U.S. fans of Cuban cigars still have long wait before they can be sold here

[TomF]

11 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I am encouraged about this, however:

If the embargo is lifted, the U.S. law governing the importation of tobacco for personal use from Cuba will then be the same as it is for every other country, increasing what can be brought back to as many as 100 cigars with a price capped at $800.

This means that there is the possibility of a thriving mail-order catalog business immediately following the embargo bypassing the FDA, either from LCDHs or other retailers. I think once it's legal to shop by mail or online there's going to be a huge surge in online business and opportunities for online retailers. Also, opportunities for a lot of scammers. May kind of be the wild west for a while...

But this begs the question; if the embargo is lifted and the U.S. law governing the importation of tobacco for personal use from Cuba is same as it is for every other country, won't cigars ordered my mail or online then be subject to import duties that we are not currently paying under the current quasi-legal system? Our prices will still go up considerably compared the prices we are paying now.

[Fugu]

1 hour ago, TomF said:

But this begs the question; if the embargo is lifted and the U.S. law governing the importation of tobacco for personal use from Cuba is same as it is for every other country, won't cigars ordered my mail or online then be subject to import duties that we are not currently paying under the current quasi-legal system? Our prices will still go up considerably compared the prices we are paying now.

quasi-legal system - I like that, Tom!

Of course they will...

[NSXCIGAR]

2 hours ago, TomF said:

But this begs the question; if the embargo is lifted and the U.S. law governing the importation of tobacco for personal use from Cuba is same as it is for every other country, won't cigars ordered my mail or online then be subject to import duties that we are not currently paying under the current quasi-legal system? Our prices will still go up considerably compared the prices we are paying now.

Sure, but price rises are inevitable at some point post-embargo. Besides, the duty on importing premium cigars is $0.57 per KG + 1.4% if I'm reading the ITC HTS rates of duty schedule correctly--around $3 total duty for the average box. Assume the retailers/importers stick it on themselves--no big deal. 

[Fugu]

7 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Sure, but price rises are inevitable at some point post-embargo. Besides, the duty on importing premium cigars is $0.57 per KG + 1.4% if I'm reading the ITC HTS rates of duty schedule correctly--around $3 total duty for the average box. Assume the retailers/importers stick it on themselves--no big deal. 

Well, you'll all be able to stick to the current "system". Will remain as quasy-legal as it is now, so what?  

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Fugu said:

Well, you'll all be able to stick to the current "system". Will remain as quasy-legal as it is now, so what?  

Right, the bottom line is that it doesn't look like there will be any change in operating procedure for us. Business as usual with all our current vendors, and I'm fine with that. 

I think I remarked about this in the first thread a few weeks back regarding the FDA ruling. It's really just a shame Cuban cigars won't be available in B & Ms to the US for people to discover and appreciate. I really would like to see Cuban cigars become popular and widespread here and everywhere, really. Oh well. As long as I can get them as before I'm a happy camper.

[luv2fly]

Sticking with my boy blue, i mean Rob.