81_FR_71572 81 FR 71372 - Cuban Assets Control Regulations

81 FR 71372 - Cuban Assets Control Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 200 (October 17, 2016)

Page Range71372-71378
FR Document2016-25032

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to further implement elements of the policy announced by the President on December 17, 2014, to engage and empower the Cuban people. Among other things, these amendments authorize certain transactions related to Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals and joint medical research; add, expand, and clarify authorizations relating to trade and commerce; authorize certain civil aviation safety-related services; further facilitate authorized travel to Cuba; and expand the authorizations for grants and humanitarian-related services designed to directly benefit the Cuban people. These amendments also implement certain technical and conforming changes. OFAC is making these amendments in support of the process of normalizing bilateral relations with Cuba.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71372-71378]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25032]



[[Page 71372]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 515


Cuban Assets Control Regulations

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets 
Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to 
further implement elements of the policy announced by the President on 
December 17, 2014, to engage and empower the Cuban people. Among other 
things, these amendments authorize certain transactions related to 
Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals and joint medical research; add, expand, 
and clarify authorizations relating to trade and commerce; authorize 
certain civil aviation safety-related services; further facilitate 
authorized travel to Cuba; and expand the authorizations for grants and 
humanitarian-related services designed to directly benefit the Cuban 
people. These amendments also implement certain technical and 
conforming changes. OFAC is making these amendments in support of the 
process of normalizing bilateral relations with Cuba.

DATES: Effective: October 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Department of the Treasury's 
Office of Foreign Assets Control: Assistant Director for Licensing, 
tel.: 202-622-2480, Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, tel.: 
202-622-4855, Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation, 
tel.: 202-622-2490; or the Department of the Treasury's Office of the 
Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), Office of the General Counsel, 
tel.: 202-622-2410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Availability

    This document and additional information concerning OFAC are 
available from OFAC's Web site (www.treasury.gov/ofac).

Background

    The Department of the Treasury issued the Cuban Assets Control 
Regulations, 31 CFR part 515 (the ``Regulations''), on July 8, 1963, 
under the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. 4301-4341). OFAC has 
amended the Regulations on numerous occasions.
    Most recently, on January 16, June 15, and September 21, 2015, and 
January 27 and March 16, 2016, OFAC amended the Regulations, in 
coordinated actions with the Department of Commerce, to implement 
certain policy measures announced by the President on December 17, 
2014, to further engage and empower the Cuban people. Today, OFAC and 
the Department of Commerce are taking additional coordinated actions in 
support of the President's Cuba policy.
    OFAC is making additional amendments to the Regulations with 
respect to health, trade and commerce, civil aviation safety, travel 
and related transactions, humanitarian-related activities, and certain 
other activities, as set forth below.

Health

    Joint medical research. OFAC is amending section 515.547 to 
authorize persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to engage in joint 
medical research projects with Cuban nationals. This general license 
expands the scope of joint research projects that are authorized to 
include both non-commercial and commercial medical research.
    Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals. OFAC is also amending section 515.547 
to add new authorizations related to Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals. 
Specifically, section 515.547 now authorizes transactions incident to 
obtaining approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 
Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals. The general license includes discovery 
and development, pre-clinical research, clinical research, regulatory 
review, regulatory approval and licensing, regulatory post-market 
activities, and the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin 
pharmaceuticals. Section 515.547 also now authorizes the importation 
into the United States, and the marketing, sale, or other distribution 
in the United States, of FDA-approved Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals.
    In addition, revised section 515.547 authorizes persons subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction who are engaging in such authorized activities to 
open, maintain, and close bank accounts at Cuban financial institutions 
as long as such accounts are used solely for the authorized activities. 
The statement of licensing policy previously contained in section 
515.547 for the importation of Cuban-origin commodities for bona-fide 
research purposes in sample quantities remains in effect for items that 
would not be authorized by the new general license in section 
515.547(b).

Trade and Commerce

    Transactions incident to exports and reexports to Cuba. Section 
515.533(a) of the Regulations authorizes transactions ordinarily 
incident to certain exportations of items from the United States, as 
well as certain reexportations of items from a third country, to Cuba, 
provided that the exportations or reexportations are authorized by the 
Department of Commerce. OFAC is removing references to ``100% U.S.-
origin items'' in this section for clarity and to minimize the 
circumstances under which persons authorized by Commerce to export or 
reexport items to Cuba are required to obtain a specific license from 
OFAC. Consistent with Section 1706 of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 
(22 U.S.C. 6005) (CDA), this general license does not authorize any 
transaction between a U.S.-owned or -controlled firm in a third country 
and Cuba for the exportation to Cuba of commodities produced in a 
country other than the United States or Cuba. Such transactions must be 
specifically licensed pursuant to section 515.559 in addition to any 
required authorization from the Department of Commerce. There are also 
restrictions imposed by the CDA on the types of transactions that may 
be licensed pursuant to that section.
    OFAC is also making a technical correction to section 515.533(a) to 
remove references to ``agricultural items'' so that only ``agricultural 
commodities,'' as defined in 15 CFR part 772, are subject to the 
limitations on payment and financing terms required by the Trade 
Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. 
7207(b)(1). OFAC is making a conforming edit with respect to section 
515.584(f) and also expanding that authorization to apply to any 
banking institution.
    Finally, OFAC is adding a note to section 515.533(a) to clarify 
that this paragraph authorizes the importation into the United States 
of items from a third country for exportation to Cuba pursuant to a 
license or other authorization by the Department of Commerce. OFAC is 
making additional technical and conforming changes to remove certain 
obsolete language and consolidate all of the conditions applicable to 
this general license in a single paragraph.
    Importation of certain items previously exported or reexported to 
Cuba and servicing and repair of such items. OFAC is further amending 
section 515.533 to add a new general license authorizing the 
importation into the United States or a third country of items 
previously exported or reexported to Cuba pursuant to section 515.533 
or 515.559. This authorization will allow recipients of authorized 
exports or reexports to Cuba to return the items to

[[Page 71373]]

the United States or a third country, including for service and repair. 
Irrespective of involvement in the importation of these items, persons 
subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to service and repair such 
items. The exportation or reexportation of serviced, repaired, or 
replacement items to Cuba, however, must be separately authorized 
pursuant to section 515.533(a) or 515.559, in addition to any 
Department of Commerce authorization that may be required.
    Certain vessel transactions. Section 515.207(a) prohibits foreign 
vessels that call on Cuban ports for trade purposes from entering U.S. 
ports for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for 180 days from 
the date they depart Cuba, absent OFAC authorization. OFAC is amending 
section 515.550 to add an additional exception to the prohibition in 
section 515.207(a) for foreign vessels that have carried from a third 
country to Cuba only items that, were they subject to the Export 
Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) (EAR), would 
be designated as EAR99 or would be controlled on the Commerce Control 
List only for anti-terrorism reasons.
    Contingent contracts. OFAC is adding a new general license in 
section 515.534 authorizing persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to 
enter into certain contingent contracts for transactions prohibited by 
the Regulations and to engage in transactions ordinarily incident to 
negotiating and entering into such contracts. The performance of such 
contracts--making deposits, receiving payments, providing certain 
services or goods, etc.--must be made contingent on OFAC authorizing 
the underlying transactions or authorization no longer being required. 
Furthermore, if the transaction implicates another Federal agency's 
licensing requirements, then the contract must make obtaining the 
necessary license(s) from such agency or the removal of that licensing 
requirement an additional precondition of performance. OFAC is making a 
conforming change to section 515.533 to remove a provision in that 
section authorizing certain contingent contracts that are now 
authorized by this new general license.

Civil Aviation Safety

    Civil aviation safety-related services. OFAC is amending section 
515.572 to add a new general license authorizing persons subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction to provide Cuba and Cuban nationals, wherever 
located, with services aimed at ensuring safety in civil aviation and 
the safe operation of commercial aircraft.

Travel and Related Transactions

    OFAC is making several changes to rules related to the importation 
of Cuban-origin merchandise as accompanied baggage and certain travel-
related authorizations.
    Importation of Cuban merchandise. Section 515.560 previously 
authorized persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging in authorized 
travel to Cuba to acquire merchandise in Cuba and import it into the 
United States as accompanied baggage, provided that the merchandise was 
for personal use only and had a value of $400 or less (with no more 
than $100 of such merchandise consisting of alcohol or tobacco 
products). OFAC is now removing these monetary value limits, which 
means that the normal limits on duty and tax exemptions for merchandise 
imported as accompanied baggage and for personal use will apply. OFAC 
will continue to require that such merchandise be imported as 
accompanied baggage and for personal use.
    Certain transactions in third countries. Previously, section 
515.585 authorized persons who are subject to U.S. jurisdiction but 
located in countries other than the United States or Cuba to, among 
other things, purchase or acquire merchandise subject to the 
prohibitions in section 515.204 provided that the merchandise was for 
personal consumption while in a third country. OFAC is amending section 
515.585 to remove the limitation that the merchandise be consumed while 
abroad, to authorize the importation of such merchandise into the 
United States as accompanied baggage provided that the merchandise is 
for personal use only, and to clarify that this authorization is 
applicable to persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction who are present in a 
third country, such as when traveling in or through the third country.
    Foreign passengers' baggage. Previously, section 515.569 authorized 
foreign passengers to import Cuban-origin goods, excluding Cuban-origin 
alcohol and tobacco products, as accompanied baggage, provided that the 
goods were not in commercial quantities and not imported for resale. 
OFAC is now removing the exclusion for alcohol and tobacco products 
while retaining the conditions that the goods not be in commercial 
quantities and not be imported for resale.
    Professional research and professional meetings in Cuba. Section 
515.564 includes a general license authorizing persons subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction to travel to Cuba for purposes of attending or organizing 
professional meetings or conferences in Cuba. Today, OFAC is removing 
the restriction in section 515.564(a)(2)(i) that the purpose of such 
meeting or conference not be for the promotion of tourism in Cuba, and 
making additional conforming edits. OFAC is also taking this 
opportunity to clarify section 515.564 by removing paragraphs 
(a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2)(iii), which included language inconsistent with 
adjacent paragraphs.
    Remittances for third-country national travel. OFAC is amending 
section 515.570 to authorize persons subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States to make remittances to third-country nationals for travel 
by third-country nationals to, from, and within Cuba, provided that 
such travel would be authorized by a general license if the traveler 
were a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction. OFAC is also making a 
clarifying change in section 515.420 to make clear that the 
interpretation in that section relates only to persons subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction.
    Recordkeeping requirements for providers of travel and carrier 
services. In the case of customers traveling pursuant to a specific 
license, in order to ease the burden on persons subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction that provide authorized travel or carrier services 
pursuant to section 515.572, OFAC is amending section 515.572(b)(1) to 
make clear that such service providers may collect and retain either a 
copy of the traveler's specific license or the traveler's specific 
license number.

Humanitarian-Related Transactions

    Additional grants, scholarships, and awards. Sections 515.565 and 
515.575 previously authorized the provision of grants, scholarships, 
and awards in which Cuba or Cuban nationals have an interest (including 
as recipients) with respect to educational and humanitarian activities, 
respectively. OFAC is now expanding that authorization to authorize the 
provision of grants, scholarships, and awards in two additional 
categories of activities: scientific research and religious activities. 
OFAC is consolidating these authorizations in new section 515.590 and 
making conforming edits to sections 515.565 and 515.575.
    Services related to developing Cuban infrastructure. OFAC is adding 
section 515.591 to authorize persons subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States to provide Cuba or Cuban nationals with services related 
to developing, repairing, maintaining, and enhancing Cuban

[[Page 71374]]

infrastructure, consistent with the export or reexport licensing policy 
of the Department of Commerce. ``Infrastructure'' in this case means 
systems and assets used to provide the Cuban people with goods and 
services produced by the public transportation, water management, waste 
management, non-nuclear electricity generation, and electricity 
distribution sectors, as well as hospitals, public housing, and primary 
and secondary schools.

Other Amendments

    Definition of prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba and 
prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party. OFAC is amending 
sections 515.337 and 515.338 to narrow the definitions in these 
sections.
    Additional technical and conforming edits. OFAC is also making 
several technical and conforming edits, including adjusting a cross-
reference in the note to section 515.421(a)(4) to reflect that the 
payment and financing terms for agricultural commodities are now 
located in section 515.533(a)(4); removing sections 515.531 and 515.803 
as obsolete; adding the word ``repair'' to the general licenses for 
certain travel-related transactions in sections 515.533 and 515.559 to 
clarify that travel for such purposes has been within the scope of the 
existing authorizations; removing paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 
515.536, as all activities described in such paragraphs are authorized 
by the general license in section 515.562 relating to official business 
of the U.S. government; correcting the cross-reference in section 
515.560(c)(6)(ii) to the definition of depository institution to be 
section 515.333; adding the words ``paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4)'' 
in the first sentence of section 515.572(b)(1) to clarify that records 
pertaining to passengers do not need to be maintained for transactions 
authorized pursuant to paragraph (a)(5) of section 515.572; removing a 
duplicative ``subject'' from Note 1 to section 515.578(a); and adding 
the word ``authorized'' to complete the sentence in section 515.584(c).

Public Participation

    Because the amendment of the Regulations involves a foreign affairs 
function, the provisions of Executive Order 12866 and the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of 
proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in 
effective date are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed 
rulemaking is required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612) does not apply.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The collections of information related to the Regulations are 
contained in 31 CFR part 501 (the ``Reporting, Procedures and Penalties 
Regulations'') and section 515.572 of this part. Pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), those collections of 
information have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
under control numbers 1505-0164, 1505-0167, and 1505-0168. An agency 
may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, 
a collection of information unless the collection of information 
displays a valid control number.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 515

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banking, Banks, Blocking of 
assets, Credit, Cuba, Financial transactions, Foreign trade, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Sanctions, Services, Travel 
restrictions.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Department of the 
Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control amends 31 CFR part 515 as 
set forth below:

PART 515--CUBAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 515 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  22 U.S.C. 2370(a), 6001-6010, 7201-7211; 31 U.S.C. 
321(b); 50 U.S.C. 4301-4341; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 
U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 104-114, 110 Stat. 785 (22 U.S.C. 6021-
6091); Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681; Pub. L. 111-8, 123 Stat. 
524; Pub. L. 111-117, 123 Stat. 3034; E.O. 9193, 7 FR 5205, 3 CFR, 
1938-1943 Comp., p. 1174; E.O. 9989, 13 FR 4891, 3 CFR, 1943-1948 
Comp., p. 748; Proc. 3447, 27 FR 1085, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 
157; E.O. 12854, 58 FR 36587, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 614.

Subpart C--General Definitions

0
2. Revise Sec.  515.337 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.337  Prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba.

    For purposes of this part, the term prohibited officials of the 
Government of Cuba means members of the Council of Ministers and flag 
officers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.

0
3. Revise Sec.  515.338 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.338  Prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party.

    For purposes of this part, the term prohibited members of the Cuban 
Communist Party means members of the Politburo.

Subpart D--Interpretations

0
4. Revise the second sentence of Sec.  515.420 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.420  Travel to Cuba.

    * * * The prohibition set forth in Sec.  515.201(b)(1) also 
prohibits payment for air travel by a person subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction to Cuba on a third-country carrier unless the travel is 
pursuant to an OFAC general or specific license.

0
5. Revise the note to Sec.  515.421(a)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.421  Transactions ordinarily incident to a licensed 
transaction.

    (a) * * *
    (4) * * *

    Note to paragraph (a)(4):  See Sec.  515.533(a)(4) for payment 
and financing terms for exportations or reexportations authorized 
pursuant to Sec.  515.533.

* * * * *

Subpart E--Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing 
Policy


Sec.  515.531   [Removed]

0
6. Remove Sec.  515.531 from subpart E.

0
7. Revise Sec.  515.533 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.533  Exportations from the United States to Cuba; 
reexportations to Cuba; importation and servicing or repair of certain 
items previously exported or reexported to Cuba.

    (a) All transactions ordinarily incident to the exportation of 
items from the United States, or the reexportation of items from a 
third country, to any person within Cuba are authorized, provided that:
    (1) The exportation or reexportation is licensed or otherwise 
authorized by the Department of Commerce under the provisions of the 
Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. 4601-4623) 
(see the Export Administration Regulations, 15 CFR parts 730 through 
774);
    (2) The transaction is not a transaction between a U.S.-owned or -
controlled firm in a third country and Cuba for the exportation to Cuba 
of commodities produced in a country other than the United States or 
Cuba;
    (3) The transaction is not financed from any blocked account; and
    (4) In the case of agricultural commodities, as that term is 
defined in 15 CFR part 772, only the following payment and financing 
terms are used:
    (i) Payment of cash in advance. For the purposes of this section, 
the term ``payment of cash in advance'' shall mean payment before the 
transfer of title to, and control of, the exported items to the Cuban 
purchaser; or

[[Page 71375]]

    (ii) Financing by a banking institution located in a third country 
provided the banking institution is not a designated national, a U.S. 
citizen, a U.S. permanent resident alien, or an entity organized under 
the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United 
States (including any foreign branch of such an entity). Such financing 
may be confirmed or advised by a U.S. banking institution.

    Note 1 to paragraph (a):  The transactions authorized by this 
paragraph include all transactions that are directly incident to the 
shipping of specific exports or reexports (e.g., insurance and 
transportation of the exports to Cuba). Transactions that are not 
tied to specific exports or reexports, such as transactions 
involving future (non-specific) shipments, must be separately 
licensed by OFAC. For the waiver of the prohibitions on entry into 
U.S. ports contained in Sec.  515.207 for vessels transporting 
shipments of items between the United States and Cuba pursuant to 
this section, see Sec.  515.550.


    Note 2 to paragraph (a): The limitation in paragraph (a)(4) 
applies only to payment and financing terms for exports or reexports 
of agricultural commodities and is required by the Trade Sanctions 
Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. 7207(b)(1). For 
other authorized exports and reexports, paragraph (a) does not 
restrict payment and financing terms. See Sec.  515.584 for an 
authorization for banking institutions to provide financing for 
authorized exports and reexports of items other than agricultural 
commodities.


    Note 3 to paragraph (a): Transactions ordinarily incident to 
exportation from the United States authorized by this paragraph 
include the importation into the United States of items from a third 
country for exportation to Cuba pursuant to a license or other 
authorization by the Department of Commerce.


    Note 4 to paragraph (a):  See Sec.  515.534 for a general 
license authorizing certain contingent contracts, including 
contingent contracts for the sale of items that may be exported from 
the United States to Cuba or reexported from a third country to Cuba 
consistent with the export licensing policy of the Department of 
Commerce, where performance of such contingent contracts is 
expressly made contingent on prior authorization by the Department 
of Commerce.

    (b) Importation of certain items previously exported to Cuba; 
servicing and repair of such items. (1) All transactions ordinarily 
incident to the importation into the United States or a third country 
of items previously exported from the United States to Cuba or exported 
or reexported from a third country to Cuba, and the servicing and 
repair of such items, are authorized, provided that:
    (i) The items previously were exported or reexported to Cuba 
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section or Sec.  515.559; and
    (ii) The items are being imported into the United States or a third 
country either:
    (A) In order to service or repair the items before they are 
exported or reexported back to Cuba, or
    (B) To return them to the United States or a third country.

    Note to paragraph (b):  This paragraph does not authorize the 
exportation or reexportation of any item to Cuba. The exportation or 
reexportation of serviced, repaired, or replacement items to Cuba 
must be separately authorized pursuant to paragraph (a) of this 
section or Sec.  515.559, in addition to any Department of Commerce 
authorization that may be required.

    (c) General license for travel-related transactions incident to 
exportation or reexportation of certain items. (1) The travel-related 
transactions set forth in Sec.  515.560(c) and such additional 
transactions as are directly incident to the conduct of market 
research, commercial marketing, sales or contract negotiation, 
accompanied delivery, installation, leasing, servicing, or repair in 
Cuba of items consistent with the export or reexport licensing policy 
of the Department of Commerce are authorized, provided that the 
traveler's schedule of activities does not include free time or 
recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule.
    (2) The travel-related transactions set forth in Sec.  515.560(c) 
and such additional transactions as are directly incident to the 
facilitation of the temporary sojourn of aircraft and vessels as 
authorized by 15 CFR 740.15 (License Exception Aircraft, Vessels and 
Spacecraft) or pursuant to other authorization by the Department of 
Commerce for authorized travel between the United States and Cuba, 
including travel-related transactions by persons subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction who are required for normal operation and service aboard a 
vessel or aircraft, as well as persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction who 
are required to provide services to a vessel in port or aircraft on the 
ground, are authorized, provided that:
    (i) Such travel-related transactions are limited to the duration 
and scope of their duties in relation to the particular authorized 
temporary sojourn; and
    (ii) The aircraft or vessel must be transporting individuals whose 
travel between the United States and Cuba is authorized pursuant to any 
section of this part other than paragraph (c)(2) of this section.
    (d) Specific licenses. Specific licenses may be issued on a case-
by-case basis authorizing the travel-related transactions set forth in 
Sec.  515.560(c) and such other transactions as are related to the 
exportation and reexportation of items to Cuba when such transactions 
do not qualify for the general license under paragraph (c) of this 
section.

0
8. Add Sec.  515.534 to subpart E to read as follows:


Sec.  515.534  Negotiation of, and entry into, contingent contracts 
relating to transactions prohibited by this part.

    (a) Persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are 
authorized to enter into, and to engage in all transactions ordinarily 
incident to the negotiation of and entry into, contingent contracts for 
transactions that are prohibited by this part, provided that:
    (1) The performance of any such contingent contract is made 
expressly contingent on the prior authorization of the Office of 
Foreign Assets Control pursuant to this part or authorization no longer 
being required; and
    (2) The performance of any such contingent contract that is subject 
to licensing requirements of another Federal agency is expressly made 
contingent upon the prior authorization of that agency or the removal 
of those licensing requirements.
    (b) For purposes of this section, the term ``contingent contracts'' 
includes executory contracts, executory pro forma invoices, agreements 
in principle, executory offers capable of acceptance such as bids or 
proposals in response to public tenders, binding memoranda of 
understanding, or any other similar agreement.

    Note to Sec.  515.534:  This section does not authorize 
transactions related to travel to, from, or within Cuba. See Sec.  
515.533(c) for a general license authorizing travel-related and 
other transactions incident to the negotiation of contracts for the 
exportation or reexportation of certain items to Cuba, and Sec.  
515.564(a)(2) for a general license authorizing travel-related and 
other transactions incident to attending or organizing professional 
meetings in Cuba, which include professional meetings relating to 
the negotiation of contingent contracts authorized by this section.


0
9. Amend Sec.  515.536 by removing paragraphs (a) and (b), 
redesignating paragraphs (c) and (d) as (a) and (b), respectively, and 
revising redesignated paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.536  Certain transactions with respect to merchandise 
affected by Sec.  515.204.

    (a) The purchase outside the United States for importation into the 
United States of nickel-bearing materials presumptively subject to 
Sec.  515.204 and the importation of such merchandise into the United 
States are authorized if there is presented to the collector of

[[Page 71376]]

customs in connection with such importation the original of an 
appropriate certificate of origin as defined in paragraph (b) of this 
section and provided that the merchandise was shipped to the United 
States directly, or on a through bill of lading, from the country 
issuing the appropriate certificate of origin.
* * * * *

0
10. Amend Sec.  515.542 by revising Note 1 to Sec.  515.542 to read as 
follows:


Sec.  515.542  Mail and telecommunications-related transactions.

* * * * *

    Note 1 to Sec.  515.542:  For an authorization of travel-related 
transactions that are directly incident to the conduct of market 
research, commercial marketing, sales or contract negotiation, 
accompanied delivery, installation, leasing, servicing, or repair in 
Cuba of items consistent with the export or reexport policy of the 
Department of Commerce, see Sec.  515.533(c). For an authorization 
of travel-related transactions that are directly incident to 
participation in professional meetings, including where such 
meetings relate to telecommunications services or other activities 
authorized by paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section, see Sec.  
515.564(a).

* * * * *

0
11. Revise Sec.  515.547 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.547  Certain transactions related to medical research and 
Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals; research samples.

    (a) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage 
in all transactions incident to joint medical research projects with 
Cuban nationals.

    Note 1 to paragraph (a):  The export or reexport to Cuba of 
goods (including software) or technology subject to the Export 
Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) may 
require separate authorization from the Department of Commerce.


    Note 2 to paragraph (a):  This paragraph does not authorize 
transactions related to travel to, from, or within Cuba, nor does it 
authorize transactions related to travel to, from, or within the 
United States by Cuban nationals. See Sec.  515.564(a) for a general 
license authorizing travel-related and other transactions incident 
to professional research and professional meetings in Cuba. See 
Sec.  515.571 for a general license authorizing transactions 
incident to travel to, from, and within the United States by certain 
Cuban nationals.


    Note 3 to paragraph (a):  This paragraph also does not authorize 
persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to establish a business or 
physical presence in Cuba, to hire Cuban nationals, or to engage in 
any transactions prohibited by Sec.  515.208.

    (b) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage 
in all transactions incident to obtaining approval from the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA) of Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals, 
including discovery and development, pre-clinical research, clinical 
research, regulatory review, regulatory approval and licensing, 
regulatory post-market activities, and the importation into the United 
States of Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals.
    (c) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage 
in all transactions incident to the marketing, sale, or other 
distribution in the United States of FDA-approved Cuban-origin 
pharmaceuticals, including the importation into the United States of 
Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals.
    (d)(1) Opening and maintaining bank accounts at Cuban financial 
institutions to engage in authorized transactions. The opening and 
maintenance of accounts, including the deposit of funds in such 
accounts by wire transfer, at a financial institution in Cuba, is 
authorized provided that such accounts are used only for transactions 
authorized pursuant to this section.
    (2) Closing bank accounts. The closing of an account opened 
pursuant to the authorization in paragraph (d)(1) of this section is 
authorized, provided that any transfer of funds may only be effected by 
wire transfer to an account maintained at a depository institution, as 
defined in Sec.  515.333, that is a person subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction.
    (e) Specific licenses. (1) To the extent not authorized by 
paragraph (b) of this section, specific licenses may be issued for the 
importation of Cuban-origin commodities for bona-fide research purposes 
in sample quantities only.
    (2) Specific licenses may be issued for transactions related to 
medical research or pharmaceutical products not authorized by 
paragraphs (a) through (c) of this section.

    Note to Sec.  515.547:  Transactions authorized by this section 
may require separate authorizations or approvals by the FDA or other 
Federal agencies.


0
12. Revise Sec.  515.550 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.550  Certain vessel transactions authorized.

    (a) Unless a vessel is otherwise engaging or has otherwise engaged 
in transactions that would prohibit entry pursuant to Sec.  515.207, 
Sec.  515.207 shall not apply to a vessel that is:
    (1) Engaging or has engaged in trade with Cuba authorized pursuant 
to this part;

    Note to paragraph (a)(1):
    The authorization in this paragraph includes, for example, trade 
with Cuba authorized pursuant to Sec.  515.533, Sec.  515.559, or 
Sec.  515.582, or by specific license.

    (2) Engaging or has engaged in trade with Cuba that is exempt from 
the prohibitions of this part (see Sec.  515.206);
    (3) Engaging or has engaged in the exportation or reexportation to 
Cuba from a third country of agricultural commodities, medicine, or 
medical devices that, were they subject to the Export Administration 
Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) (EAR), would be designated 
as EAR99;
    (4) A foreign vessel that has entered a port or place in Cuba while 
carrying students, faculty, and staff that are authorized to travel to 
Cuba pursuant to Sec.  515.565(a); or
    (5) Carrying or has carried persons between the United States and 
Cuba or within Cuba pursuant to the authorization in Sec.  
515.572(a)(2) or, in the case of a vessel used solely for personal 
travel (and not transporting passengers), pursuant to a license or 
other authorization issued by the Department of Commerce for the 
exportation or reexportation of the vessel to Cuba.
    (b) Unless a vessel is otherwise engaging or has otherwise engaged 
in transactions that would prohibit entry pursuant to Sec.  515.207, 
Sec.  515.207(a) shall not apply to a foreign vessel that has engaged 
in the exportation to Cuba from a third country only of items that, 
were they subject to the EAR, would be designated as EAR99 or would be 
controlled on the Commerce Control List only for anti-terrorism 
reasons.

0
13. Amend Sec.  515.559 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.559  Certain export and import transactions by U.S.-owned or 
-controlled foreign firms.

* * * * *
    (d) General license. Travel-related transactions set forth in Sec.  
515.560(c) and such other transactions as are directly incident to 
market research, commercial marketing, sales or contract negotiation, 
accompanied delivery, installation, leasing, servicing, or repair in 
Cuba of exports that are consistent with the licensing policy under 
paragraph (a) of this section are authorized, provided that the 
traveler's schedule of activities does not include free time or 
recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule.
* * * * *

0
14. Amend Sec.  515.560 by revising paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(6)(ii) 
and Note 3 to Sec.  515.560 to read as follows:

[[Page 71377]]

Sec.  515.560  Travel-related transactions to, from, and within Cuba by 
persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) Importation of Cuban merchandise. The purchase or other 
acquisition in Cuba and importation as accompanied baggage into the 
United States of merchandise is authorized, provided that the 
merchandise is imported for personal use only. The importation of 
Cuban-origin information and informational materials is exempt from the 
prohibitions of this part, as described in Sec.  515.206. The 
importation of certain other specified goods and services is authorized 
in Sec. Sec.  515.544, 515.547, 515.569, 515.578, 515.582, and 515.585.
* * * * *
    (6) * * *
    (ii) Closing bank accounts. All transactions incident to the 
closing of accounts opened pursuant to the authorization in paragraph 
(c)(6)(i) of this section are authorized, provided that any transfer of 
funds may only be effected by wire transfer to an account maintained at 
a depository institution, as defined in Sec.  515.333, that is a person 
subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
* * * * *

    Note 3 to Sec.  515.560:  The export or reexport to Cuba of 
goods (including software) or technology subject to the Export 
Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) may 
require separate authorization from the Department of Commerce.


0
15. Amend Sec.  515.564 by removing paragraph (a)(1)(ii), redesignating 
(a)(1)(iii) as (a)(1)(ii), and revising paragraph (a)(2) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  515.564  Professional research and professional meetings in Cuba.

    (a) * * *
    (2) Professional meetings. The travel-related transactions set 
forth in Sec.  515.560(c) and such additional transactions as are 
directly incident to attendance at, or organization of, professional 
meetings or conferences in Cuba are authorized, provided that:
    (i) For a traveler attending a professional meeting or conference, 
the purpose of the meeting or conference directly relates to the 
traveler's profession, professional background, or area of expertise, 
including area of graduate-level full-time study;
    (ii) For a traveler organizing a professional meeting or conference 
on behalf of an entity, either the traveler's profession must be 
related to the organization of professional meetings or conferences or 
the traveler must be an employee or contractor of an entity that is 
organizing the professional meeting or conference; and
    (iii) The traveler's schedule of activities does not include free 
time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time 
schedule of attendance at, or organization of, professional meetings or 
conferences.

    Note to Sec.  515.564(a)(2):  Transactions incident to the 
organization of professional meetings or conferences include 
marketing related to such meetings or conferences in Cuba.

* * * * *

0
16. Amend Sec.  515.565 as follows:
0
(a) Remove paragraph (a)(11);
0
(b) Redesignate paragraphs (a)(12) and (a)(13) as paragraphs (a)(11) 
and (a)(12), respectively;
0
(c) Revise redesignated paragraph (a)(11); and
0
(d) Add new note 4 to paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.565  Educational activities.

    (a) * * *
    (11) The organization of, and preparation for, activities described 
in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(10) of this section by employees or 
contractors of the sponsoring organization that is a person subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction;
* * * * *

    Note 4 to paragraph (a):  See Sec.  515.590(a) for an 
authorization for the provision of educational grants, scholarships, 
or awards to a Cuban national or in which Cuba or a Cuban national 
otherwise has an interest.

* * * * *

0
17. Revise Sec.  515.569 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.569  Foreign passengers' baggage.

    The importation of merchandise subject to the prohibitions in Sec.  
515.204, including Cuban-origin goods, brought into the United States 
as accompanied baggage by any person arriving in the United States 
other than a citizen or resident of the United States is hereby 
authorized, provided that such goods are not in commercial quantities 
and are not imported for resale.

0
18. Amend Sec.  515.570 to redesignate paragraph (i) as paragraph (j) 
and to add new paragraph (i) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.570  Remittances.

* * * * *
    (i) Remittances to third-country nationals for certain travel. 
Persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are authorized 
to make remittances to third-country nationals for travel by third-
country nationals to, from, or within Cuba, provided that such travel 
would be authorized by a general license issued pursuant to this part 
if the traveler were a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
* * * * *

0
19. Amend Sec.  515.572 by revising the section heading, adding 
paragraph (a)(5), and revising paragraph (b)(1) to read as follows:


Sec.  515.572  Provision of travel, carrier, other transportation-
related, and remittance forwarding services.

    (a) * * *
    (5) Authorization to provide civil aviation safety-related 
services. Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to 
provide civil aviation safety-related services to Cuba and Cuban 
nationals, wherever located, to ensure the safety of civil aviation and 
the safe operation of commercial aircraft.

    Note to paragraph (a)(5):  For provisions related to 
transactions ordinarily incident to the exportation or reexportation 
of items to Cuba, see Sec. Sec.  515.533 and 515.559.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (1) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction providing services 
authorized pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this section 
must retain for at least five years from the date of the transaction a 
certification from each customer indicating the section of this part 
that authorizes the person to travel or send remittances to Cuba. In 
the case of a customer traveling under a specific license, the specific 
license number or a copy of the license must be maintained on file with 
the person subject to U.S. jurisdiction providing services authorized 
pursuant to this section.
* * * * *

0
20. Amend Sec.  515.575 by revising note 2 to paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  515.575  Humanitarian projects.

    (a) * * *

    Note 2 to paragraph (a):  See Sec.  515.590(b) for an 
authorization for the provision of grants, scholarships, or awards 
related to humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba that are 
designed to directly benefit the Cuban people as set forth in 
paragraph (b).

* * * * *

0
21. Amend Sec.  515.578 by revising note 1 to Sec.  515.578(a) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  515.578  Exportation, reexportation, and importation of certain 
internet-based services; importation of software.

    (a) * * *

    Note 1 to Sec.  515.578(a):  The export or reexport to Cuba of 
items subject to the

[[Page 71378]]

Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) may 
require separate authorization from the Department of Commerce.

* * * * *

0
22. Revise Sec.  515.581 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.581  Transactions related to conferences in third countries.

    Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to sponsor, 
organize, or provide services in connection with, as well as 
participate in, conferences or other similar events in a third country 
that are attended by Cuban nationals.

    Note to Sec.  515.581:  The export or reexport to Cuba of 
technology subject to the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 
parts 730 through 774) may require separate authorization from the 
Department of Commerce.


0
23. Amend Sec.  515.584 by revising paragraphs (c) and (f) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  515.584  Certain financial transactions involving Cuba.

* * * * *
    (c) Credit and debit cards. All transactions incident to the 
processing and payment of credit and debit cards involving travel-
related and other transactions consistent with Sec.  515.560 are 
authorized.
* * * * *
    (f) Any banking institution, as defined in Sec.  515.314, that is a 
person subject to U.S. jurisdiction is authorized to provide financing 
for exports or reexports of items, other than agricultural commodities, 
authorized pursuant to Sec.  515.533, including issuing, advising, 
negotiating, paying, or confirming letters of credit (including letters 
of credit issued by a financial institution that is a national of 
Cuba), accepting collateral for issuing or confirming letters of 
credit, and processing documentary collections.
* * * * *

0
24. Amend Sec.  515.585 by revising paragraph (c), removing the note to 
paragraph (c), adding paragraph (d), and amending Note 3 and Note 4 to 
Sec.  515.585 to read as follows:


Sec.  515.585  Certain transactions in third countries.

* * * * *
    (c) Individuals who are persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction who 
are present in a third country are authorized to purchase or acquire 
merchandise subject to the prohibitions in Sec.  515.204, including 
Cuban-origin goods, and to receive or obtain services in which Cuba or 
a Cuban national has an interest that are ordinarily incident to travel 
and maintenance within that country.
    (d) Individuals who are persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are 
authorized to import into the United States as accompanied baggage 
merchandise subject to the prohibitions in Sec.  515.204, including 
Cuban-origin goods, that is purchased or acquired in a third country, 
provided that the merchandise is imported for personal use only.
* * * * *

    Note 3 to Sec.  515.585:  Except as provided in paragraphs (c) 
and (d) of this section, this section does not authorize any 
transactions prohibited by Sec.  515.204.


    Note 4 to Sec.  515.585: The export or reexport to Cuba of goods 
(including software) or technology subject to the Export 
Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) may 
require separate authorization from the Department of Commerce.


0
25. Add Sec.  515.590 to subpart E to read as follows:


Sec.  515.590  Certain grants, scholarships, and awards.

    The provision of grants, scholarships, or awards relating to the 
following activities to a Cuban national or in which Cuba or a Cuban 
national otherwise has an interest is authorized:
    (a) Educational activities;
    (b) Humanitarian projects, as set forth in Sec.  515.575(b);
    (c) Scientific research; and
    (d) Religious activities.

0
26. Add Sec.  515.591 to subpart E to read as follows:


Sec.  515.591  Services related to infrastructure.

    Persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States are 
authorized to provide to Cuba or Cuban nationals services related to 
developing, repairing, maintaining, and enhancing Cuban infrastructure 
that directly benefit the Cuban people, provided that those services 
are consistent with the export or reexport licensing policy of the 
Department of Commerce. For the purposes of this section, 
infrastructure means systems and assets used to provide the Cuban 
people with goods and services produced or provided by the public 
transportation, water management, waste management, non-nuclear 
electricity generation, and electricity distribution sectors, as well 
as hospitals, public housing, and primary and secondary schools. This 
authorization includes projects related to the environmental protection 
of U.S., Cuban, and international air quality, waters, and coastlines.

    Note 1 to Sec.  515.591:  For provisions related to transactions 
ordinarily incident to the exportation or reexportation of items to 
Cuba, see Sec. Sec.  515.533 and 515.559. See Sec.  746.2(b) of the 
Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through 774) for 
the Department of Commerce's Cuba licensing policy.


    Note 2 to Sec.  515.591:  See Sec.  515.564 for a general 
license authorizing travel-related and other transactions incident 
to professional research and professional meetings in Cuba, Sec.  
515.533(c) for a general license authorizing travel-related and 
other transactions relating to certain exports and reexports to 
Cuba, and Sec.  515.575(a) for a general license authorizing 
transactions, including travel-related transactions, related to 
certain humanitarian projects.

Subpart H--Procedures


Sec.  515.803   [Removed]

0
27. Remove Sec.  515.803 from subpart H.

    Dated: October 11, 2016.
John E. Smith,
Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
[FR Doc. 2016-25032 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P



                                                71372            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                              the Regulations, in coordinated actions               ordinarily incident to certain
                                                                                                        with the Department of Commerce, to                   exportations of items from the United
                                                Office of Foreign Assets Control                        implement certain policy measures                     States, as well as certain reexportations
                                                                                                        announced by the President on                         of items from a third country, to Cuba,
                                                31 CFR Part 515                                         December 17, 2014, to further engage                  provided that the exportations or
                                                                                                        and empower the Cuban people. Today,                  reexportations are authorized by the
                                                Cuban Assets Control Regulations                        OFAC and the Department of Commerce                   Department of Commerce. OFAC is
                                                AGENCY:  Office of Foreign Assets                       are taking additional coordinated                     removing references to ‘‘100% U.S.-
                                                Control, Treasury.                                      actions in support of the President’s                 origin items’’ in this section for clarity
                                                                                                        Cuba policy.                                          and to minimize the circumstances
                                                ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                           OFAC is making additional                          under which persons authorized by
                                                SUMMARY:    The Department of the                       amendments to the Regulations with                    Commerce to export or reexport items to
                                                Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets                     respect to health, trade and commerce,                Cuba are required to obtain a specific
                                                Control (OFAC) is amending the Cuban                    civil aviation safety, travel and related             license from OFAC. Consistent with
                                                Assets Control Regulations to further                   transactions, humanitarian-related                    Section 1706 of the Cuban Democracy
                                                implement elements of the policy                        activities, and certain other activities, as          Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 6005) (CDA), this
                                                announced by the President on                           set forth below.                                      general license does not authorize any
                                                December 17, 2014, to engage and                        Health                                                transaction between a U.S.-owned or
                                                empower the Cuban people. Among                                                                               -controlled firm in a third country and
                                                                                                           Joint medical research. OFAC is                    Cuba for the exportation to Cuba of
                                                other things, these amendments
                                                                                                        amending section 515.547 to authorize                 commodities produced in a country
                                                authorize certain transactions related to
                                                                                                        persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to               other than the United States or Cuba.
                                                Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals and joint
                                                                                                        engage in joint medical research projects             Such transactions must be specifically
                                                medical research; add, expand, and
                                                                                                        with Cuban nationals. This general                    licensed pursuant to section 515.559 in
                                                clarify authorizations relating to trade
                                                                                                        license expands the scope of joint                    addition to any required authorization
                                                and commerce; authorize certain civil
                                                                                                        research projects that are authorized to              from the Department of Commerce.
                                                aviation safety-related services; further
                                                                                                        include both non-commercial and                       There are also restrictions imposed by
                                                facilitate authorized travel to Cuba; and
                                                                                                        commercial medical research.                          the CDA on the types of transactions
                                                expand the authorizations for grants and
                                                                                                           Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals. OFAC                 that may be licensed pursuant to that
                                                humanitarian-related services designed
                                                                                                        is also amending section 515.547 to add               section.
                                                to directly benefit the Cuban people.
                                                                                                        new authorizations related to Cuban-                     OFAC is also making a technical
                                                These amendments also implement
                                                                                                        origin pharmaceuticals. Specifically,                 correction to section 515.533(a) to
                                                certain technical and conforming
                                                                                                        section 515.547 now authorizes                        remove references to ‘‘agricultural
                                                changes. OFAC is making these
                                                                                                        transactions incident to obtaining                    items’’ so that only ‘‘agricultural
                                                amendments in support of the process
                                                                                                        approval from the U.S. Food and Drug                  commodities,’’ as defined in 15 CFR
                                                of normalizing bilateral relations with
                                                                                                        Administration (FDA) of Cuban-origin                  part 772, are subject to the limitations
                                                Cuba.
                                                                                                        pharmaceuticals. The general license                  on payment and financing terms
                                                DATES: Effective: October 17, 2016.                     includes discovery and development,                   required by the Trade Sanctions Reform
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The                    pre-clinical research, clinical research,             and Export Enhancement Act of 2000,
                                                Department of the Treasury’s Office of                  regulatory review, regulatory approval                22 U.S.C. 7207(b)(1). OFAC is making a
                                                Foreign Assets Control: Assistant                       and licensing, regulatory post-market                 conforming edit with respect to section
                                                Director for Licensing, tel.: 202–622–                  activities, and the importation into the              515.584(f) and also expanding that
                                                2480, Assistant Director for Regulatory                 United States of Cuban-origin                         authorization to apply to any banking
                                                Affairs, tel.: 202–622–4855, Assistant                  pharmaceuticals. Section 515.547 also                 institution.
                                                Director for Sanctions Compliance &                     now authorizes the importation into the                  Finally, OFAC is adding a note to
                                                Evaluation, tel.: 202–622–2490; or the                  United States, and the marketing, sale,               section 515.533(a) to clarify that this
                                                Department of the Treasury’s Office of                  or other distribution in the United                   paragraph authorizes the importation
                                                the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets                       States, of FDA-approved Cuban-origin                  into the United States of items from a
                                                Control), Office of the General Counsel,                pharmaceuticals.                                      third country for exportation to Cuba
                                                tel.: 202–622–2410.                                        In addition, revised section 515.547               pursuant to a license or other
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              authorizes persons subject to U.S.                    authorization by the Department of
                                                                                                        jurisdiction who are engaging in such                 Commerce. OFAC is making additional
                                                Electronic Availability                                 authorized activities to open, maintain,              technical and conforming changes to
                                                  This document and additional                          and close bank accounts at Cuban                      remove certain obsolete language and
                                                information concerning OFAC are                         financial institutions as long as such                consolidate all of the conditions
                                                available from OFAC’s Web site                          accounts are used solely for the                      applicable to this general license in a
                                                (www.treasury.gov/ofac).                                authorized activities. The statement of               single paragraph.
                                                                                                        licensing policy previously contained in                 Importation of certain items
                                                Background                                                                                                    previously exported or reexported to
                                                                                                        section 515.547 for the importation of
                                                   The Department of the Treasury                       Cuban-origin commodities for bona-fide                Cuba and servicing and repair of such
                                                issued the Cuban Assets Control                         research purposes in sample quantities                items. OFAC is further amending
                                                Regulations, 31 CFR part 515 (the                       remains in effect for items that would                section 515.533 to add a new general
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                ‘‘Regulations’’), on July 8, 1963, under                not be authorized by the new general                  license authorizing the importation into
                                                the Trading With the Enemy Act (50                      license in section 515.547(b).                        the United States or a third country of
                                                U.S.C. 4301–4341). OFAC has amended                                                                           items previously exported or reexported
                                                the Regulations on numerous occasions.                  Trade and Commerce                                    to Cuba pursuant to section 515.533 or
                                                   Most recently, on January 16, June 15,                 Transactions incident to exports and                515.559. This authorization will allow
                                                and September 21, 2015, and January 27                  reexports to Cuba. Section 515.533(a) of              recipients of authorized exports or
                                                and March 16, 2016, OFAC amended                        the Regulations authorizes transactions               reexports to Cuba to return the items to


                                           VerDate Sep<11>2014   14:00 Oct 14, 2016   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00048   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\17OCR1.SGM   17OCR1


                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          71373

                                                the United States or a third country,                   the safe operation of commercial                      authorizing persons subject to U.S.
                                                including for service and repair.                       aircraft.                                             jurisdiction to travel to Cuba for
                                                Irrespective of involvement in the                                                                            purposes of attending or organizing
                                                                                                        Travel and Related Transactions
                                                importation of these items, persons                                                                           professional meetings or conferences in
                                                subject to U.S. jurisdiction are                           OFAC is making several changes to                  Cuba. Today, OFAC is removing the
                                                authorized to service and repair such                   rules related to the importation of                   restriction in section 515.564(a)(2)(i)
                                                items. The exportation or reexportation                 Cuban-origin merchandise as                           that the purpose of such meeting or
                                                of serviced, repaired, or replacement                   accompanied baggage and certain travel-               conference not be for the promotion of
                                                items to Cuba, however, must be                         related authorizations.                               tourism in Cuba, and making additional
                                                separately authorized pursuant to                          Importation of Cuban merchandise.                  conforming edits. OFAC is also taking
                                                section 515.533(a) or 515.559, in                       Section 515.560 previously authorized                 this opportunity to clarify section
                                                addition to any Department of                           persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction                  515.564 by removing paragraphs
                                                Commerce authorization that may be                      engaging in authorized travel to Cuba to              (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(2)(iii), which included
                                                required.                                               acquire merchandise in Cuba and                       language inconsistent with adjacent
                                                                                                        import it into the United States as                   paragraphs.
                                                   Certain vessel transactions. Section
                                                                                                        accompanied baggage, provided that the                   Remittances for third-country
                                                515.207(a) prohibits foreign vessels that
                                                                                                        merchandise was for personal use only                 national travel. OFAC is amending
                                                call on Cuban ports for trade purposes
                                                                                                        and had a value of $400 or less (with no              section 515.570 to authorize persons
                                                from entering U.S. ports for the purpose
                                                                                                        more than $100 of such merchandise                    subject to the jurisdiction of the United
                                                of loading or unloading freight for 180
                                                                                                        consisting of alcohol or tobacco                      States to make remittances to third-
                                                days from the date they depart Cuba,
                                                                                                        products). OFAC is now removing these                 country nationals for travel by third-
                                                absent OFAC authorization. OFAC is                      monetary value limits, which means
                                                amending section 515.550 to add an                                                                            country nationals to, from, and within
                                                                                                        that the normal limits on duty and tax                Cuba, provided that such travel would
                                                additional exception to the prohibition                 exemptions for merchandise imported
                                                in section 515.207(a) for foreign vessels                                                                     be authorized by a general license if the
                                                                                                        as accompanied baggage and for                        traveler were a person subject to U.S.
                                                that have carried from a third country to               personal use will apply. OFAC will
                                                Cuba only items that, were they subject                                                                       jurisdiction. OFAC is also making a
                                                                                                        continue to require that such                         clarifying change in section 515.420 to
                                                to the Export Administration                            merchandise be imported as
                                                Regulations (15 CFR parts 730 through                                                                         make clear that the interpretation in that
                                                                                                        accompanied baggage and for personal                  section relates only to persons subject to
                                                774) (EAR), would be designated as                      use.                                                  U.S. jurisdiction.
                                                EAR99 or would be controlled on the                        Certain transactions in third                         Recordkeeping requirements for
                                                Commerce Control List only for anti-                    countries. Previously, section 515.585                providers of travel and carrier services.
                                                terrorism reasons.                                      authorized persons who are subject to                 In the case of customers traveling
                                                   Contingent contracts. OFAC is adding                 U.S. jurisdiction but located in                      pursuant to a specific license, in order
                                                a new general license in section 515.534                countries other than the United States or             to ease the burden on persons subject to
                                                authorizing persons subject to U.S.                     Cuba to, among other things, purchase                 U.S. jurisdiction that provide authorized
                                                jurisdiction to enter into certain                      or acquire merchandise subject to the                 travel or carrier services pursuant to
                                                contingent contracts for transactions                   prohibitions in section 515.204                       section 515.572, OFAC is amending
                                                prohibited by the Regulations and to                    provided that the merchandise was for                 section 515.572(b)(1) to make clear that
                                                engage in transactions ordinarily                       personal consumption while in a third                 such service providers may collect and
                                                incident to negotiating and entering into               country. OFAC is amending section                     retain either a copy of the traveler’s
                                                such contracts. The performance of such                 515.585 to remove the limitation that                 specific license or the traveler’s specific
                                                contracts—making deposits, receiving                    the merchandise be consumed while                     license number.
                                                payments, providing certain services or                 abroad, to authorize the importation of
                                                goods, etc.—must be made contingent                     such merchandise into the United States               Humanitarian-Related Transactions
                                                on OFAC authorizing the underlying                      as accompanied baggage provided that                    Additional grants, scholarships, and
                                                transactions or authorization no longer                 the merchandise is for personal use                   awards. Sections 515.565 and 515.575
                                                being required. Furthermore, if the                     only, and to clarify that this                        previously authorized the provision of
                                                transaction implicates another Federal                  authorization is applicable to persons                grants, scholarships, and awards in
                                                agency’s licensing requirements, then                   subject to U.S. jurisdiction who are                  which Cuba or Cuban nationals have an
                                                the contract must make obtaining the                    present in a third country, such as when              interest (including as recipients) with
                                                necessary license(s) from such agency or                traveling in or through the third                     respect to educational and humanitarian
                                                the removal of that licensing                           country.                                              activities, respectively. OFAC is now
                                                requirement an additional precondition                     Foreign passengers’ baggage.                       expanding that authorization to
                                                of performance. OFAC is making a                        Previously, section 515.569 authorized                authorize the provision of grants,
                                                conforming change to section 515.533 to                 foreign passengers to import Cuban-                   scholarships, and awards in two
                                                remove a provision in that section                      origin goods, excluding Cuban-origin                  additional categories of activities:
                                                authorizing certain contingent contracts                alcohol and tobacco products, as                      scientific research and religious
                                                that are now authorized by this new                     accompanied baggage, provided that the                activities. OFAC is consolidating these
                                                general license.                                        goods were not in commercial quantities               authorizations in new section 515.590
                                                Civil Aviation Safety                                   and not imported for resale. OFAC is                  and making conforming edits to sections
                                                                                                        now removing the exclusion for alcohol                515.565 and 515.575.
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                                                   Civil aviation safety-related services.              and tobacco products while retaining                    Services related to developing Cuban
                                                OFAC is amending section 515.572 to                     the conditions that the goods not be in               infrastructure. OFAC is adding section
                                                add a new general license authorizing                   commercial quantities and not be                      515.591 to authorize persons subject to
                                                persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to                 imported for resale.                                  the jurisdiction of the United States to
                                                provide Cuba and Cuban nationals,                          Professional research and                          provide Cuba or Cuban nationals with
                                                wherever located, with services aimed                   professional meetings in Cuba. Section                services related to developing, repairing,
                                                at ensuring safety in civil aviation and                515.564 includes a general license                    maintaining, and enhancing Cuban


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                                                71374            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                infrastructure, consistent with the                     Paperwork Reduction Act                               Subpart D—Interpretations
                                                export or reexport licensing policy of
                                                the Department of Commerce.                               The collections of information related              ■ 4. Revise the second sentence of
                                                ‘‘Infrastructure’’ in this case means                   to the Regulations are contained in 31                § 515.420 to read as follows:
                                                systems and assets used to provide the                  CFR part 501 (the ‘‘Reporting,
                                                                                                        Procedures and Penalties Regulations’’)               § 515.420    Travel to Cuba.
                                                Cuban people with goods and services
                                                produced by the public transportation,                  and section 515.572 of this part.                       * * * The prohibition set forth in
                                                water management, waste management,                     Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction                   § 515.201(b)(1) also prohibits payment
                                                non-nuclear electricity generation, and                 Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507), those                   for air travel by a person subject to U.S.
                                                electricity distribution sectors, as well               collections of information have been                  jurisdiction to Cuba on a third-country
                                                as hospitals, public housing, and                       approved by the Office of Management                  carrier unless the travel is pursuant to
                                                primary and secondary schools.                          and Budget under control numbers                      an OFAC general or specific license.
                                                                                                        1505–0164, 1505–0167, and 1505–0168.                  ■ 5. Revise the note to § 515.421(a)(4) to
                                                Other Amendments                                        An agency may not conduct or sponsor,                 read as follows:
                                                   Definition of prohibited officials of the            and a person is not required to respond
                                                Government of Cuba and prohibited                       to, a collection of information unless the            § 515.421 Transactions ordinarily incident
                                                members of the Cuban Communist                          collection of information displays a                  to a licensed transaction.
                                                Party. OFAC is amending sections                        valid control number.                                     (a) * * *
                                                515.337 and 515.338 to narrow the                                                                                 (4) * * *
                                                                                                        List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 515
                                                definitions in these sections.                                                                                   Note to paragraph (a)(4): See
                                                   Additional technical and conforming                     Administrative practice and                        § 515.533(a)(4) for payment and financing
                                                edits. OFAC is also making several                      procedure, Banking, Banks, Blocking of                terms for exportations or reexportations
                                                technical and conforming edits,                         assets, Credit, Cuba, Financial                       authorized pursuant to § 515.533.
                                                including adjusting a cross-reference in                transactions, Foreign trade, Reporting                *        *   *     *     *
                                                the note to section 515.421(a)(4) to                    and recordkeeping requirements,
                                                reflect that the payment and financing                  Sanctions, Services, Travel restrictions.             Subpart E—Licenses, Authorizations,
                                                terms for agricultural commodities are                                                                        and Statements of Licensing Policy
                                                now located in section 515.533(a)(4);                     For the reasons set forth in the
                                                removing sections 515.531 and 515.803                   preamble, the Department of the                       § 515.531    [Removed]
                                                as obsolete; adding the word ‘‘repair’’ to              Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets
                                                                                                        Control amends 31 CFR part 515 as set                 ■   6. Remove § 515.531 from subpart E.
                                                the general licenses for certain travel-
                                                                                                        forth below:                                          ■   7. Revise § 515.533 to read as follows:
                                                related transactions in sections 515.533
                                                and 515.559 to clarify that travel for                                                                        § 515.533 Exportations from the United
                                                                                                        PART 515—CUBAN ASSETS
                                                such purposes has been within the                                                                             States to Cuba; reexportations to Cuba;
                                                                                                        CONTROL REGULATIONS
                                                scope of the existing authorizations;                                                                         importation and servicing or repair of
                                                removing paragraphs (a) and (b) of                                                                            certain items previously exported or
                                                section 515.536, as all activities                      ■ 1. The authority citation for part 515              reexported to Cuba.
                                                described in such paragraphs are                        continues to read as follows:                            (a) All transactions ordinarily
                                                authorized by the general license in                      Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2370(a), 6001–6010,            incident to the exportation of items from
                                                section 515.562 relating to official                    7201–7211; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50 U.S.C. 4301–          the United States, or the reexportation
                                                business of the U.S. government;                        4341; Pub. L. 101–410, 104 Stat. 890 (28              of items from a third country, to any
                                                                                                        U.S.C. 2461 note); Pub. L. 104–114, 110 Stat.         person within Cuba are authorized,
                                                correcting the cross-reference in section
                                                                                                        785 (22 U.S.C. 6021–6091); Pub. L. 105–277,
                                                515.560(c)(6)(ii) to the definition of                  112 Stat. 2681; Pub. L. 111–8, 123 Stat. 524;
                                                                                                                                                              provided that:
                                                depository institution to be section                    Pub. L. 111–117, 123 Stat. 3034; E.O. 9193,              (1) The exportation or reexportation is
                                                515.333; adding the words ‘‘paragraphs                  7 FR 5205, 3 CFR, 1938–1943 Comp., p. 1174;           licensed or otherwise authorized by the
                                                (a)(1) through (a)(4)’’ in the first                    E.O. 9989, 13 FR 4891, 3 CFR, 1943–1948               Department of Commerce under the
                                                sentence of section 515.572(b)(1) to                    Comp., p. 748; Proc. 3447, 27 FR 1085, 3              provisions of the Export Administration
                                                clarify that records pertaining to                      CFR, 1959–1963 Comp., p. 157; E.O. 12854,             Act of 1979, as amended (50 U.S.C.
                                                passengers do not need to be maintained                 58 FR 36587, 3 CFR, 1993 Comp., p. 614.               4601–4623) (see the Export
                                                for transactions authorized pursuant to                                                                       Administration Regulations, 15 CFR
                                                paragraph (a)(5) of section 515.572;                    Subpart C—General Definitions                         parts 730 through 774);
                                                removing a duplicative ‘‘subject’’ from                                                                          (2) The transaction is not a transaction
                                                Note 1 to section 515.578(a); and adding                ■   2. Revise § 515.337 to read as follows:           between a U.S.-owned or -controlled
                                                the word ‘‘authorized’’ to complete the                 § 515.337 Prohibited officials of the                 firm in a third country and Cuba for the
                                                sentence in section 515.584(c).                         Government of Cuba.                                   exportation to Cuba of commodities
                                                                                                                                                              produced in a country other than the
                                                Public Participation                                      For purposes of this part, the term                 United States or Cuba;
                                                  Because the amendment of the                          prohibited officials of the Government                   (3) The transaction is not financed
                                                Regulations involves a foreign affairs                  of Cuba means members of the Council                  from any blocked account; and
                                                function, the provisions of Executive                   of Ministers and flag officers of the                    (4) In the case of agricultural
                                                Order 12866 and the Administrative                      Revolutionary Armed Forces.                           commodities, as that term is defined in
                                                Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring                  ■   3. Revise § 515.338 to read as follows:           15 CFR part 772, only the following
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                notice of proposed rulemaking,                                                                                payment and financing terms are used:
                                                opportunity for public participation,                   § 515.338 Prohibited members of the                      (i) Payment of cash in advance. For
                                                                                                        Cuban Communist Party.
                                                and delay in effective date are                                                                               the purposes of this section, the term
                                                inapplicable. Because no notice of                        For purposes of this part, the term                 ‘‘payment of cash in advance’’ shall
                                                proposed rulemaking is required for this                prohibited members of the Cuban                       mean payment before the transfer of title
                                                rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                 Communist Party means members of the                  to, and control of, the exported items to
                                                U.S.C. 601–612) does not apply.                         Politburo.                                            the Cuban purchaser; or


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             71375

                                                   (ii) Financing by a banking institution              to paragraph (a) of this section or                   such other transactions as are related to
                                                located in a third country provided the                 § 515.559; and                                        the exportation and reexportation of
                                                banking institution is not a designated                    (ii) The items are being imported into             items to Cuba when such transactions
                                                national, a U.S. citizen, a U.S.                        the United States or a third country                  do not qualify for the general license
                                                permanent resident alien, or an entity                  either:                                               under paragraph (c) of this section.
                                                organized under the laws of the United                     (A) In order to service or repair the              ■ 8. Add § 515.534 to subpart E to read
                                                States or any jurisdiction within the                   items before they are exported or                     as follows:
                                                United States (including any foreign                    reexported back to Cuba, or
                                                branch of such an entity). Such                            (B) To return them to the United                   § 515.534 Negotiation of, and entry into,
                                                financing may be confirmed or advised                   States or a third country.                            contingent contracts relating to
                                                                                                                                                              transactions prohibited by this part.
                                                by a U.S. banking institution.                            Note to paragraph (b): This paragraph does
                                                                                                        not authorize the exportation or                         (a) Persons subject to the jurisdiction
                                                   Note 1 to paragraph (a): The transactions
                                                authorized by this paragraph include all                reexportation of any item to Cuba. The                of the United States are authorized to
                                                transactions that are directly incident to the          exportation or reexportation of serviced,             enter into, and to engage in all
                                                shipping of specific exports or reexports (e.g.,        repaired, or replacement items to Cuba must           transactions ordinarily incident to the
                                                insurance and transportation of the exports to          be separately authorized pursuant to                  negotiation of and entry into, contingent
                                                Cuba). Transactions that are not tied to                paragraph (a) of this section or § 515.559, in        contracts for transactions that are
                                                specific exports or reexports, such as                  addition to any Department of Commerce                prohibited by this part, provided that:
                                                transactions involving future (non-specific)            authorization that may be required.                      (1) The performance of any such
                                                shipments, must be separately licensed by                  (c) General license for travel-related             contingent contract is made expressly
                                                OFAC. For the waiver of the prohibitions on
                                                                                                        transactions incident to exportation or               contingent on the prior authorization of
                                                entry into U.S. ports contained in § 515.207
                                                for vessels transporting shipments of items             reexportation of certain items. (1) The               the Office of Foreign Assets Control
                                                between the United States and Cuba pursuant             travel-related transactions set forth in              pursuant to this part or authorization no
                                                to this section, see § 515.550.                         § 515.560(c) and such additional                      longer being required; and
                                                                                                        transactions as are directly incident to                 (2) The performance of any such
                                                   Note 2 to paragraph (a): The limitation in           the conduct of market research,                       contingent contract that is subject to
                                                paragraph (a)(4) applies only to payment and            commercial marketing, sales or contract               licensing requirements of another
                                                financing terms for exports or reexports of                                                                   Federal agency is expressly made
                                                agricultural commodities and is required by
                                                                                                        negotiation, accompanied delivery,
                                                the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export                   installation, leasing, servicing, or repair           contingent upon the prior authorization
                                                Enhancement Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C.                      in Cuba of items consistent with the                  of that agency or the removal of those
                                                7207(b)(1). For other authorized exports and            export or reexport licensing policy of                licensing requirements.
                                                reexports, paragraph (a) does not restrict              the Department of Commerce are                           (b) For purposes of this section, the
                                                payment and financing terms. See § 515.584              authorized, provided that the traveler’s              term ‘‘contingent contracts’’ includes
                                                for an authorization for banking institutions           schedule of activities does not include               executory contracts, executory pro
                                                to provide financing for authorized exports                                                                   forma invoices, agreements in principle,
                                                                                                        free time or recreation in excess of that
                                                and reexports of items other than agricultural                                                                executory offers capable of acceptance
                                                commodities.                                            consistent with a full-time schedule.
                                                                                                           (2) The travel-related transactions set            such as bids or proposals in response to
                                                  Note 3 to paragraph (a): Transactions                 forth in § 515.560(c) and such additional             public tenders, binding memoranda of
                                                ordinarily incident to exportation from the             transactions as are directly incident to              understanding, or any other similar
                                                United States authorized by this paragraph              the facilitation of the temporary sojourn             agreement.
                                                include the importation into the United                 of aircraft and vessels as authorized by                 Note to § 515.534: This section does not
                                                States of items from a third country for                15 CFR 740.15 (License Exception                      authorize transactions related to travel to,
                                                exportation to Cuba pursuant to a license or
                                                other authorization by the Department of                Aircraft, Vessels and Spacecraft) or                  from, or within Cuba. See § 515.533(c) for a
                                                                                                        pursuant to other authorization by the                general license authorizing travel-related and
                                                Commerce.
                                                                                                        Department of Commerce for authorized                 other transactions incident to the negotiation
                                                  Note 4 to paragraph (a): See § 515.534 for            travel between the United States and                  of contracts for the exportation or
                                                a general license authorizing certain                                                                         reexportation of certain items to Cuba, and
                                                                                                        Cuba, including travel-related                        § 515.564(a)(2) for a general license
                                                contingent contracts, including contingent              transactions by persons subject to U.S.
                                                contracts for the sale of items that may be                                                                   authorizing travel-related and other
                                                                                                        jurisdiction who are required for normal              transactions incident to attending or
                                                exported from the United States to Cuba or
                                                reexported from a third country to Cuba                 operation and service aboard a vessel or              organizing professional meetings in Cuba,
                                                consistent with the export licensing policy of          aircraft, as well as persons subject to               which include professional meetings relating
                                                the Department of Commerce, where                       U.S. jurisdiction who are required to                 to the negotiation of contingent contracts
                                                performance of such contingent contracts is             provide services to a vessel in port or               authorized by this section.
                                                expressly made contingent on prior                      aircraft on the ground, are authorized,               ■ 9. Amend § 515.536 by removing
                                                authorization by the Department of                      provided that:
                                                Commerce.                                                                                                     paragraphs (a) and (b), redesignating
                                                                                                           (i) Such travel-related transactions are           paragraphs (c) and (d) as (a) and (b),
                                                   (b) Importation of certain items                     limited to the duration and scope of                  respectively, and revising redesignated
                                                previously exported to Cuba; servicing                  their duties in relation to the particular            paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                                and repair of such items. (1) All                       authorized temporary sojourn; and
                                                transactions ordinarily incident to the                    (ii) The aircraft or vessel must be                § 515.536 Certain transactions with
                                                importation into the United States or a                 transporting individuals whose travel                 respect to merchandise affected by
                                                third country of items previously                       between the United States and Cuba is                 § 515.204.
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                                                exported from the United States to Cuba                 authorized pursuant to any section of                   (a) The purchase outside the United
                                                or exported or reexported from a third                  this part other than paragraph (c)(2) of              States for importation into the United
                                                country to Cuba, and the servicing and                  this section.                                         States of nickel-bearing materials
                                                repair of such items, are authorized,                      (d) Specific licenses. Specific licenses           presumptively subject to § 515.204 and
                                                provided that:                                          may be issued on a case-by-case basis                 the importation of such merchandise
                                                   (i) The items previously were                        authorizing the travel-related                        into the United States are authorized if
                                                exported or reexported to Cuba pursuant                 transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and            there is presented to the collector of


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                                                71376            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                customs in connection with such                            (b) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction           with Cuba authorized pursuant to § 515.533,
                                                importation the original of an                          are authorized to engage in all                       § 515.559, or § 515.582, or by specific license.
                                                appropriate certificate of origin as                    transactions incident to obtaining
                                                defined in paragraph (b) of this section                approval from the U.S. Food and Drug                     (2) Engaging or has engaged in trade
                                                and provided that the merchandise was                   Administration (FDA) of Cuban-origin                  with Cuba that is exempt from the
                                                shipped to the United States directly, or               pharmaceuticals, including discovery                  prohibitions of this part (see § 515.206);
                                                on a through bill of lading, from the                   and development, pre-clinical research,                  (3) Engaging or has engaged in the
                                                country issuing the appropriate                         clinical research, regulatory review,                 exportation or reexportation to Cuba
                                                certificate of origin.                                  regulatory approval and licensing,                    from a third country of agricultural
                                                *     *     *      *   *                                regulatory post-market activities, and                commodities, medicine, or medical
                                                                                                        the importation into the United States of             devices that, were they subject to the
                                                ■ 10. Amend § 515.542 by revising Note                  Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals.                         Export Administration Regulations (15
                                                1 to § 515.542 to read as follows:                         (c) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction           CFR parts 730 through 774) (EAR),
                                                § 515.542 Mail and telecommunications-                  are authorized to engage in all                       would be designated as EAR99;
                                                related transactions.                                   transactions incident to the marketing,                  (4) A foreign vessel that has entered
                                                                                                        sale, or other distribution in the United             a port or place in Cuba while carrying
                                                *      *     *       *      *
                                                                                                        States of FDA-approved Cuban-origin                   students, faculty, and staff that are
                                                   Note 1 to § 515.542: For an authorization            pharmaceuticals, including the
                                                of travel-related transactions that are directly                                                              authorized to travel to Cuba pursuant to
                                                                                                        importation into the United States of
                                                incident to the conduct of market research,                                                                   § 515.565(a); or
                                                                                                        Cuban-origin pharmaceuticals.
                                                commercial marketing, sales or contract                    (d)(1) Opening and maintaining bank                   (5) Carrying or has carried persons
                                                negotiation, accompanied delivery,                                                                            between the United States and Cuba or
                                                installation, leasing, servicing, or repair in
                                                                                                        accounts at Cuban financial institutions
                                                Cuba of items consistent with the export or             to engage in authorized transactions.                 within Cuba pursuant to the
                                                reexport policy of the Department of                    The opening and maintenance of                        authorization in § 515.572(a)(2) or, in
                                                Commerce, see § 515.533(c). For an                      accounts, including the deposit of funds              the case of a vessel used solely for
                                                authorization of travel-related transactions            in such accounts by wire transfer, at a               personal travel (and not transporting
                                                that are directly incident to participation in          financial institution in Cuba, is                     passengers), pursuant to a license or
                                                professional meetings, including where such             authorized provided that such accounts                other authorization issued by the
                                                meetings relate to telecommunications                   are used only for transactions                        Department of Commerce for the
                                                services or other activities authorized by              authorized pursuant to this section.                  exportation or reexportation of the
                                                paragraphs (b) through (e) of this section, see            (2) Closing bank accounts. The                     vessel to Cuba.
                                                § 515.564(a).
                                                                                                        closing of an account opened pursuant                    (b) Unless a vessel is otherwise
                                                *      *     *       *      *                           to the authorization in paragraph (d)(1)              engaging or has otherwise engaged in
                                                                                                        of this section is authorized, provided               transactions that would prohibit entry
                                                ■ 11. Revise § 515.547 to read as                       that any transfer of funds may only be
                                                follows:                                                                                                      pursuant to § 515.207, § 515.207(a) shall
                                                                                                        effected by wire transfer to an account               not apply to a foreign vessel that has
                                                § 515.547 Certain transactions related to               maintained at a depository institution,               engaged in the exportation to Cuba from
                                                medical research and Cuban-origin                       as defined in § 515.333, that is a person             a third country only of items that, were
                                                pharmaceuticals; research samples.                      subject to U.S. jurisdiction.                         they subject to the EAR, would be
                                                                                                           (e) Specific licenses. (1) To the extent
                                                   (a) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction                                                                   designated as EAR99 or would be
                                                                                                        not authorized by paragraph (b) of this
                                                are authorized to engage in all                                                                               controlled on the Commerce Control
                                                                                                        section, specific licenses may be issued
                                                transactions incident to joint medical                                                                        List only for anti-terrorism reasons.
                                                                                                        for the importation of Cuban-origin
                                                research projects with Cuban nationals.
                                                                                                        commodities for bona-fide research                    ■ 13. Amend § 515.559 by revising
                                                  Note 1 to paragraph (a): The export or                purposes in sample quantities only.                   paragraph (d) to read as follows:
                                                reexport to Cuba of goods (including                       (2) Specific licenses may be issued for
                                                software) or technology subject to the Export           transactions related to medical research              § 515.559 Certain export and import
                                                Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts                or pharmaceutical products not                        transactions by U.S.-owned or -controlled
                                                730 through 774) may require separate                                                                         foreign firms.
                                                authorization from the Department of
                                                                                                        authorized by paragraphs (a) through (c)
                                                Commerce.                                               of this section.                                      *      *    *     *     *
                                                                                                          Note to § 515.547: Transactions authorized             (d) General license. Travel-related
                                                   Note 2 to paragraph (a): This paragraph              by this section may require separate                  transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and
                                                does not authorize transactions related to              authorizations or approvals by the FDA or             such other transactions as are directly
                                                travel to, from, or within Cuba, nor does it            other Federal agencies.                               incident to market research, commercial
                                                authorize transactions related to travel to,
                                                from, or within the United States by Cuban              ■ 12. Revise § 515.550 to read as                     marketing, sales or contract negotiation,
                                                nationals. See § 515.564(a) for a general               follows:                                              accompanied delivery, installation,
                                                license authorizing travel-related and other                                                                  leasing, servicing, or repair in Cuba of
                                                transactions incident to professional research          § 515.550 Certain vessel transactions                 exports that are consistent with the
                                                and professional meetings in Cuba. See                  authorized.                                           licensing policy under paragraph (a) of
                                                § 515.571 for a general license authorizing                (a) Unless a vessel is otherwise                   this section are authorized, provided
                                                transactions incident to travel to, from, and           engaging or has otherwise engaged in                  that the traveler’s schedule of activities
                                                within the United States by certain Cuban               transactions that would prohibit entry                does not include free time or recreation
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                                                nationals.                                              pursuant to § 515.207, § 515.207 shall                in excess of that consistent with a full-
                                                                                                        not apply to a vessel that is:                        time schedule.
                                                  Note 3 to paragraph (a): This paragraph                  (1) Engaging or has engaged in trade
                                                also does not authorize persons subject to                                                                    *      *    *     *     *
                                                                                                        with Cuba authorized pursuant to this
                                                U.S. jurisdiction to establish a business or
                                                physical presence in Cuba, to hire Cuban                part;                                                 ■ 14. Amend § 515.560 by revising
                                                nationals, or to engage in any transactions               Note to paragraph (a)(1): The authorization         paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(6)(ii) and Note
                                                prohibited by § 515.208.                                in this paragraph includes, for example, trade        3 to § 515.560 to read as follows:


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                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                             71377

                                                § 515.560 Travel-related transactions to,               employee or contractor of an entity that              such travel would be authorized by a
                                                from, and within Cuba by persons subject                is organizing the professional meeting or             general license issued pursuant to this
                                                to U.S. jurisdiction.                                   conference; and                                       part if the traveler were a person subject
                                                *       *    *    *     *                                  (iii) The traveler’s schedule of                   to U.S. jurisdiction.
                                                   (c) * * *                                            activities does not include free time or              *      *     *    *     *
                                                   (3) Importation of Cuban                             recreation in excess of that consistent               ■ 19. Amend § 515.572 by revising the
                                                merchandise. The purchase or other                      with a full-time schedule of attendance               section heading, adding paragraph
                                                acquisition in Cuba and importation as                  at, or organization of, professional                  (a)(5), and revising paragraph (b)(1) to
                                                accompanied baggage into the United                     meetings or conferences.                              read as follows:
                                                States of merchandise is authorized,                      Note to § 515.564(a)(2): Transactions
                                                provided that the merchandise is                        incident to the organization of professional          § 515.572 Provision of travel, carrier, other
                                                imported for personal use only. The                     meetings or conferences include marketing             transportation-related, and remittance
                                                importation of Cuban-origin information                 related to such meetings or conferences in            forwarding services.
                                                and informational materials is exempt                   Cuba.                                                   (a) * * *
                                                from the prohibitions of this part, as                                                                          (5) Authorization to provide civil
                                                described in § 515.206. The importation                 *     *     *     *    *
                                                                                                                                                              aviation safety-related services. Persons
                                                of certain other specified goods and                    ■ 16. Amend § 515.565 as follows:                     subject to U.S. jurisdiction are
                                                services is authorized in §§ 515.544,                   ■ (a) Remove paragraph (a)(11);                       authorized to provide civil aviation
                                                515.547, 515.569, 515.578, 515.582, and                 ■ (b) Redesignate paragraphs (a)(12) and              safety-related services to Cuba and
                                                515.585.                                                (a)(13) as paragraphs (a)(11) and (a)(12),            Cuban nationals, wherever located, to
                                                *       *    *    *     *                               respectively;                                         ensure the safety of civil aviation and
                                                                                                        ■ (c) Revise redesignated paragraph                   the safe operation of commercial
                                                   (6) * * *
                                                   (ii) Closing bank accounts. All                      (a)(11); and                                          aircraft.
                                                transactions incident to the closing of                 ■ (d) Add new note 4 to paragraph (a)
                                                                                                        to read as follows:                                     Note to paragraph (a)(5): For provisions
                                                accounts opened pursuant to the                                                                               related to transactions ordinarily incident to
                                                authorization in paragraph (c)(6)(i) of                 § 515.565    Educational activities.                  the exportation or reexportation of items to
                                                this section are authorized, provided                                                                         Cuba, see §§ 515.533 and 515.559.
                                                                                                          (a) * * *
                                                that any transfer of funds may only be
                                                                                                          (11) The organization of, and                       *      *    *     *     *
                                                effected by wire transfer to an account
                                                                                                        preparation for, activities described in                 (b) * * *
                                                maintained at a depository institution,
                                                                                                        paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(10) of this                (1) Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
                                                as defined in § 515.333, that is a person
                                                                                                        section by employees or contractors of                providing services authorized pursuant
                                                subject to U.S. jurisdiction.
                                                                                                        the sponsoring organization that is a                 to paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(4) of this
                                                *       *    *    *     *                               person subject to U.S. jurisdiction;                  section must retain for at least five years
                                                  Note 3 to § 515.560: The export or reexport           *     *    *     *     *                              from the date of the transaction a
                                                to Cuba of goods (including software) or                                                                      certification from each customer
                                                technology subject to the Export                          Note 4 to paragraph (a): See § 515.590(a)
                                                                                                        for an authorization for the provision of             indicating the section of this part that
                                                Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts                                                                      authorizes the person to travel or send
                                                730 through 774) may require separate                   educational grants, scholarships, or awards to
                                                                                                        a Cuban national or in which Cuba or a                remittances to Cuba. In the case of a
                                                authorization from the Department of
                                                Commerce.                                               Cuban national otherwise has an interest.             customer traveling under a specific
                                                                                                                                                              license, the specific license number or
                                                ■ 15. Amend § 515.564 by removing                       *     *    *     *    *                               a copy of the license must be
                                                paragraph (a)(1)(ii), redesignating                     ■ 17. Revise § 515.569 to read as                     maintained on file with the person
                                                (a)(1)(iii) as (a)(1)(ii), and revising                 follows:                                              subject to U.S. jurisdiction providing
                                                paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:                                                                          services authorized pursuant to this
                                                                                                        § 515.569    Foreign passengers’ baggage.
                                                                                                                                                              section.
                                                § 515.564 Professional research and                       The importation of merchandise
                                                professional meetings in Cuba.                          subject to the prohibitions in § 515.204,             *      *    *     *     *
                                                   (a) * * *                                            including Cuban-origin goods, brought                 ■ 20. Amend § 515.575 by revising note
                                                   (2) Professional meetings. The travel-               into the United States as accompanied                 2 to paragraph (a) to read as follows:
                                                related transactions set forth in                       baggage by any person arriving in the                 § 515.575   Humanitarian projects.
                                                § 515.560(c) and such additional                        United States other than a citizen or
                                                transactions as are directly incident to                resident of the United States is hereby                   (a) * * *
                                                attendance at, or organization of,                      authorized, provided that such goods                    Note 2 to paragraph (a): See § 515.590(b)
                                                professional meetings or conferences in                 are not in commercial quantities and are              for an authorization for the provision of
                                                Cuba are authorized, provided that:                     not imported for resale.                              grants, scholarships, or awards related to
                                                                                                                                                              humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba
                                                   (i) For a traveler attending a                       ■ 18. Amend § 515.570 to redesignate                  that are designed to directly benefit the
                                                professional meeting or conference, the                 paragraph (i) as paragraph (j) and to add             Cuban people as set forth in paragraph (b).
                                                purpose of the meeting or conference                    new paragraph (i) to read as follows:
                                                directly relates to the traveler’s                                                                            *     *     *    *      *
                                                profession, professional background, or                 § 515.570    Remittances.                             ■ 21. Amend § 515.578 by revising note
                                                area of expertise, including area of                    *      *    *     *     *                             1 to § 515.578(a) to read as follows:
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                                                graduate-level full-time study;                            (i) Remittances to third-country
                                                   (ii) For a traveler organizing a                     nationals for certain travel. Persons                 § 515.578 Exportation, reexportation, and
                                                professional meeting or conference on                   subject to the jurisdiction of the United             importation of certain internet-based
                                                behalf of an entity, either the traveler’s              States are authorized to make                         services; importation of software.
                                                profession must be related to the                       remittances to third-country nationals                    (a) * * *
                                                organization of professional meetings or                for travel by third-country nationals to,               Note 1 to § 515.578(a): The export or
                                                conferences or the traveler must be an                  from, or within Cuba, provided that                   reexport to Cuba of items subject to the



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                                                71378            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 200 / Monday, October 17, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR                  (d) Individuals who are persons                    exportation or reexportation of items to Cuba,
                                                parts 730 through 774) may require separate             subject to U.S. jurisdiction are                      see §§ 515.533 and 515.559. See § 746.2(b) of
                                                authorization from the Department of                    authorized to import into the United                  the Export Administration Regulations (15
                                                Commerce.                                                                                                     CFR parts 730 through 774) for the
                                                                                                        States as accompanied baggage
                                                                                                                                                              Department of Commerce’s Cuba licensing
                                                *     *    *     *    *                                 merchandise subject to the prohibitions               policy.
                                                ■ 22. Revise § 515.581 to read as                       in § 515.204, including Cuban-origin
                                                follows:                                                goods, that is purchased or acquired in                  Note 2 to § 515.591: See § 515.564 for a
                                                                                                        a third country, provided that the                    general license authorizing travel-related and
                                                § 515.581 Transactions related to                       merchandise is imported for personal                  other transactions incident to professional
                                                conferences in third countries.                         use only.                                             research and professional meetings in Cuba,
                                                  Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction                                                                        § 515.533(c) for a general license authorizing
                                                                                                        *      *    *     *     *                             travel-related and other transactions relating
                                                are authorized to sponsor, organize, or
                                                provide services in connection with, as                   Note 3 to § 515.585: Except as provided in          to certain exports and reexports to Cuba, and
                                                well as participate in, conferences or                  paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, this          § 515.575(a) for a general license authorizing
                                                                                                        section does not authorize any transactions           transactions, including travel-related
                                                other similar events in a third country                 prohibited by § 515.204.                              transactions, related to certain humanitarian
                                                that are attended by Cuban nationals.                                                                         projects.
                                                  Note to § 515.581: The export or reexport               Note 4 to § 515.585: The export or reexport
                                                to Cuba of technology subject to the Export             to Cuba of goods (including software) or
                                                                                                        technology subject to the Export                      Subpart H—Procedures
                                                Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts
                                                730 through 774) may require separate                   Administration Regulations (15 CFR parts              § 515.803   [Removed]
                                                authorization from the Department of                    730 through 774) may require separate
                                                Commerce.                                               authorization from the Department of                  ■   27. Remove § 515.803 from subpart H.
                                                                                                        Commerce.                                               Dated: October 11, 2016.
                                                ■ 23. Amend § 515.584 by revising
                                                paragraphs (c) and (f) to read as follows:              ■ 25. Add § 515.590 to subpart E to read              John E. Smith,
                                                                                                        as follows:                                           Acting Director, Office of Foreign Assets
                                                § 515.584 Certain financial transactions                                                                      Control.
                                                involving Cuba.                                         § 515.590 Certain grants, scholarships,               [FR Doc. 2016–25032 Filed 10–14–16; 8:45 am]
                                                *      *     *     *    *                               and awards.
                                                                                                                                                              BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P
                                                   (c) Credit and debit cards. All                        The provision of grants, scholarships,
                                                transactions incident to the processing                 or awards relating to the following
                                                and payment of credit and debit cards                   activities to a Cuban national or in
                                                involving travel-related and other                      which Cuba or a Cuban national                        DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
                                                transactions consistent with § 515.560                  otherwise has an interest is authorized:
                                                are authorized.                                           (a) Educational activities;                         Office of the Secretary
                                                *      *     *     *    *                                 (b) Humanitarian projects, as set forth
                                                                                                        in § 515.575(b);                                      32 CFR Part 310
                                                   (f) Any banking institution, as defined
                                                in § 515.314, that is a person subject to                 (c) Scientific research; and
                                                                                                          (d) Religious activities.                           [Docket ID: DOD–2016–OS–0059]
                                                U.S. jurisdiction is authorized to
                                                provide financing for exports or                        ■ 26. Add § 515.591 to subpart E to read              Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation
                                                reexports of items, other than                          as follows:
                                                agricultural commodities, authorized                                                                          AGENCY:  Office of the Secretary of
                                                                                                        § 515.591 Services related to                         Defense, DoD.
                                                pursuant to § 515.533, including                        infrastructure.
                                                issuing, advising, negotiating, paying, or                                                                    ACTION: Final rule.
                                                                                                          Persons subject to the jurisdiction of
                                                confirming letters of credit (including
                                                                                                        the United States are authorized to                   SUMMARY:    The Office of the Secretary of
                                                letters of credit issued by a financial
                                                                                                        provide to Cuba or Cuban nationals                    Defense is exempting records
                                                institution that is a national of Cuba),
                                                                                                        services related to developing, repairing,            maintained in DUSDI 01-DoD,
                                                accepting collateral for issuing or
                                                                                                        maintaining, and enhancing Cuban                      ‘‘Department of Defense (DoD) Insider
                                                confirming letters of credit, and
                                                                                                        infrastructure that directly benefit the              Threat Management and Analysis
                                                processing documentary collections.
                                                                                                        Cuban people, provided that those                     Center (DITMAC) and DoD Component
                                                *      *     *     *    *                               services are consistent with the export               Insider Threat Records System,’’ from
                                                ■ 24. Amend § 515.585 by revising                       or reexport licensing policy of the                   subsections (c)(3) and (4); (d)(1), (2), (3),
                                                paragraph (c), removing the note to                     Department of Commerce. For the                       and (4); (e)(1), (2), (3), (4)(G), (H), and
                                                paragraph (c), adding paragraph (d), and                purposes of this section, infrastructure              (I), (5), and (8); and (g) of the Privacy
                                                amending Note 3 and Note 4 to                           means systems and assets used to                      Act.
                                                § 515.585 to read as follows:                           provide the Cuban people with goods                      In addition, in the course of carrying
                                                § 515.585 Certain transactions in third                 and services produced or provided by                  out collections and analysis of
                                                countries.                                              the public transportation, water                      information in connection with the
                                                *     *     *     *     *                               management, waste management, non-                    operations of the DITMAC and DoD
                                                  (c) Individuals who are persons                       nuclear electricity generation, and                   Component insider threat programs,
                                                subject to U.S. jurisdiction who are                    electricity distribution sectors, as well             exempt records received from other
                                                present in a third country are authorized               as hospitals, public housing, and                     systems of records may become part of
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                                                to purchase or acquire merchandise                      primary and secondary schools. This                   this system. To the extent that copies of
                                                subject to the prohibitions in § 515.204,               authorization includes projects related               exempt records from those other
                                                including Cuban-origin goods, and to                    to the environmental protection of U.S.,              systems of records are maintained in
                                                receive or obtain services in which Cuba                Cuban, and international air quality,                 this system, the Department also claims
                                                or a Cuban national has an interest that                waters, and coastlines.                               the same exemptions for the records
                                                are ordinarily incident to travel and                     Note 1 to § 515.591: For provisions related         from those other systems that are
                                                maintenance within that country.                        to transactions ordinarily incident to the            maintained in this system, as claimed


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Document Created: 2016-10-15 01:51:39
Document Modified: 2016-10-15 01:51:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionFinal rule.
DatesEffective: October 17, 2016.
ContactThe Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control: Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.: 202-622-2480, Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs, tel.: 202-622-4855, Assistant Director for Sanctions Compliance & Evaluation, tel.: 202-622-2490; or the Department of the Treasury's Office of the Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), Office of the General Counsel, tel.: 202-622-2410.
FR Citation81 FR 71372 
CFR AssociatedAdministrative Practice and Procedure; Banking; Banks; Blocking of Assets; Credit; Cuba; Financial Transactions; Foreign Trade; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Sanctions; Services and Travel Restrictions

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