Can you bring Cuban Rum Into the US?

[Ken Gargett]

this is from the rum wonk website. a really good and useful site. thought it might interest some. 

 

Can you bring Cuban Rum Into the US?

Matt Pietrek

Nov 1, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

A frequent question in rum groups with American members is, “Can I bring Cuban rum home with me to the US?”

Unfortunately, the answers provided are partially or fully incorrect. The correct answer has flip-flopped in recent years, yet few people have the time/energy/brain space to keep up with the changes, so unintentionally provide out-of-date information.

A timeline helps our understanding:

• 1962 – The US embargoed all trade with Cuba, meaning no Cuban goods could be imported into the US.

   
  
   

• 2014 – In December, then-President Obama allowed up to $100 of Cuban rum and cigars to be imported.

• 2016 – In October, the $100 limit was removed, allowing (effectively) unlimited importation of cigars and rum for personal use. However, commercial importation remained forbidden.

• 2020 – In September, then-President Trump reinstated the embargo on Cuban products, even for personal use.

• Since then, the now-current Biden administration has yet to change the prior administration’s regulations, despite some indication it was inclined to do so.

Note: the above is a synopsis of a much more comprehensive overview on p. 198 of the Modern Caribbean Rum book.

Simply put. at the time of this writing (November 2022), it is still technically illegal to import Cuban rum into the US, even for personal use.

Despite the illegality, many people share their stories of bringing Cuban rum into the US. Some even tell of US Customs and Border Patrol agents coming across Cuban rum in suitcases but not seizing them. It’s oft-noted that the hassle of seizing a few bottles isn’t worth an agent’s time, should they even bother to ask what you’re returning with.

To quote the currently in effect US code (CFR § 515.585 Certain transactions in third countries😞

(d) Individuals who are persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to import into the United States as accompanied baggage merchandise subject to the prohibitions in § 515.204, including Cuban-origin goods, that is purchased or acquired in a third country, provided that the merchandise is imported for personal use only. This paragraph does not apply to the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin alcohol or tobacco products.

In summary, while you may stand a better-than-average chance of bringing Cuban rum into the US, it is still technically illegal as of today. You now have the correct information to make an informed choice.

[Puros Y Vino]

During the Obama years and cigars were flowing in at a pretty decent rate.  A friend of mine works for a US firm and innocently brought in some HC for a colleague and got grilled by US customs on her way in from Canada.   She was on the Nexus program too which makes it more egregious.  They ultimately took the bottle and let her go on without issue.  At the end of the day you're at the mercy of those agents.  

[SmokinLightning]

I went to Mexico for a wedding during the 2009 Swine flu scare... coming back through customs I was burnt beet red, sweating out gallons of tequila and had big beach bag clanking full with bottles of HC from the duty free shop. Customs wouldn't come near us, just waved us through. 😄

[ImTripN2]

For the last 6 or 7 years I have brought back HC from Mexico. If you are driving your personal vehicle you can bring back up to 60 litres per person, BUT if the CBP officer thinks you are bringing it in for commercial purposes they can deny you. Of course you must declare and pay the duty on each bottle above the one litre per person rule, but the duty is less than 2 USD per bottle.

At first I was worried about being Cuban they might take it away, so I started with only a couple of bottles, but the last couple of years I have brought in a whole case and never had a problem.

 

[NSXCIGAR]

On 2/9/2023 at 2:28 PM, ImTripN2 said:

At first I was worried about being Cuban they might take it away,

Most CBP really don't have Cuban products top of mind. We think about it as consumers of Cuban products but they rarely do. Most probably wouldn't even think that a given bottle of booze is of Cuban origin. They are more concerned with amounts. Not to mention they are much more focused on drugs, produce and human smuggling.

Plus a good many current CBP started during the Obama administration when Cuban products weren't an issue and don't even realize the policy changed. Heck, I came across several that had no idea Obama even changed the policy. More than once CBP tried to seize some cigars and I had to get a supervisor called over to tell them we were now allowed to bring them back. I'm sure they were all briefed about it when it happened but that's how little they care.