Cuban Embargo Archives | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

UPDATE: Non-Commercial Airplanes and Cruise Ships on Temporary Sojourn are Now Prohibited To Travel To Cuba.

cuba - prohibt Following President Obama’s historical break in precedent, easing restrictions on Cuba in 2016, President Trump now seeks to deprive the Communist regime of revenue from American citizens.

President Trump, not wanting the US to be complicit in the oppression and subjugation of Cubans, has decided to roll back the newly established relationship and directed the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to draft a final rule limiting the types of aircraft that are authorized to fly to Cuba and the types of vessels that are authorized to sail to Cuba on temporary sojourn. This change is likely to be a result of the exponential growth of the island’s economy, coupled with the lack of improvement in overall quality of life for its citizens.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T09:31:34-05:00June 4, 2019|Cuba, Customs Expert, Enforcement, Export, International Business, International Law, International Trade, International Travel, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)|1 Comment

Travel to the U.S. with an Unlimited Number of Cuban Cigars and Rum – Courtesy of New Revised OFAC and BIS Regulations

On October 14, 2016, President Obama issued a Presidential Policy Directive on United States-Cuba Normalization to further ease travel and trade restrictions with Cuba. As a result, Monday, October 17, 2016, amendments to both OFAC and BIS regulations will take effect.

Below are the top changes from both OFAC and BIS:

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. Below is a recap:

Health
- Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now permitted to engage in commercial and non-commercial joint medical research projects with Cuban nationals. (Section 515.547).

Travel and Related Transactions
- Importation of Cuban merchandise: Not too long ago we alerted our readers that CBP was targeting Cuban Cigars at American Ports. We haveBIG news for cigar and rum lovers… As of Monday, October 17, 2016, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now able to return home from Cuba (or any other country where Cuban rum and cigars can legally be purchased) with an unlimited amount of rum and cigars. However, the number of cigars and amount rum must be for personal use and such merchandise must be imported as accompanied baggage and are subject to the normal limits on duty and tax exemptions. This is a huge step forward from OFAC’s initial limit of $400 or less (with no more than $100 of such merchandise […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:15:28-05:00October 17, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Export, International Travel, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|2 Comments

Cuban Cigars Seized by CBP

Mark Twain once said, “I never smoke to excess – that is, I smoke in moderation, only one cigar at a time.”

With the loosening of restrictions on travel and trade with Cuba, including the authorization to import Cuban Cigars (for personal use only, under a certain value), persons under “U.S. jurisdiction” are getting caught right and left trying to take advantage and import more than their share of Cuban cigars to the US. In May of this year, Maxim magazine declared Cuban Cigars are still the worlds best. However, as relations thaw, will the Cuban cigar be able to take back the market share it lost in the past half century when countries like Dominican Republic and Nicaragua have served the US? That is a question recently posed by Will Yakwowicz in an article for Inc. earlier this year.

Although you are allowed to bring Cuban cigars back to the U.S. (if you are on an “authorized trip” to Cuba) there is a limit and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) can, and will, seize any amount over the allowed limit.

What is the scope and limit on how many cigars I can bring in?

Persons authorized to travel to Cuba (see our previous post regarding authorized travel to Cuba) may purchase alcohol and tobacco products while in Cuba for personal consumption. Also, as an authorized traveler you may return to the United States with up to $400 worth of Cuban goods, but only $100 worth […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:16:52-05:00September 22, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Import, International Travel, Seizures, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|1 Comment

Build Your Own ‘People to People’ Mission & More Cuba Changes

If you have been following our Cuba updates, you’ll note we’ve been busy. A full listing of all of our posts to get you caught up are all the way at the bottom. Also, check out our new blog design and let me know what you think!

Here’s the Cliff Notes version:

On December 17, 2014, President Obama made a historic announcement: “Today, the United States is taking historic steps to chart a new course in our relations with Cuba and to further engage and empower the Cuban people.”

By January 16, 2015, both the U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended its Cuban Assets Control Regulations, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) amended the Export Administration Regulations with a “Support for the Cuban People” license exception. Both OFAC and BIS’s new rules were effective as of January 16, 2015.
OFAC and BIS issued additional new rules on June 15, 2015, September 21, 2015, January 27, 2016 and again today!

As far as travel goes, the NY Times posted their travel tips, but, here are MY travel tips to you:

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:35:04-05:00March 16, 2016|Cuba, Customs Broker, Export, Freight Forwarding, Import, International Travel, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|6 Comments

Top 10 Changes with Cuba as a Result of NEW Revised OFAC and BIS Regulations

As of January 27^th, 2016, both OFAC and the BIS have amended their regulations again, and below details the top 10 changes as a result. The last update was on September 21, 2015, and can be found here. While the United States maintains its broad embargo on trade with Cuba, OFAC and BIS have released amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations designed to advance President Obama’s policy to engage and empower the Cuban people. The new changes, which can be found here and here, expand the scope of authorized business and travel by U.S. person and companies inside of Cuba. These changes were put into place to help facilitate engagement between the U.S. and Cuba. Click here to read FAQ’s related to Cuba from the OFAC.

Below we’ve providing you with a detailed summary of the top 10 significant changes:

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:37:30-05:00February 23, 2016|Best Practices, Cuba, Export, Freight Forwarding, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off

Embassies and Island Wide Wi-Fi by July in Cuba

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the U.S. and Cuba will now reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen embassies in their respective capitals. The announcement comes just one month after the Secretary of State removed Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Although it would take an act of Congress to lift the trade embargo, reopening embassies is another brick in the foundation of normalizing trade relations. With the new embassies opening in July, there will be greater contact between the US and the Cuban people which will ultimately lead to a change in the US’s attitude towards the trade embargo.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:43:40-05:00July 1, 2015|Cuba, International Travel, U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off

Doing Business in Cuba: What’s Next? Live Webinar – June 23

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 12:00 noon EST, join OWIT International for an insightful conversation about rapidly evolving business opportunities in Cuba.

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By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:46:05-05:00June 19, 2015|Cuba, Events, Export, Import, International Travel, OWIT, Speaking|Comments Off

Top Impacts of Cuba Being Removed From “Terrorism List”

As you know, the President made a big announcement back in December, 2014 that the US would take historic steps to chart a new course in our diplomatic relations with Cuba. One specific action item was instructing the Secretary of State to immediately launch a review of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and provide a report to the President within six months regarding Cuba’s support for international terrorism.

Within four months of the President’s announcement, on April 8, 2015 (2 months early!), the Secretary of State finalized their review and recommended that Cuba no longer be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. Thereafter, on April 14, the President sent Congress the statutorily required report indicating the Administration’s intent to rescind Cuba’s State Sponsor of Terrorism designation, including the certification that “Cuba has not provided any support for international terrorism during the previous six-months; and that Cuba has provided assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.” Members of Congress, initially vowing to block the removal of Cuba from the “terrorism list” had no legal outlet to voice their opposition, and as of today, the 45-day Congressional pre-notification period has expired. As a result, the Secretary of State has officially made the final decision to rescind Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, effective today, May 29, 2015.

The Department of State issued a Press Statement today advising that:

The rescission of Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism reflects our […]

By Jennifer Diaz|2021-11-09T14:48:21-05:00May 29, 2015|Cuba, Export, International Travel|Comments Off

World Trade Month – Business Opportunities with Cuba – May 14, 2015 – #OWITonCuba

Are you in South Florida and thinking of doing business with Cuba? Do you want to hear from those already successfully doing business with Cuba? Do you want to fully understand what is legal now?

May 14, 2015, I have JUST the event for you! This is your LAST CHANCE to register!

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By Jennifer Diaz|2019-10-21T08:45:46-04:00May 11, 2015|Best Practices, Cuba, Events, Export, Import, OWIT, Speaking, Tobacco, U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)|Comments Off

OFAC Publishes NEW FAQ on Cuba

Today, the Office of Foreign Assets Control published a new updated Frequently Asked Questions Related To Cuba. The last FAQ from OFAC was on January 15, 2015, discussed in this previous post “Revised Cuba Regulations Officially Released“. There are 12 new questions discussed in OFAC’s new FAQ – made easy for your review – as all NEW questions are posted below, with some commentary in italics above the question.

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