washington/havana unite state unveil new measure tuesday make far easy americans visit cuba ease limit use u.s dollars trade president barack obama prepare make historic trip havana next week roll significant change since obama announce open cuba december 2014 u.s. officials express hope relaxation travel financial rule would spur island communist government respond economic reform slow come new measure allow americans travel easily cuba independently educational cultural authorize purpose without go organize group tour create new crack longstanding u.s. ban general tourism island new rule late obama efforts chip away sanction america former cold war foe use executive power sidestep u.s. lawmakers far resist call lift washington five-decade-old economic embargo cuba ease come obama prepare make march 20-22 trip cuba 90 miles 145 km southern tip florida first sit u.s. president visit 88 years obama critics accuse give much return little cuban president raul castro take premature victory lap since obama castro announce detente december 2014 two countries restore diplomatic relations open embassies havana washington change announce tuesday allow cubans open u.s. bank account authorize cubans live unite state earn salary compensation could open door american big-league baseball team sign cuban players without defect certainly address ability cuban athletes earn salaries unite state ben rhodes obama deputy national security adviser tell reporters u.s. officials decline predict might affect major league baseball negotiations u.s. cuban governments relax travel restrictions combine resumption regularly schedule airline service cuba late year greatly increase ability americans visit once-forbidden island american travelers largely bind honor system declare travel authorize though u.s. officials say would monitor situation u.s. travel cuba soar 77 percent 161,000 visitors 2015 accord cuban government data even though americans go must fit 12 authorize categories u.s. officials say travel rise around 50 percent discrepancy explain americans illicitly travel cuba tourists third countries today step build action last 15 months continue break economic barriers empower cuban people advance financial freedoms chart new course u.s.-cuba relations u.s. treasury secretary jack lew say statement although many 20 members congress set travel president republican-led body move support obama policy shift lift broad embargo instead u.s. treasury commerce departments say statement would enact range change provide access u.s. financial transactions cubans well broaden access island others new rule increase ability cubans unite state earn stipends salaries beyond live expense departments say change also allow humanitarian entities support cuban people establish presence say administration early ease rule allow schedule air service two countries u.s. ease cuba trade travel rule ahead obama visit