The newly relaxed U.S. regulatory controls for the export of goods to Cuba have been scrutinized by the media. Not much, however, has been said about Cuba\u2019s framework for importing goods. Understanding the Cuban government\u2019s regulatory framework is a first step for U.S. companies looking to do business in Cuba.<\/p>\n
Generally, U.S. firms will not deal directly with the end user of the exported product. For example, exporting agricultural products is not about trading with independent farmers or businesses in the island but, instead, about negotiating and dealing with the Cuban government through the government-run food trading company known as the Empresa Comercializadora de Alimentos (ALIMPORT).<\/p>\n
ALIMPORT is the Cuban government\u2019s procurement agency for U.S. agricultural products. It is the only approved importer for U.S. food products such as wheat, fruits, vegetables and meat. U.S. firms must negotiate with, and deliver goods to, ALIMPORT, who then takes control of the imports at the Cuban point of entry, manages distribution throughout Cuba and coordinates payments. The United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s report on Cuba notes that \u201cthe key difference in exporting to Cuba, compared to other countries in the region, is that all U.S. agricultural exports must be channeled through one Cuban government agency, ALIMPORT.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jose A. Aquino<\/em><\/u><\/a> (@<\/em>JoseAquinoEsq<\/em><\/u><\/a> on Twitter) is a special counsel in the New York office of Duane Morris LLP, and a\u00a0member of the Duane Morris Cuba Business Group. This\u00a0blog is prepared and published for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The views expressed in this\u00a0blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author\u2019s law firm or its individual attorneys.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The newly relaxed U.S. regulatory controls for the export of goods to Cuba have been scrutinized by the media. Not much, however, has been said about Cuba\u2019s framework for importing goods. Understanding the Cuban government\u2019s regulatory framework is a first step for U.S. companies looking to do business in Cuba. Generally, U.S. firms will not … <\/p>\n