HOLY CRAP (on so many levels)!!!!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-s-and-cuba-seek-to-normalize-relations-in-historic-shift-1.2876088
Of note:
- normalizing relations for first time since 1961
- exchange of people and money to be normalized
- American banks and credit cards allowed to process transactions from Cuba
- America re-opening Embassy in Cuba / Havana
- “…licensed American travellers to Cuba will now be able to return to the U.S. with $400 in Cuban goods, including tobacco and alcohol products worth less than $100 combined. This means the long-standing ban on importing Cuban cigars is over, although there are still limits.”
- Canada hosted the majority of the meetings working towards this (time will tell if the world and/or Americans specifically need to thank us Canucks, or if something happens to screw this all up!)
Lights, Sirens and Cigars 
Let’s go Cuba to buy all cigars before our american brothers will get in LOL 🙂
g
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Yep, you just were a couple of weeks early in Cuba … 🙂
On the positive side : Our Cuban Cigar stock just went up like 40% ….
On the negative side : Hope the yanks don’t demand a No Smoking Cuba … 🙂
Nino
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Hey hey! Ex-nay on the speaking-ay of my poopy-Cuban-time-ay!
LOL.
Agreed – as many have said before, just hoping that we don’t see a Starbucks or McDonald’s there any time soon, much less on every corner. A Tic-Tac inverted M though? Hell yes!!!! LOL.
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I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. I want to make it there before all the possible changes occur. I’d certainly dig into my wedding fund if the opportunity presents itself LOL
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How would this policy change effect those bringing in Cuban goods that were purchased in other countries such as Canada for example?
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I dunno, Alex. Fingers crossed that the interim measure will match the same $400-items/$100-alcohol-and-tobacco allowance. Have to wait and see.
It does definitely look like it’s a generously positive move, but also that Obama’s setting up the GOP for failure. Congress has to vote to repeal the Helms-Burton Act. Congress will be controlled by the Republicans in the New Year. On one hand, if they vote to scrap the Embargo, they’re gonna get crucified in Florida (and, being a swing state, they’d be slaughtered in the next hand). But, on the other hand, if they don’t vote to scrap it, they’re gonna get slaughtered across the rest of the U.S. It really does look like it’s win-win for the Democrats if this gets even close to being pulled off.
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