By CGTN America

US President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was “canceling” Washington's policy towards Cuba put in place by his predecessor Barack Obama, but several parts of the previous administration's policy will remain intact.

Under Trump's plan, the Embassies in Havana and Washington, DC will remain open, and US airlines and cruise ships will still be able to travel to the island.

Cuban-Americans will be able to continue to visit their family in Cuba and send them remittances.

US President Donald Trump announces his Cuba policy in Miami, Florida, on June 16, 2017. /VCG Photo

The “wet foot, dry foot” policy, which once let most Cuban migrants stay in the United States if they made it to US soil but was brought to an end under Obama's term, will remain terminated.

Trump also reaffirmed the United States statutory embargo of Cuba and opposed calls from the United Nations and other international forums for the embargo’s termination.

The goal of the White House's policy is to halt the flow of US cash to the country’s military and security services in a bid to increase pressure on Cuba’s government.

What's new

Trump did cancel individual “people-to-people” trips by Americans to Cuba, that was allowed under Obama for the first time in decades.

A US tour group stands in front of a vintage car in Havana, Cuba, on June 16, 2017. /VCG Photo‍

Travel for non-academic, educational purposes will be limited to group travel.

The US government will police trips to ensure there’s a tour group representative along and to make sure travelers are pursuing a “full-time schedule of educational exchange activities.”

The new policy changes direct the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department to begin the process of issuing new regulations within 30 days.

Policy changes won’t take effect until those departments have finalized new regulations, which may take several months.