Obama lifts restrictions on Cuban rum, cigars

[Sunlei]

Source: USATODAY

MIAMI — Attention U.S. travelers going abroad: You now can bring home all the Cuban rum and cigars you want.
The Obama administration announced Friday a new round of executive actions designed to increase trade and travel with the communist island. And this is the one many Americans have been waiting for — no more restrictions on the island's famed rum and cigars.

Under the new rules, travelers can purchase unlimited quantities of Cuban rum and cigars in any country where they are sold so long as they are for personal consumption. Sorry American couch potatoes: You can't order Cuban rum and cigars online and have them shipped to your home.

The regulations issued by the U.S. departments of Commerce and Treasury will make it easier for U.S. companies to import Cuban-made pharmaceuticals, U.S. agricultural companies to sell their products to the island and Cubans to purchase U.S.-made goods online.

The changes follow a series of steps taken since President Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced on Dec. 17, 2014, that the Cold War foes would normalize relations after more than a half century of enmity.


Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/10/14/obama-cuba-regulations-expands-trade-travel-rum-cigars/92042662/

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Gracias Obama!

?f9648c

[Achilleaze]

1. Finally, something the 'family values' Repuiblicans can support

[geardaddy]

4. Are those Nazi soliders?

[Achilleaze]

17. Generic family values backroomers

[DFW]

2. Oh, gee thanks

I neither smoke nor drink alcohol. Remove all travel restrictions, already!!

[progressoid]

13. You can always give them as gifts.

Hint hint.




I'll send you my address.

Just the rum, thanks.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. No, No. Accept the cigars

You can send those to me, please.

[progressoid]

16. Absolutely.

I'm not opposed to re-gifting.

[DFW]

18. I haven't been down there in years

But if I go back in the near future, I'll keep you in mind!

[awoke_in_2003]

22. I bet they are done...

before he leaves office. I have often thought that PBO didn't go far enough on things, but it has usually been proven that his methods are sound. A bunch of left jabs can have the same effect, over time, as a crushing right. The left jabs don't make the news, so they don't rile up the competition as much.

[yallerdawg]

3. Nothing wins "hearts and minds"...

like "dollars and cents"!

Economic ties are the ties that bind.

Shared prosperity is the road to peace.

[n2doc]

5. There are ways around the cigar restrictions already

Have a neighbor who buys Cuban cigars from an outlet in Spain, they just take the labels off and ship those separately.

People find a way, folks.

[geardaddy]

6. Unlimited? Really?

You can't bring in unlimited supplies of liquor or tobacco from other countries without paying duty on it.

on edit: I read further down and they say duty and taxes will apply.

[Jason1961]

7. Obama is a beacon of light for us

In this ugly election Obama actually makes me feel good about Politics.

[HockeyMom]

8. Cigars? No.

Rum? SI!!!!!

[LisaM]

14. Yeah, those were my thoughts.

I don't know that I've tried Cuban rum, but I'm willing to make the experiment.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. You take the rum

(I don't care for it), I'll take the cigars

[packman]

9. I remember going on a cruise many years ago

Stopping off - I think in Mexico somewhere - and getting a Cuban cigar. I feared reboarding the ship since we were warned not to bring any Cuban cigars or rum aboard because of the embargo. But I managed to hide it, no big deal for no one apparently gave a shit. Later, after dinner I smoked it and , I'll tell you - it was spectacular. I'm not , nor was a cigar aficionado, but it was smooth, rich, and pleasant to the mouth. I am waiting to buy my bottle of Cuban rum - looking forward to it.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. When buying cigars in Mexico

do your research. They are a hot bed of fake Cubans. I bought a couple when I spent three weeks in Montreal in 2002- I enjoyed them.

[sarge43]

11. Just in time for the victory celebration

He's a sly one, that Obama

[Auggie]

12. +1

[beaglelover]

19. Thank you Obama!!!

I want to try more Cuban cigars. The ones I've had to date don't seem that much better than my regular sticks from the DR.

[awoke_in_2003]

25. Many of them are...

fakes from DR. DR and Honduras both make very good cigars. Many of the makers are exiles from Cuba, and they brought seeds with them.

[Eleanors38]

27. Yeah, baby! I had a Cuban Romeo y Julietta. Had to get up and walk outside...

Good taste and will get you high without inhaling.

[Locrian]

20. I think that's great, really....

Now if he could remove (something far less harmful) cannabis from the schedule 1 drug list...

[agincourt]

21. All Cuban sanctions should be lifted

It's ridiculous to keep sanctions on Cuba. We should also be trying to help Venezuela get through their economic crisis as well. Likewise if any country deserves a federal bailout it's Puerto Rico.

[awoke_in_2003]

26. I think they will be...

I think he is doing this piece by piece so it attracts less attention, and we don't hear from the rabid, I mean right, side of the aisle.

[roamer65]

29. Yes. A food for oil program with Venezuela.

[scscholar]

28. Too bad he didn't go farther.

Why have complicated restrictions instead of just doing something that is simple?

[msanthrope]

30. Thanks, Jobu! nt

[GOLGO 13]

31. Good times are about to commence.

[Sunlei]

32. I like that now we can sell stuff to Cuba and the rums a nice bonus!