The United States will reportedly announce measures that will ease travel and trade restrictions on Cuba next week, Reuters reported Tuesday.
President Obama’s administration will announce the new measures on March 17, days before the president and first lady are scheduled to travel to Cuba.
{mosads}The changes will likely loosen restrictions on Americans visiting the country, making it easier for individual Americans to make the trip if they qualify under 12 authorized categories of travel.
Trade and banking rules will also likely be loosened.
Obama’s visit to Cuba later this month marks the first time a sitting president will travel to the communist island nation in nearly 90 years. The president plans to raise the issue of human rights with Cuban leaders.
After the announcement, Obama received criticism from Republican presidential candidates and lawmakers.