More than a half-century after President John Kennedy made Cuban cigars and rum contraband, President Barack Obama announced Friday morning he will lift restrictions on the treasured vices, allowing American tourists to bring home all the Cuban rum and cigars they wish.The executive action, which goes into effect Monday, Oct. 17, allows Americans to purchase unlimited quantities of Cuban rum and cigars in any country where they are sold as long as they are for personal consumption. “The new rules also expand the opportunities for Cubans to receive grants and scholarships to study in the United States, streamline some previous trade authorizations and allow U.S. nationals to provide services to Cuba or Cuban nationals related to developing, repairing, maintaining and enhancing Cuban infrastructure in order to directly benefit the Cuban people,” noted the Miami Herald. The previous limit restricted travelers to a combined value of $100 in rum and cigars, although enforcement of the limit notably declined after President Barack Obama declared detente with Cuba in December 2014. Cuban rum and cigars will now be subject to the same duties as alcohol and tobacco from other countries, meaning most travelers will be able to bring back as many as 100 cigars and several bottles of rum. To boost U.S.-Cuba trade, Washington was also lifting a prohibition on foreign ships from entering a U.S. port to load or unload cargo for 180 days after calling on a Cuban port, according to a joint statement from U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments. “Today, I approved a Presidential Policy Directive that takes another major step forward in our efforts to normalize relations with Cuba,” Obama said in a statement, adding that his goal was to “make our opening to Cuba irreversible.”

A senior U.S. official, who asked not to be named, said the administration wants to lock in benefits from the new Cuba policy for U.S. citizens and companies and make it impossible for any future president to “turn back the clock.”

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton backs the policy of rapprochement with Havana. John Kavulich, president of the New York-based U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, said businesses were hoping to see a variety of other changes, including an expansion of exports to Cuba and the ability of Cubans to establish bank accounts in the U.S.

“Boardrooms and offices across the country are gratified that President Obama has made meaningful changes to regulations governing commerce and travel with Cuba,” he said. He added, however, that “challenges remain - and very real differences between our governments persist on issues of democracy and human rights.”

The previous package of measures, unveiled in March, made it far easier for Americans to visit Cuba and for the island’s Communist government to conduct long-restricted international trade.
President Barack Obama issues an executive order on Cuba lifting monetary limits on the amount of Cuban products, including cigars and rum, which Americans can bring back for personal use, allowing Cubans and Americans to engage in joint medical research, and allowing Cubans to buy certain U.S. consumer goods online.