U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, ELIGIBLE GOODS & SERVICES FROM CUBA

State Dept. Lists Goods and Services Eligible for Importation from Cuba

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Trade Report

The State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs posted to its website Feb. 13 information on the goods and services that may now be imported from Cuba in accordance with the policy changes announced by President Obama on Dec. 17, 2014.
Goods. Section 515.582 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations authorizes imports of goods that are produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs and imported directly into the United States from Cuba EXCEPT those specified in the following sections/chapters of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
- all chapters of Section I (live animals; animal products)
- all chapters of Section II (vegetable products)
- all chapters of Section III (animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes)
- all chapters of Section IV (prepared foodstuffs; beverages, spirits and vinegar; tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes)
- all chapters of Section V (mineral products)
- chapters 28-32, 35, 36 and 38 of Section VI (products of the chemical or allied industries)
- chapters 51 and 52 of Section XI (textiles and textile articles)
- chapters 72-81 of Section XV (base metals and articles of base metal)
- all chapters of Section XVI (machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment; parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles)
- all chapters of Section XVII (vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transportation equipment)
- all chapters of Section XIX (arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof)
State notes that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging in eligible goods import transactions must obtain documentary evidence that demonstrates the entrepreneur’s independent status, such as a copy of a license to be self-employed issued by the Cuban government or, in the case of an entity, evidence that demonstrates that the entrepreneur is a private entity that is not owned or controlled by the Cuban government.
For travelers importing authorized goods into the United States pursuant to section 515.582 as accompanied baggage, the $400 monetary limit set forth in section 515.560(c)(3) does not apply to such goods, but goods may be subject to applicable duties, fees and taxes.
Services. Section 515.582 authorizes the importation of any services supplied by an independent Cuban entrepreneur in Cuba.
Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging in eligible services import transactions are required to obtain documentary evidence that demonstrates the entrepreneur’s independent status, such as a copy of a license to be self-employed issued by the Cuban government or, in the case of an entity, evidence that demonstrates that the entrepreneur is a private entity that is not owned or controlled by the Cuban government. Supply of services must comply with other applicable state and federal laws.