Cuba once again extends the tariff exemption on food, medicine and other products

The Ministry of Finance and Prices (MEP) of Cuba extended until June 30 the exemption of tariffs on food, toiletries, medicines and medical supplies that travelers can bring to the island for non-commercial purposes, official media reported this Thursday.

This rule – adopted in 2021 and which has been extended several times – will now increase the limit of value in Customs – from US$ 200 to US$ 500 – for imports made by natural persons through shipments.

The MEP resolution, published the day before in the Official Gazette, indicates that the value limit for imported items will be US$ 500 and up to 50 kilograms, in the value-weight relationship established by the General Customs of the Republic.

Likewise, it specifies that the benefit of the exceptional tariff exemption is maintained for the first 30 dollars of the value, or its equivalent weight of 3 kilos of the shipment, and only the excess of the tariff of 30% will be applied.

In the case of food, hygiene products, medicines and supplies that are imported by natural persons such as air, sea and postal shipments, up to a limit of US$200 or a weight of up to 20 kilos is authorized, according to the resolution.

In addition, it points out that the regulations are applied with the condition that these items are presented to Customs in “separate packages” from the rest of the products.

The current legislation in Cuba on the importation of luggage consists of a complex system of points and weight limits that establishes tariffs on excess items brought by travelers.

The importation of food and medicines without tariff limits was a measure adopted after the anti-government protests of July 11, 2021 (11J), which had shortages and shortages of basic products among their main causes.

Cuba has been suffering from a serious economic crisis for more than three years, which is reflected in the shortage of basic products (such as food, medicine and fuel), the partial dollarization of the economy, the depreciation of the peso, prolonged and frequent blackouts and a sharp increase in prices.

The effects of the pandemic, the tightening of the sanctions of the United States economic embargo and the failures in national macroeconomic and monetary management are pointed out as the main reasons for the deterioration, which is stimulating migration – mainly to the US – and social discontent.

Source: EFE

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN CUBA

• Communist Cuba is on the brink of collapse
• Cuba: Hundreds of citizens go out to protest due to lack of light
• Dollars, euros, pesos and MLC: the puzzle of currencies in Cuba