For half a century, Cuban cigars have been an iconic forbidden fruit tantalizing American aficionados. These legendary smokes have been illegal in the United States since 1962, when President John F. Kennedy implemented an embargo with Cuba, stopping all U.S. business with the communist-run island – and forcing Cuba’s fabled tobacco out of reach for Americans.
Recently, however, the cloud of mystique surrounding Cuban cigars seems to be clearing up.
Former president Barack Obama’s executive actions opened travel from the United States to the largest island in the Caribbean. Visitors can now return with all the Cuban products they want, including Cuba’s famed cigars.
While business relations have greatly improved between Cuba and the U.S. in recent months, there are still limitations to what Americans can bring back from Cuba. Most notable, with regard to cigars, is the fact that all imports must be for personal consumption, meaning the sale of Cuban cigars in the U.S. is still against the law.
Opening up trade between Cuba and the U.S. has already had an effect on both countries’ economies, nationally and on a local level. Concord is no exception, where local cigar shops have already seen a minor impact from the U.S.’s policy change, despite not being able to sell Cuban cigars.
Recently, however, the cloud of mystique surrounding Cuban cigars seems to be clearing up.
Former president Barack Obama’s executive actions opened travel from the United States to the largest island in the Caribbean. Visitors can now return with all the Cuban products they want, including Cuba’s famed cigars.
While business relations have greatly improved between Cuba and the U.S. in recent months, there are still limitations to what Americans can bring back from Cuba. Most notable, with regard to cigars, is the fact that all imports must be for personal consumption, meaning the sale of Cuban cigars in the U.S. is still against the law.
Opening up trade between Cuba and the U.S. has already had an effect on both countries’ economies, nationally and on a local level. Concord is no exception, where local cigar shops have already seen a minor impact from the U.S.’s policy change, despite not being able to sell Cuban cigars.
“I would say we’ve gotten more foot traffic from people asking about Cuban cigars,” said Jordan Meher, the manager at Castro’s Back Room on Depot Street in Concord. “I always try to educate them about the laws on Cubans when they come in.”
Capital Tobacco on Pleasant Street saw a rise in foot traffic as well.
“I usually get one or two people a week coming in asking for Cuban cigars,” said Ciara Navarria, a sales associate. “They’re usually people I’ve never seen before in the store.”
At the moment, both Meher and Navarria are forced to turn away customers asking for Cubans. Opening up the market and allowing them to sell the legendary cigars, they say, could redefine their businesses.
“Selling Cubans would definitely be helpful,” Navarria said. “We could attract a whole new type of customer to the store.”
David Savona, the executive director of Cigar Aficionado magazine, agrees it would be a boon to the industry.
“Many people in the U.S. are ready to try this forbidden fruit that is no longer so forbidden,” Savona said.
As exciting as the prospect may seem, the chances of Cuban cigars making their way to American retail shelves seem to be getting slimmer every day. President Donald Trump has vowed to roll back policy initiatives and incentives for doing business with Cuba, leaving many industry insiders less hopeful for further expansion into the Cuban cigar market.
A changing mindset in the Oval Office is not the only issue that Cuban cigar manufacturers would face when entering the U.S. market. FDA regulations require any tobacco product that was not marketed in the U.S. before 2007 to submit detailed accounts of their ingredients and manufacturing process, which the FDA must review and approve before the product can be sold in the U.S.
By the FDA’s own estimates, the process could take more than 1,700 hours, though the tobacco industry insists the review will likely take much longer.
Despite regulatory challenges, Savona is confident that FDA regulations would not be enough to entirely dissuade Cuban cigar manufacturers from entering the U.S. market.
“The United States cigar market is the biggest in the world,” Savona said. “The Cuban government (which controls all cigar manufacturing on the island) may not bring all brands over, but it is champing at the bit for the elimination of the embargo and chance to get a piece of our market.”
Capital Tobacco on Pleasant Street saw a rise in foot traffic as well.
“I usually get one or two people a week coming in asking for Cuban cigars,” said Ciara Navarria, a sales associate. “They’re usually people I’ve never seen before in the store.”
At the moment, both Meher and Navarria are forced to turn away customers asking for Cubans. Opening up the market and allowing them to sell the legendary cigars, they say, could redefine their businesses.
“Selling Cubans would definitely be helpful,” Navarria said. “We could attract a whole new type of customer to the store.”
David Savona, the executive director of Cigar Aficionado magazine, agrees it would be a boon to the industry.
“Many people in the U.S. are ready to try this forbidden fruit that is no longer so forbidden,” Savona said.
As exciting as the prospect may seem, the chances of Cuban cigars making their way to American retail shelves seem to be getting slimmer every day. President Donald Trump has vowed to roll back policy initiatives and incentives for doing business with Cuba, leaving many industry insiders less hopeful for further expansion into the Cuban cigar market.
A changing mindset in the Oval Office is not the only issue that Cuban cigar manufacturers would face when entering the U.S. market. FDA regulations require any tobacco product that was not marketed in the U.S. before 2007 to submit detailed accounts of their ingredients and manufacturing process, which the FDA must review and approve before the product can be sold in the U.S.
By the FDA’s own estimates, the process could take more than 1,700 hours, though the tobacco industry insists the review will likely take much longer.
Despite regulatory challenges, Savona is confident that FDA regulations would not be enough to entirely dissuade Cuban cigar manufacturers from entering the U.S. market.
“The United States cigar market is the biggest in the world,” Savona said. “The Cuban government (which controls all cigar manufacturing on the island) may not bring all brands over, but it is champing at the bit for the elimination of the embargo and chance to get a piece of our market.”
Resource : http://www.concordmonitor.com/Cuban-cigars-allowed-for-personal-use-commercial-sales-still-banned-7458614
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