The tariff exemption on imports of foodstuffs, toiletries and medicines by natural persons will continue in Cuba beyond December 31, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced today.
In a speech at the Second Ordinary Session of the 10th Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power (parliament), he recalled that this measure, which has been extended on several occasions in recent years, was due to expire at the end of the current year.
According to the head of Government, the decision to keep it in force was taken despite the fact that this exemption has not worked as planned, since it was applied with the aim of solving people's problems, but it is also a way to import products that are resold at speculative prices.
In this sense, he stated that they will work seriously to look for ways and financing to guarantee a sustained supply in the stores, so that whoever wants to buy does not have to go abroad to import something that can be acquired here.
Marrero expressed that it is necessary, in the first place, to guarantee a stable offer in the stores in foreign currency, if the proposals of the national stores network are to be maintained and subsequently increased.
In this regard, he remarked that the Cuban government's vision is not at all to dollarize the economy, since, on the contrary, a strong program of de-dollarization has been approved.
But, in order to reach that goal, we have to go through partial dollarizations that allow us to collect or increase a group of foreign currencies to be able to put them for the benefit of the economic and social development of the country, he added.
The tariff exemption for the non-commercial import of food, medicines and toiletries was approved for the first time in 2021, in view of the deficit of goods and services, in addition to the limitations caused by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States.