At the end of January, the Cuban government decided to extend tariff benefits to the import of essential products such as food, medicines, and personal and household hygiene products. This measure has not yet been extended.
What does this mean? The Cuban Ministry of Finance and Prices (MFP) has extended the duty-free entry of these products until April 30. Until that date, travelers may bring in food, medicines, medical supplies, and toiletries for non-commercial purposes, according to official information.
Will the regulation's deadline be extended for another three months? The 2021 measure has been extended several times due to the ongoing crisis, but with each deadline, rumors and uncertainty return.
Tariff benefits for imports to Cuba
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, the Cuban Customs value limit (from US$200 to US$500) for imports made by individuals through shipments remains in effect.
Likewise, the value limit for imported items will be $500 and up to 50 kilograms, based on the value-to-weight ratio established by the General Customs Office of the Republic, according to the ministry's resolution published in the Official Gazette.
Additionally, the exemption from the exceptional tax remains in effect for the first $30 of the value, or the equivalent weight of 3 kilos, of the shipment. This means that only the excess rate will be applied at 30%.
Regarding food, toiletries, medicines, and supplies imported by individuals via sea, air, or postal shipments, imports are allowed up to a limit of USD 200 or a weight of up to 20 kilos. However, like accompanied baggage, these products must be presented in separate packages.
So far, the Cuban government has justified the extension by claiming that the circumstances that prompted the measure remain in place, as well as its "positive impact" on the population. However, in recent months, criticism has intensified against travelers who have taken advantage of the rule to resell these products in Cuba.
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2 comments
Good morning! I believe this measure taken by the government is fair and necessary; to facilitate the entry of food, medicines, toiletries, and solar-powered products. The truth is that it helps many of our families, friends, and acquaintances in need on the island. There will always be unscrupulous people, but the innocent should not pay for the guilty. If customs officials, upon inspection, find excessive amounts of duplicate products, they should proceed to enforce what is required.
Number 1 there should not be a weight at the entrance to the country. The blockade in Cuba is autonomous, they themselves implement it, it is the only country in the world that does not end THAT practice, customs worldwide IS there to not let illicit cargo enter the country, non-essential things for family and others, tariffs are for commercial cargo, stop abusing and remove that entire system of scales at entering the airport and dedicate yourself to doing the customs work that the only thing they do is have that same government in misery and anguish.