Cubans very worried by upcoming cancellation of tax exemption on imported goods

From our Bureau of YoYo Woes with some assistance from our Bureau of Socialist Social Justice

Cuban YoYos and their relatives in the island are panicking over the expiration of a tax exemption on September 30. The exemption has allowed YoYos to bring or send goodies to Castrogonia without having to pay taxes on them. Will this slow down the flow of gift-bearing YoYos or reduce the number of gifts they haul along with their baggage?

Don’t count on it. Chances are they’ll pay the tax and Castro, Inc. will be very happy to collect even more money than it already does from the so-called “diaspora.”

Loosely translated from Cubita Now

Faced with a severe economic crisis and shortages, Cubans are anxiously watching the potential end of the tax exemption for the import of food and medicine, set to expire on September 30. This measure, implemented in 2021 after the July 11 protests, has been renewed several times, but the government has yet to announce if there will be another extension.

The uncertainty has caused widespread concern, especially due to the ongoing scarcity of basic goods on the island. On social media, many are expressing the urgency of maintaining the exemption. “There is nothing in the pharmacies, and those of us who need medications like enalapril have to buy them on the black market,” said Pablo, a heart patient from Matanzas, to “Martí Noticias.”

The measure has allowed Cubans and residents abroad to send food, medicine, and hygiene products without paying tariffs—a temporary relief that, according to the government, aims to ease the crisis. However, many people depend on these shipments to access goods that are unavailable in state-run stores.

While some criticize the exemption as benefiting only those with the means to import products, many believe that eliminating it would worsen the situation for those who rely on these shipments. Yaxys Cires, from the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH), warns that not renewing the measure “would be a devastating blow” for the population, especially the most vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and chronically ill patients.

The shortage affects not only food and hygiene products but also essential medicines. Cuban authorities have acknowledged that they produce only 62% of the necessary drugs, while importing the remainder has been hampered by a lack of funding. In a recent report, Cuba’s Minister of Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, confirmed the critical supply shortage in the country.

As the deadline approaches, the population awaits a response from the government. The future of the tax exemption could pose yet another challenge in Cuba’s already difficult landscape.