Cuban import limits lifted

This item appears on page 4 of the December 2016 issue.

On Nov. 14, the Obama administration lifted, by executive order, the import limit of $400 on Cuban goods as well as the $100 limit on importing Cuban cigars or alcohol. Travelers now may bring into the US, for personal use, any amount of cigars or alcohol, so long as they declare it at Customs and pay any import taxes. 

As with bringing items from other countries, the first $800 worth of imported goods is duty-free, with rising tariffs imposed on each additional $1,000 in goods. In addition, individual US states have varying limits on importing alcohol.

Because the US embargo on Cuba remains in place, American companies still cannot import Cuban products into the US.