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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States announced Friday it would further lift sanctions on Cuba to facilitate trade as well as scientific and humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.
The move is intended to expand scientific collaboration, increase humanitarian support, and bolster trade and commercial opportunities between the United States and Cuba, the U.S. Treasury Department said in a statement.
"These steps have the potential to accelerate constructive change and unlock greater economic opportunity for Cubans and Americans," U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday approved a Presidential Policy Directive that "takes another major step forward" in U.S. efforts to normalize relations with Cuba.
"This Directive takes a comprehensive and whole-of-government approach to promote engagement with the Cuban government and people, and make our opening to Cuba irreversible," Obama said in a statement.
