Dept. of State issues new list of eligible imports produced in Cuba
On Friday, April 22, the U.S. Department of State issued a new list of eligible imports produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs. What follows is the release by their Washington, D.C. spokesperson.
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Today, the U.S. Department of State updated its “Section 515.582 List,” which sets forth the goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs that are authorized to be imported into the United States pursuant to Section 515.582 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR).
As of April 22, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may also import coffee and additional textiles and textile articles produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs, in addition to the items previously authorized. Also, imports of these items no longer need to be made directly from Cuba. These changes allow for more engagement with Cuba’s private sector through new business opportunities. The State Department will continue to update this list periodically.
Empowering the Cuban people and Cuban civil society is central to our approach to Cuba. Expanding commercial ties between independent Cuban entrepreneurs and the United States creates new opportunities for such empowerment. As President Obama stated during the March 21 entrepreneurship summit in Havana, Cuba’s economic future partly depends on growth in the private sector, and the United States wants to be a partner as Cuba moves forward.
The complete list can be found at http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/515582/index.htm, along with additional information on Section 515.582 of the CACR.
