The U.S. government on Tuesday removed 28 Cuban companies, 11 boats, and six persons from its list of entities and individuals linked to terrorism or drug trafficking, a decision that “corresponds to President Barack Obama’s policy toward Cuba,” a U.S. Treasury spokesperson told el Nuevo Herald.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which supervises sanctions against Cuba, removed shipping and fishing companies, travel agencies, and boats that operated under Cyprus’ flag. Thirty of the entities are based in Panama, where Cuba has kept a strong presence.

Since Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced in December plans to resume relations between the two countries after a 53-year hiatus, Cuba has reiterated that its inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism is an obstacle for normalizing relations with the United States. The chief Cuban negotiator, Josefina Vidal, considered it a “priority” element in restoring diplomatic ties and opening embassies in the two countries. Washington’s decision is still pending, although Tuesday’s move indicates the U.S. might be moving in this direction.

See more at:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article16216550.html#storylink=cpy