10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Import From Cuba

One aspect of the dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba that has not been widely reported is a relaxation of the old rule prohibiting imports of most Cuban goods and services. Under the new rules, if your Cuban supplier is one of a small but vibrant class of entrepreneurs on the island, there is now a long wish list of goods and services you may import from Cuba.

As we reported here, after President Barack Obama's December 17, 2014 announcement of changes to the U.S. Cuba embargo, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) amended their regulations on January 16, 2015. As part of the amendments, OFAC's regulations introduced a new provision authorizing the importation of certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs. This provision is set forth in OFAC's Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) at 31 C.F.R.§ 515.582.

The goods and services authorized for importation pursuant to § 515.582 are listed on the State Department's Section 515.582 List, which can be found here. The list is actually a negative list: it tells you which chapters of the Harmonized Tariff System of the United States (HTSUS) are off limits. So, for example, importing Cuban livestock is not an option, since the prohibited list includes HTSUS Chapter 1, "Live Animals."

So from among the imports actually permitted, we highlight the following for your enlightenment, amusement, fun, and profit:

Jewels. The 515.582 List permits imports of items in HTSUS Chapter 71: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin. Spoons. The list permits items in Chapter 82: Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal. Door knockers. Items in Chapter 83, Miscellaneous articles of base metal, are permitted. Among enumerated items in that chapter are door knockers and other base metal fittings. Perfume. The list permits items in Chapter 33, Essential Oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations. Soap. Items in Chapter 34, which includes soap and candles, are permitted. Imitation gemstones. All items in Chapter 39, Plastics and articles thereof, are permitted. This enormous category includes plastic imitation gemstones. Handbags. All articles of Chapter 42 are permitted, which covers...