Cuba relations thawing

[Tio Gato]

Our President is making a major announcement regarding relations with Cuba at noon. News outlets report that travel restrictions will be revised. (Among other reforms.) The full ending of the embargo will be a long haul, but it's hope for us cigar smokers. Word is the Pope had a lot to do with this. Hopefully things will get better for the people who make all those yummy smokes.

[AdamJoshua]

Well I know they are doing a 'prisoner' swap, I think I shall go into business manufacturing glass top boxes, beat the rush and corner the market.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Tio Gato

Our President is making a major announcement regarding relations with Cuba at noon. News outlets report that travel restrictions will be revised. (Among other reforms.) The full ending of the embargo will be a long haul, but it's hope for us cigar smokers. Word is the Pope had a lot to do with this. Hopefully things will get better for the people who make all those yummy smokes.

Higher prices and proliferation of fakes is not what I am hoping for.


I do hope things improve for the Cuban people. They have suffered far too much for far too long.

[Remo]

Originally Posted by pnoon

I do hope things improve for the Cuban people. They have suffered far too much for far too long.

I am ready to spend some $$$ down there if it gets opened up, the flyfishing is some of the best in the world.

[JohnRogers]

This is dicey, one can see a future of Cuban cigars sold in the USA. Certainly today's announcement is a small step but the Cuban-American lobby has a strong voice. With out getting political one can say objectively the embargo has been a failure in most aspects.

[markem]

Well, here is one article. Don't know if it is true or not. Can't imagine how screwed up the market would/will be from this.


U.S. TRAVELERS NOW ALLOWED $100 OF CUBAN CIGARS
By Charlie Minato @charlieminato · On December 17, 2014

The importing of Cuban cigars to the U.S. is now legal, on a very small scale.

Following a series of high level talks, the United States and Cuba took major steps in restoring diplomatic relationships with eyes of ending the embargo.

The biggest news is that the countries will engage in full diplomatic relations, including a U.S. embassy in Havana, for the first time since Jan 3, 1961. For cigar smokers, there’s also a small reprieve.

American travelers will now be able to bring back $400 of goods from Cuba per trip, including $100 in alcohol and tobacco. While the price limits will make it challenging for a single person to bring back any full box of Cuban cigars, a handful of cigars is now legal. Previously, it was not only illegal for U.S. citizens to bring Cuban cigars back into the country, but a case could be made that even consuming Cuban cigars abroad could be considered a violation.

Despite the embargo, the U.S. is largely considered to be the largest market for Cuban cigars in the world and the enforcement of the law is not regularly enforced. Ironically, the holiday months are arguably the only time it is remotely challenging to procure Cuban cigars in the U.S. due to the symbolic enforcement that occurs in the months of November and December.

As for the end of the embargo against Cuba, there has been a growing belief that President Obama will attempt to make a normalization of relations between the estranged countries part of his legacy. It remains unclear if a full rollback of the embargo could occur within his final two years in office.

[JohnRogers]

Travel restrictions will be eased; Visitors to Cuba will now be allowed to use US credit/debit cards for any purchases instead of cash solely heretofore; and US travelers returning from Cuba will now be allowed to bring back $400 of ANY goods, including $100 worth of Cuban cigars.

So basically the best way for Americans to enjoy Cuban cigars will be trips booked on Priceline on a Cuban cigar tour?

[markem]

Okay, here's the rub. Will US travelers be able to bring back $100 in Cuban cigars from wherever they travel or just from Cuba? Do they have to prove that the cigars were actually sold to them in Cuba?

On the plus side, a thaw with regards to humanitarian issues is huge. I'd rather see a better life for Cubans than easier access to cigars for me.

About damn time!!!

...President Barack Obama declared the end of America's "outdated approach" to Cuba Wednesday, announcing the re-establishment of diplomatic relations as well as economic and travel ties with the communist island — a historic shift in U.S. policy that aims to bring an end to a half-century of Cold War enmity.

I'm with Mike - a road trim is only 90 miles from Key West!!!

[oldforge]

This is good news. With embassies in place there will be trade negotiations. In a couple of years Americans will be able to _legally_ purchase the Cuban cigars (including probably by mail order).

This is bad news for the Mexican fauxhiba industry of course. :-)

[AdamJoshua]

Originally Posted by oldforge

This is bad news for the Mexican fauxhiba industry of course. :-)

I disagree with this, I think with legal Cubans on the market here in the US, you will see the glass top boxes spring up all over the place and the fauxhiba market will have an explosion here in the states, where as right now they don't have a market in the physical territory.

[Blueface]

[Ashcan Bill]

I suspect this is the beginning of the end to the embargo. I think by the time the next president takes office, it'll be completely ended.

[Whipper Snapper]

MMM, fauxhibas.

[Angry_Pirate]

Originally Posted by markem

Okay, here's the rub. Will US travelers be able to bring back $100 in Cuban cigars from wherever they travel or just from Cuba? Do they have to prove that the cigars were actually sold to them in Cuba?

On the plus side, a thaw with regards to humanitarian issues is huge. I'd rather see a better life for Cubans than easier access to cigars for me.

This is what I wonder too. Can they be purchased anywhere or just Cuba?

Great to hear something is being done about the whole out of date embargo!

[WhiteMamba]

I'm not sure that their would be any use for fauxhibas any more if they become legal. If the embargo is lifted wouldn't it just make Cuba another region like the DR and Nicaragua already are? They may be an initial influx to see what all the fuss is about but once that is over with and everyone tastes young CC's they won't want them any more. The forbidden fruit will no longer be forbidden and they will lose their appeal to a lot of smokers.

[jjirons69]

I'm with Carlos...wait and see.

[kydsid]

As if any of us can do anything but wait and see what happens. Plus the door is only cracked, it won't be bad until commercial sale is authorized and that'll take Congress. I'll wager the first thing to happen is someone being arrested by ICE for reselling their $100 allotment.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by WhiteMamba

I'm not sure that their would be any use for fauxhibas any more if they become legal. If the embargo is lifted wouldn't it just make Cuba another region like the DR and Nicaragua already are? They may be an initial influx to see what all the fuss is about but once that is over with and everyone tastes young CC's they won't want them any more. The forbidden fruit will no longer be forbidden and they will lose their appeal to a lot of smokers.

iPhones are perfectly legal, yet you can buy counterfeits in just about every electronics shop in Hong Kong.

Ever seen a booze rack at the store in Mexico? They even counterfeit their own tequila.

Just because something is legal doesn't mean the people will be smart enough to realize that the bargain they are getting is because what they are buying is not authentic. People will buy what is cheap, and they'll do it more freely since there would be no repercussions.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

I suspect this is the beginning of the end to the embargo. I think by the time the next president takes office, it'll be completely ended.

Congress has a lot to say about that, and from all I've read, it won't be an easy fight.