Merged: US Cuba policy change

[Drguano]

I am ready!

[malba2366]

Quoted from the NY times above:

"The United States will also ease travel restrictions across all 12 categories currently envisioned under limited circumstances in American law, including family visits, official visits, journalistic, professional, educational and religious activities, and public performances, officials said. Ordinary tourism, however, will remain prohibited."

So americans can basically go for any reason now...All one would have to say is that they are going for a public performance, and go to one show or concert while they are there.

[Puros Y Vino]

Very interesting development. I hope this results in a better quality of life for the Cubans. The only possible downside would be the commercialization of Cuba. I hope to never see a Denny's or Starbucks in Havana. Should that day come, a great part of the magic that makes Cuba unique will be lost forever.

[UpInSmoak]

If I correctly understand what you're saying, this is ridiculous. You're saying that this is a move by Obama to make republicans look bad for opposing the normalization of relations? The idea tha supporting the ending of the embargo could be a net positive position for politicians is questionable. The idea that it would be overwhelmingly positive, and a major issue in 2016 for the electorate, benefitting opponents of the embargo to the point where it is the thing that gets them elected, is just laughable. Hopefully I'm misunderstanding what you were saying. But I think you overestimate the American electorate's prioritization of policy toward Cuba. Except perhaps in Florida, where the sentiment is exactly the opposite of what you're suggesting.

I may have over simplified things but you get the gist. While I don't think future elections will be decided over this issue, this will definitely be one of the many issues at hand. And what is the current sentiment at hand in Florida? I dont think I commented on that. I think we can agree that Florida is one of the biggest swing states (if not the biggest) in the country. I could be wrong but Cuban Americans overwhelmigly oppose the embargo being lifted.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/politics/us-cuba-2016-reax/

Rubio has gone on record saying that if 99% of the population is in favor of lifting the embargo, he will still vote to keep it. I'm not sure if there is anything more despicable than that. A representative of the people, will go against his constituents if their views don't align with his. How ironic is that?

And it's blantantly naive to think that the right and the left will ever agree on an issue, regardless how beneficial of an issue is at hand. Everything between these two is an issue of discourse.

[Bartolomeo]

Glad to see the US finally make some changes after 50 years to a policy that is has been long outdated

Look forward to see how Cuba acts moving forward with today's announcement, ball is in their court to make some changes and today was exciting to watch both sides make some long overdue changes

Bart

[UpInSmoak]

No, everyone outside the U.S.A. understands it. And in the most polite way possible, I think they understand it a little better than what you have just made a mess of.

Sent from my iPhone

No offense taken, but How can you say that everyone outside the U.S. understands this? The majority of Americans don't even understand whats going on.

[Habana Mike]

Very interesting development. I hope this results in a better quality of life for the Cubans. The only possible downside would be the commercialization of Cuba. I hope to never see a Denny's or Starbucks in Havana. Should that day come, a great part of the magic that makes Cuba unique will be lost forever.

I had a very similar discussion with Punch Joe last month. He asked why we don't end the embargo.

Told him I fully supported allowing unimpeded travel between the two countries as well as a mutual trade agreement.

I also suggested they be careful about allowing US investment or businesses to operate without reasonable constraints for exactly the reason you mention above.

Shame that will most likely not happen and you'll be able to get a Big Mac or KFC in every village on the island soon thereafter

[Fosgate]

Many don't even know the names of the three branches of government let alone who is at the helm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTCXR8uaCHg

[UpInSmoak]

In case anyone thought I was pulling my previous Rubio comment out of thin air

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102276964

[MIKA27]

Did The U.S.-Cuba Deal Help Drive A Rebel Ceasefire in Colombia?

The thaw between Washington and Cuba finally begins to close a chapter of the Cold War. A ceasefire by leftist rebels in Colombia could close the last one.

On the same day that the United States and Cuba announced an historic renewal of diplomatic ties, FARC guerrillas, a Marxist rebel group that has been engaged in a five decade long civil conflict with the Colombian government, announced an indefinite ceasefire and cessation of hostilities after two years of peace dialogues conducted in Havana.

This announcement and its timing may be purely coincidental or it may indicate deeper machinations aimed at closing the chapter on the last vestiges of the Cold War in the Western Hemisphere.

“We have resolved to declare a unilateral ceasefire and end hostilities for an indefinite period of time, which should be transformed into an armistice,” the FARC said via their website.

Cuba is the host nation and guarantor to the ongoing peace dialogues between the FARC guerrillas and the Colombian government’s negotiating team, which have been talking in the Cuban capital since November 2012.

How much influence Cuba had in the decision taken by the FARC is up for speculation since Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has been making conciliatory overtures in his statements to the press in recent weeks. Now the question in Colombia, is, will a bilateral ceasefire be announced in coming days?

In the past, Santos has been stubbornly opposed to a bilateral ceasefire, but his position on the issue may be shifting. In an interview with W Radio in Bogota on Wednesday morning before the news about Cuba broke, he said that he was waiting for concrete actions from the FARC that would enable a deceleration of the conflict. Less than six hours later, the FARC potentially came good on the challenge.

It’s worth remembering that since negotiations began two years ago the FARC has declared five separate ceasefires (during presidential elections and Christmas holiday periods) and this latest gesture could either serve as ammunition for spoilers of the process or represent the point of no return in a mature negotiation proceeding as one might hope.

But this historic “indefinite” unilateral ceasefire is the first occasion that the guerrilla has done so whilst peace talks are in process, so the FARC’s declaration that it’s “now or never” would seem to ring true.

However, Colombians cannot celebrate just yet, though, as the FARC communiqué clearly stated—in what can be read as an attempt to force the President’s hand in declaring a bilateral ceasefire—that the ceasefire will end if the Colombian military attacks any of their forces.

The FARC has a long way to go to win the confidence of the Colombian people. The last time they were provided with space to move—President Andres Pastrana’s government ceded an area of country roughly the size of Switzerland within which to hold negotiations between 1998-2002—the guerrillas used it to re-arm, retrain and recruit, leaving them in a stronger position when the talks inevitably collapsed.

So can Colombians finally dream of a lasting and sustainable peace in 2015? They deserve it. The conflict with the FARC is one of the longest running in the world, and has killed up to 220,000 people and displaced millions from their homes.

There is still a long way to go, however. Agreements, albeit partial ones, have been agreed to on the issues of agricultural reform, political participation and illicit drugs. (The trickiest items having been placed in the “freezer” to be addressed at a later date.)

Still, Santos would have you believe that peace with the FARC is possible. Certainly his twitter feed regarding the news of Havana and Washington speaks volumes.

“Cuba and the USA are an example of however large the issues which divide us, with dialogue and perseverance it is possible to resolve them.”

As if to highlight just how difficult these negotiations are, even Santos’ twitter feed isn’t without issue in the talks.

“Allow us to take this opportunity to call to attention in a clear and direct manner to President Santos for having shown, once again his pleasure on twitter, regarding the deaths of some of our comrades in arms and ideological brothers last Sunday,” the FARC said in their communiqué announcing the ceasefire. “War cannot be a motive for enjoyment just shame.”

But if the U.S. and Cuba can reach agreement, perhaps it’s possible for Bogotá to reach an understanding with FARC—despite the president’s twitter feed.

[Taksan]

This morning I read the news that CC's are now allowed in the USA. People are allowed up to import $100 woth of cigars.

I am trying to speculate what this means for the Cuban Cigar. Any ideas?

[soutso]

If the floodgates open either one or both of the following:

a. Price increase due to increased demand on limited supply

b. An attempt to rush extra product to market to satisfy demand may lead to lower quality overall

[Maplepie]

I also read in at least two articles today:

Many tobacconists claim Cuban cigars are superior because they enjoy greater quality control — the industry is tightly regulated by the Cuban government.

Not a single reputable tobacconist I know of have ever stated that Cuban cigars enjoy greater quality control. The first thing I learned about Cuban Cigars is that they're inconsistent as the weather and that you may have to buy 3 to enjoy 1 good cigar. FROM A TOBACCONIST!!

[cigcars]

Well preliminarily it's up to $400 in Cuban cigars supposedly allowed now, up from the $100 limit as from before. The rest of the changes, I confess, I don't give a damn enough about to study closely! Maybe later

[Jeremy Festa]

No offense taken, but How can you say that everyone outside the U.S. understands this? The majority of Americans don't even understand whats going on.

Exactly.

But in all seriousness. 'Everyone' was an exaggeration. By 'everyone' I meant more than you would imagine. And definitely more, proportionally to those that get it in the States, as you have also highlighted. I think this is simply due to watching it from the sidelines rather than being on the pitch, so to speak.

[gtejada]

Very interesting development. I hope this results in a better quality of life for the Cubans. The only possible downside would be the commercialization of Cuba. I hope to never see a Denny's or Starbucks in Havana. Should that day come, a great part of the magic that makes Cuba unique will be lost forever.

You are so correct! Look at what they did to the Dominican Republic!

[AlohaStyle]

$400 in goods, $100 in tobacco/alcohol. Nothing will change in the immediate future. No reason to rush to buy cigars.

[Paul3]

Curious if these new allowances will reduce the number of packages that meet their doom in a U.S. Postal sorting center?

[Maplepie]

Yes probably, only now you will just get taxed up the ying yang if you want to receive your packages.

This means a lot coming from a fellow Canadian...

Trust him, boys. He's on the level!

[Dara]

Curious if these new allowances will reduce the number of packages that meet their doom in a U.S. Postal sorting center?

Won't change a thing on CCs coming in by post, the $100 is a personal allowance for those returning from Cuba on an approved visa. A US citizen who visits ireland for example still cannot bring back any cuban cigars legally (this is because of the embargo and won't be addressed until it goes before the senate and the law is changed).

$100 in Cuba means a 10 box of something nice or maybe 20-25 customs so even if the number of people travelling on OFAC licences increases you won't see any Cubans at your local B&M store.

The relaxation of the ban of using US issued debit and credit cards in Cuba may mean that a lot more folks go in via Mexico/Canada/Caribbean but some of these folks will probably buy their glass top Fauxhibas as they've done before!

[stigmata]

what this means is the non cuban cigar industry will be smashed

it also means people that have been saying cubans are overrated will now me chainsmoking habanos cigars

i think its funny.

what i think is the rarer edition cigars will be going through the roof in price

[dougincanada]

Increased US tourism and trade will help Cuba, but the tax averse US is proped up by Chinese Communist currency, which is supported by the Saudi Monarchys oil, which is supported by African labor.....ect. All governments are dining at each others table. Look at the various types unstable governments (some are democracies) all over the world. I think domestic security and the chance for the common man to achieve a comfortable living are most important things any type of government can do for its people. I do hope softening of relations helps the Cuban people, but I do not believe the flood gates will open anytime soon.

Regards,

Doug

[ramon_cojones]

can we consolidate these newer threads too? i wonder if people scan the front page anymore

[tippexx]

but I do not believe the flood gates will open anytime soon.

Then you've forgotten how quickly things changed after the Berlin Wall came down.

I think what Obama has started is a good thing for both the USA and Cuba ..... and long overdue.

[LordAnubis]

I'll try and merge this with the other super thread... first time doing it... hopefully I don't break the internet