Welcome back to perhaps the most timely version of our Friday feature, Ask halfwheel.

Each Friday, we tackle a question (or two) from one (or more) of our readers. This week, we are dealing with questions regarding the announcement on Tuesday that various changes were being enacted to the U.S. government’s policy towards Cuba and Cuban travel.

Included in that announcement was a change that allowed for Americans to now legal purchase Cuban goods while abroad. That seems to have caused all sorts of speculation, and in some cases, confusion.

Reader Brendan asked:

Quick question on the Cuban article: what are your thoughts on any repercussions for shipments of cigars coming in via Canada/Swiss/England etc? It doesn’t say clearly we can import via mail, but figured it was worth the shot to ask.

Brendan is correct, the new changes says nothing about mailing per se, because they don’t affect any of the old rules. It’s still illegal to bring any Cuban cigars—either on your person or via mail—unless you are traveling directly from Cuba, in which case a 2014 rule allows you to bring up to $100 of alcohol and tobacco products per person back to the U.S.

We’ve received a host of other questions, so I’ll try to tackle them below.

IS IT LEGAL TO BRING CUBAN CIGARS BACK TO THE U.S. IN MY LUGGAGE?

No. Not unless you are traveling from Cuba in which you can bring up to $100 per person.

SO WHAT DID THE RULE CHANGE?

It makes it legal for Americans to purchase Cuban products and services while traveling in other countries.

THAT WAS ILLEGAL?

Yes, although I know of no instance in which it was ever enforced.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I TRY TO BRING CUBAN CIGARS BACK IN MY LUGGAGE?

Presuming you get caught, they will almost certainly be confiscated.

From there, it depends on the agent. You could be warned. The penalties for individuals caught bringing back Cuban cigars, even for “personal use,” are as high as $250,000 and/or a 10-year prison sentence.

It’s worth nothing, the fines for having Cuban cigars shipped to you in the U.S. are the same.

The new policy regarding Cuban goods reads as follows:

Dealings in merchandise subject to section 515.204, including Cuban-origin goods, for personal use. OFAC is adding section 515.585(c) to authorize individuals who are persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction and who are located in a third country to engage in the purchase or acquisition of merchandise subject to the prohibitions in section 515.204, including Cuban-origin goods, for personal consumption while in a third country, and to receive or obtain services from Cuba or a Cuban national that are ordinarily incident to travel and maintenance within a third country. This provision does not authorize the importation of such merchandise into the United States, including as accompanied baggage. OFAC is making a conforming change to section 515.410.


If you’d like to have your question featured on Ask halfwheel, click here and submit your question.

Avatar photo

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.