Bringing Cuban cigars home from St. Barths?

Dennis

Senior Insider
i read last week that someone signed a law that Cuban cigars can now be brought back home from any country.

$100 worth.

They do sell cubans on island, yes?
 
Andy, could you take a look at the recent fact sheet on the US Treasury Dept. website, which I think is a better source than CNN? https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_fact_sheet_10142016.pdf

In part, it says "Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be further authorized to import Cuban-origin merchandise acquired in third countries into the United States as accompanied baggage, again without value limitations. OFAC is also removing the prohibition on foreign travelers importing Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products into the United States as accompanied baggage. In all cases, the Cuban-origin goods must be imported for personal use, and normal limits on duty and tax exemptions will apply."

To me, that says that it will be legal to bring cigars back from SBH too.
 
Kevin...thats my confusion.

Is it only Cuba that one can bring back from or any country that sells them?
 
Treasury's OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control) has been the organization that I look to for what's legal for travel to Cuba and importation of Cuban goods. It seems clear to me, and that's why I went to the Treasury website for clarification, but a legal eyeball wouldn't hurt. I won't argue with Andy, but pointing him to a better source may change his opinion.

I'll take a shot at openly importing a box in 5-6 weeks and let you know how I make out. The "acquired in third countries" phrase, which I underlined below, seems pretty clear to me, but you never know - I've seen an attorney argue that "free doesn't mean free".

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be further authorized to import Cuban-origin merchandise acquired in third countries into the United States as accompanied baggage, again without value limitations.
 
Cool.

Important stuff 'cause we're taking part in a progressive NYE party where each host represents a country and Lisa wants us to do Cuba.

Cuban sandwiches, mojitos, cigars, etc.

Since we'll be "there" for Christmas, it'd be nice to bring home a box or two of smokes.
 
Kevin- I did look at the Treasury Dept Regs and they were confusing. I thought the summary from CNN was better. However, it's possible that CNN didn't go far enough. After relooking the Treasury regs- they're still confusing but it looks like you can legally bring back Cuban cigars from SBH subject to regular duty limitations.
 
From the US Customs and Border Protection website- this is the most current even though it is dated Aug, 29, 2016. I read it as potentially serious trouble if one brings Cuban things from a third country-

"Can I import or bring Cuban cigars into the U.S. for personal use?
Persons authorized to travel to Cuba may purchase alcohol and tobacco products while in Cuba for personal consumption while there. Authorized travelers may return to the United States with up to $100 worth of alcohol or tobacco or a combination of both. Products acquired in Cuba may be in accompanied baggage, for personal use only.
Purchasing Cuban-origin cigars and/or Cuban-origin rum or other Cuban-origin alcohol over the internet or while in a third country (i.e. not Cuba) remains prohibited.
For more information about travel to Cuba, please see the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Criminal penalties for violation of the Regulations range up to $1,000,000 in fines for corporations, $250,000 for individuals and up to 10 years in prison. Civil penalties of up to $65,000 per violation may be imposed by OFAC."
 
Andy is correct. Here is a link to a US Treasury FAQ updated October 14, 2016:

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

Here is the important paragraph (page 9):

"Can I purchase Cuban-origin cigars and/or Cuban-origin rum or other Cuban-originalcohol while in a third country (i.e. not Cuba)?

Yes, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may purchase or acquire Cuban-origin merchandise,including alcohol and tobacco products, while in a third country for personal consumption. Such products may be consumed while in a third country, or imported into the United States as accompanied baggage for personal use only. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.585(c) and (d)."

31 CFR § 515.585(d) is the new regulation:

"(d) Individuals who are persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to import into the United States as accompanied baggage merchandise subject to the prohibitions in §515.204, including Cuban-origin goods, that is purchased or acquired in a third country, provided that the merchandise is imported for personal use only."

Gary
 
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You're About To See A Lot More Cuban Cigars In The U.S.


Listen

October 16, 20165:15 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered



David Savona of Cigar Aficionado talks about the lifting of restrictions on importing cigars from Cuba, and why Cuban cigars are so special to smokers.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Finally today, it's time for our segment called Words You'll Hear. That's where we take a word or a phrase that we think will be in the news and let you know what it's all about. And this week's word is Cohiba. That is the cigar brand owned by the Cuban government. And if you are a cigar aficionado, then you probably know this already - you might be seeing a lot more of them in the U.S. Before Friday, Americans who traveled to Cuba were only allowed to bring back rum and cigars worth a combined value of $100. For those in the know, that's about three good cigars. But a new round of regulations meant to ease trade with Cuba eliminates that limit.
We invited David Savona to talk about it with us. He is the executive editor of - what else? - Cigar Aficionado magazine. And he's with us now. Mr. Savona, thanks so much for joining us.

DAVID SAVONA: Oh, thank you very much.

MARTIN: I do want to mention that the new trade regulations are not just about cigars. They also lift limits on cargo ship travel between the U.S. and Cuba, and they make it easier for Cuban and American researchers to conduct joint medical research. So with that being said - Mr. Savona, what is so special about a Cuban cigar?

SAVONA: Well, Cuban cigars have been the forbidden fruit for Americans for more than five decades. But more importantly than being forbidden fruit and being illegal for so many years, the cigars are exceptional. Cuba is the birthplace of the premium cigar industry, so the cigars made in Cuba are world-class. They're prized by connoisseurs around the world. And they're very, very good.

MARTIN: OK, not trying to get in your business here, but how have you been able to have Cuban cigars to this point?

SAVONA: Well, you know, our editors travel the world. We've been in business for 24 years, going on 25. And we've been all around the world in that entire time and in Cuba for many of those years. And as journalists, we've been allowed to go to Cuba, unlike most Americans. Typical travel is still banned under the embargo, but journalists have been allowed to go under that loophole.

MARTIN: If you aren't able to travel to Cuba for, you know, whatever reason, can you go to a cigar shop and just buy one now in the U.S.?

SAVONA: They still cannot be sold in the U.S., so you won't see them at your local cigar shop. But you can go to London, you can go to Montreal, you can go to Mexico, any of these other countries where Cuban cigars are sold, and you can now bring back, you know, for personal consumption Cuban cigars from those countries. That's a big deal. That's a big change.

MARTIN: So how much do they cost? As I mentioned, that maybe $100 to this point would get you three - is that how much they cost in Cuba?

SAVONA: Yeah. At the very, very high end, though. Talking about Cohibas - a Cohiba Behike, the fattest size, known as a 56, they go for about $33 dollars apiece in Cuba. So yeah, that's three cigars under the old $100 limit, which is not very much at all. Even a more modestly-priced good Cuban cigar would cost, you know, maybe $10 or so. So that doesn't get you even a full box because most boxes of Cuban cigars have 25 cigars. So one of the big changes with this law, a change we certainly applaud, is that now when you take your trips, you can come back with an entire box or a couple of boxes of Cuban cigars, which is a good thing in our eyes.

MARTIN: Part of what makes these so attractive is that they've been made the same way for what, generations now? Is there going to be a windfall for Cuba? Or is the price, do you think, going to rise in part because demand is going to rise?

SAVONA: Prices in Cuba are still very reasonable compared to other markets around the world. A Cuban cigar that retails for, you know, $20 in Cuba might retail for $80 in London. So prices could go up. The other thing you mentioned about the allure - you know, the Cuban cigar - there is an allure because of the forbidden fruit aspect, the fact that it has been illegal.
And while it is an excellent cigar, you know, we do our tasting - in every issue of Cigar Aficionado, we taste cigars from around the world, Cuban versus non-Cuban. And while the Cubans certainly do exceptionally well in those taste tests, they don't always win. So the cigars from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras - in many cases, they're just as good.
So I don't think the cigar smokers of America will all of a sudden just stop smoking the cigars they've grown to love over these decades of smoking only or being available to only smoke non-Cubans. I think in the future, when it's all completely open, the cigar smoker America will have a full choice - Cuban, Dominican, Nicaraguan and otherwise - and Cuban cigars will become a part of the regular rotation, a more complete humidor for the cigar smoker of the future.

MARTIN: That's David Savona. He's the executive editor of Cigar Aficionado magazine telling us about Cohibas. He was kind enough to join us from his home office in Connecticut. Mr. Savona, thanks so much for speaking with us.

SAVONA: Oh, thank you. It's been a pleasure.

 
I had no problems bringing 4 boxes back I picked up at Casa Habano in the Dubai airport duty free. I traveled with them in India and had no problems clearing US customs and immigration in Abu Dbahi on my return to JFK.
 
that is so cool beach bob, were the cigars cheaper in abu dbahi? by the way, this place is on my bucket list...........lucky you!
 
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