CigarAdvisor.com’s Gary Korb explains why he attended the Datamyne-NEXCO October 9th conference, Preparing for Trade with Cuba: “My primary reason for attending the conference was to learn about the process of doing business with Cuba, and from what I took away, you’re going to have to be a little more patient before you see ‘buy Cuban cigars today’ advertised in future Famous [Smoke Shop] emails. Sorry if I’ve disappointed you already, but the process is complicated.”
What follows is a comprehensive summary of the pros, cons and current complications of doing business in Cuba – whatever the product you want to buy or sell – as presented by the conference’s expert speakers.
About those cigars: As Korb reports, US Customs is still confiscating and charging US visitors who t bring back Cuban cigars and other goods, even when going through Mexico and Canada.
“So here’s the deal: $100 worth of Cuban cigars is permitted only when they are brought back to the United States directly, non-stop, from Cuba. If you are returning to the US through Mexico or another country, the cigars will be confiscated and you will be fined.”