Ahead of Barack Obama's historic trip, a look at steps the US President has taken to ease restrictions on Cuba

President Barack Obama aims to use his historic trip to Cuba starting Sunday to further his bid to restore ties after a half-century of acrimony. Though his visit will be one of the most visible symbols of the new approach, Obama has been rolling back restrictions on Cuba, punching hole after hole in the US trade embargo. [caption id=“attachment_2632396” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of US President Barack Obama (right) and Cuba’s President Raul Castro. AFP[/caption] What the Obama administration has done to increase engagement with Cuba: — Loosened travel restrictions to allow Americans to go independently on educational, “people-to-people” trips instead of in organized groups. A formal tourism ban remains. — Eliminated a ban on Cuban financial transactions going through US banks, which effectively had cut off Cuba from the global banking system. — Allowed Cuban citizens to open US bank accounts and use them to send remittances back home. — Removed Cuba from the US list of countries with inadequate port security, making it easier for ships to travel between the two countries. — Approved “general licenses” for US travel to Cuba, meaning Americans traveling for certain authorized reasons don’t have to apply for permission in advance. — Started restoring direct mail service. The first flight left the US just before Obama’s trip as part of a pilot project. — Authorized some US cruise lines to sail to Cuba. They’re waiting for Cuban approval. — Approved the first ferry service between the US and Cuba, — Struck an agreement to restore commercial flights. The Transportation Department will soon award the first flight routes. — Authorized exports of badly needed goods ranging from constructions materials to tractor parts, though no such trade has begun. — Approved the first US factory in Cuba since the 1959 revolution. The assembly plant will build small tractors. — Allowed Cuban citizens to start earning salaries in the United States without having to start the immigration process, as long as they don’t pay special taxes in Cuba. — Reopened the US Embassy in Havana. Cuba also reopened its embassy in Washington. — Released three Cubans jailed in the US Cuba released American Alan Gross at the same time. — Sat down with Cuban President Raul Castro in Panama in the first face-to-face meeting between a US and Cuban leader in decades. — Started high-level exchanges and visits between US and Cuban officials. — Increased the amount people in the US can send Cubans from $500 to $2,000 every three months. Earlier, Obama removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances. — Permitted American travelers to return with up to $400 of merchandise, including tobacco and alcohol products worth no more than $100 combined. — Removed Cuba from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. — Authorized the commercial export of some communications and Internet devices including software, hardware and services. — Urged Congress repeatedly but unsuccessfully to lift the US trade embargo. — Allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans, before the US and Cuba announced plans to normalize relations. AP