In 1962, President John Kennedy reportedly accumulated 1,200 Cuban cigars before signing the executive order to sever economic ties with Cuba. Now that President Obama has restored diplomatic relations and lifted the total ban on cigars, you might be eager to build up your own stockpile. Violations of cuban cigar laws can be illegal: cigars are by far Cuba`s most valuable export product. And Cohiba, perhaps the most famous cigar brand in the world, was founded as a private limited edition production. Cohiba was founded to provide Fidel Castro and his cohorts with high-end “stogies” and the now coveted Cuban tobacco. However, this has not always been the case and the regulations may change again with the new administration. If you fancy real Cuban cigars, the best thing to do is to stay on top of the news. No, a person cannot import Cuban cigars from another country. Travelers are prohibited from buying Cuban cigars in a third country and bringing them to the United States. For example, it is illegal to obtain Cuban cigars in Canada and bring them to the United States.
Even though the rules have made it easier for Americans to buy Cuban cigars and return home, the ban on importing the same cigars for commercial purposes remains. Craig Cass, a retailer in North Carolina, says he`s often received questions: “Why don`t you sell Cuban cigars?” It must declare that the trade embargo with Cuba is still in force. Another retailer, Curt Diebel of Kansas City, reported the same situation in its stores, but also added that no one comes to wave his Cuban cigar and says they bought it on their last trip out of the country. Current law stipulates that the penalty for importing Cuban cigars can be up to $250,000 in fines and up to 10 years in prison. Under the new rules, travelers to Cuba can bring goods worth $400, of which only $100 can be cigars and alcohol. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a person is only allowed to bring Cuban cigars to the United States if they are returning directly from Cuba and their visit to Cuba has been authorized, as mentioned above. Among the people who may be allowed to visit Cuba are: In 1962, John F. Kennedy by executive order the measures of the embargo by expanding the scope of the restrictions. This included a restriction on goods of Cuban origin, whether they were manufactured or constructed outside Cuba. Although Cuban cigars are banned in the United States, some are still trying to introduce them. Understand that this is a criminal offence and has serious consequences.
Sounds simple, right? Well, the law gets a little vague if you want to extend the limit by paying taxes. The law states very clearly: “Authorized travelers may also return to the United States with alcohol and/or tobacco products purchased in Cuba as accompanied baggage for their personal use.” (The same language applies to cigars purchased in other countries.) The term “personal use” means that every customs agent has the right to question your intentions if, for example, you come back with a suitcase with 50 boxes of cigars. Although the regulations also make it very clear that you can give your cigars to third parties if you sell them or receive any kind of compensation in return, you are breaking the law. Cigar production has been further reduced as many workers stay at home to quarantine or care for sick family members. In addition, distribution issues affecting other products are also hampering the supply chain to bring Cuban cigars to their main markets, including England, Spain, Germany, France and China, which is currently experiencing its own resurgence of Covid. As a result, you`ll likely see empty shelves in Cuban tobacco stores, including the more than 150 Casa del Habano stores around the world. For many years, Cuban cigars were considered illegal products due to the strained relations between Cuba and the United States. However, there have been several changes over the past decade.
If a person does a short search online, they will discover many websites that claim to be able to send them authentic Cuban cigars. As seductive as this idea may seem, it`s important not to fall for it.
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