacklist of state-owned companies and entities, including shops and hotels.

Most US citizens traveling to Cuba will now have to go as part of organized tour groups.

The measures come as part of a partial rollback of ex-President Barack Obama’s policy of engagement with Cuba, as announced by President Donald Trump in five months ago.

Officials have denied that any of these steps are related to the recent acoustic incidents, defined as “health attacks” by the state department against its officials in Havana.

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Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin laid out the new rules, which will take effect on November 9.

“We have strengthened our Cuba policies to channel economic activity away from the Cuban military and to encourage the government to move toward greater political and economic freedom for the Cuban people,” he said in a statement.

According to the statement, the aim is to maintain “opportunities for Americans to engage in authorized travel to Cuba and support the private, small business sector in Cuba”.

The measures include a ban on dealings with 180 state-run and military-owned companies – the interior and armed forces ministries, 83 hotels, two travel agencies, and five holding companies involved with the organized tourism sector, 10 Havana boutiques and two rum distilleries.

Restrictions have also been placed on people-to-people exchanges, a travel category under which Americans can stay with families in Cuba.

From now on, these exchanges can only take place “under the auspices of an organization subject to US jurisdiction” and accompanied by a representative of that organization.

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The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has voted to keep restrictions on American citizens travelling to Cuba, despite a recent thaw in relations.

The chamber rejected proposals to allow regular scheduled flights to Cuba.

The House also said a rule should remain requiring US citizens to get a special license before going to Cuba.

It was voting on a transport funding bill which has provisions related to Cuba.

President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the bill.US Cuba travel restrictions

New rules issued by the Obama administration in January were aimed at easing travel restrictions to Cuba and allowing scheduled flights for the first time.

Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart said the White House was wrong to lift the restrictions.

Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American, said it would mean flights landing at an airport that was partially owned by US interests when it was seized by the Cuban government.

“What you are saying is, <<It’s OK to do business on property that was stolen from Americans>>,” said Mario Diaz-Balart.

The thaw in relations between the US and Cuba was announced at the end of 2014 in simultaneous televised speeches by President Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raul Castro.

President Barack Obama used his executive powers to ease the embargo that has existed for more than 50 years, defying hardline critics.

However, the issue is caught in a battle between Republicans who control Congress and the White House.