U.S. eases gift parcel restrictions to Cuba

U.S. eases gift parcel restrictions to Cuba    The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has amended its regulations to implement President Obama’s April 13 directive to make it easier for Americans with family in Cuba to visit and send gifts to their relatives.
   The measures, implemented on Sept. 3, will allow items normally exchanged between individuals as gifts to be included in gift parcels going to Cuba and remove the requirement that gift parcels be sent only to members of the donor’s immediate family, the agency said.
   Gift parcels may now be sent from an individual in the United States to an individual or an independent religious, educational, or charitable organization in Cuba, BIS added.
   The agency noted that the amendment raises the value for gift parcels from $400 to $800 and “increases the number of parcels that an individual donor may send each month from one parcel per household to one parcel per donee.”
   The Export Administration Regulations update also removes the 44-pound limit on personal baggage that previously applied to travelers to Cuba and creates a new license exception that authorizes exports and re-exports to Cuba of donated personal communications devices such as cell phones, computers and software, satellite receivers and digital cameras.
   In addition, the amendment revises the licensing policy to facilitate exports needed to establish telecommunications links between the United States and Cuba, including links created through third countries and the provision of satellite radio or television services to Cuba, BIS said.
   The agency’s action was taken in conjunction with the publication of amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.