Why Cuba Legalized 'Shuttle Traders' 0 9

All passengers will be able to import food, hygiene products, medications, and medical supplies to the island duty-free and without the intention of selling them.

According to the legal document, imports can be carried out through the passenger channel, as well as as part of accompanied luggage.

Additionally, non-commercial import of food, hygiene products, medications, and medical supplies is allowed, in exceptional cases, up to a limit of $500 in value or an equivalent weight of up to 50 kilograms in accordance with the value/weight ratio established by the Main Customs Administration of the Republic.

Food, hygiene items, medications, and medical supplies must be presented to customs in separate packaging from other goods.

It has also been officially permitted to increase the limit for non-commercial imports by individuals through parcels from $200 to $500.

Furthermore, the MFP extended the possibility of duty-free import of the first $30 in value of a parcel or its equivalent weight of three kilograms, applying a 30% tariff rate to the amount exceeding this limit.

On the other hand, the agency decrees, in exceptional cases, to allow non-commercial imports and exempt from customs duties food, hygiene products, medications, and medical supplies imported by individuals through air, sea, and postal shipments, within a limit of $200 or an equivalent weight of up to 20 kilograms in accordance with the established weight/value ratio.

All these extensions, emphasizes the MFP, are related to the ongoing restrictions on the supply of goods in Cuba, caused by the tightening of the economic, trade, and financial blockade by the United States, as well as the impact on the economic sphere of measures taken during the COVID-19 confrontation and for the gradual recovery of the country.