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Cuba bids farewell to tax-free food imports | Cuba bids farewell to tax-free food imports |
(about 6 hours later) | |
By Sarah Rainsford BBC News, Havana | |
The arrivals areas at Havana Airport's Terminal 2 have recently been crammed full to overflowing. | The arrivals areas at Havana Airport's Terminal 2 have recently been crammed full to overflowing. |
Cuba has just re-imposed customs duty on all food imports, and families and businesses have been scrambling to get supplies onto the island before the cut-off date. | Cuba has just re-imposed customs duty on all food imports, and families and businesses have been scrambling to get supplies onto the island before the cut-off date. |
On the final tax-free day the number of charter flights from the US was doubled to 22. | On the final tax-free day the number of charter flights from the US was doubled to 22. |
Airlines had to lay on 10 additional planes just for the excess luggage and most of that, according to a senior airport official, was food. | Airlines had to lay on 10 additional planes just for the excess luggage and most of that, according to a senior airport official, was food. |
In 2008, passengers were permitted to bring food into Cuba duty free, for non-commercial purposes. | In 2008, passengers were permitted to bring food into Cuba duty free, for non-commercial purposes. |
It was a temporary measure intended to allow families to receive food aid from relatives abroad following a series of devastating hurricanes, but in a country of shortages it was soon being used to turn a profit. | It was a temporary measure intended to allow families to receive food aid from relatives abroad following a series of devastating hurricanes, but in a country of shortages it was soon being used to turn a profit. |
A Cuban-American man calling himself Eduardo explained: "At the start, I used to bring things over for peoples' relatives. Small parcels. What I bring now is for businesses." | A Cuban-American man calling himself Eduardo explained: "At the start, I used to bring things over for peoples' relatives. Small parcels. What I bring now is for businesses." |
He says he flies in from Miami every fortnight, and he describes himself as one of a large number of couriers, known as "mules", who work for agencies sending everything from money to food to Cuba - mostly from the United States. | He says he flies in from Miami every fortnight, and he describes himself as one of a large number of couriers, known as "mules", who work for agencies sending everything from money to food to Cuba - mostly from the United States. |
'Uninspiring and unreliable' | 'Uninspiring and unreliable' |
While commercial imports are not allowed, the government recently authorised a limited expansion of the private sector. | While commercial imports are not allowed, the government recently authorised a limited expansion of the private sector. |
The new businesses that have sprung up, such as the hundreds of house-restaurants, or paladares, have come to rely on the mules to supply them. | The new businesses that have sprung up, such as the hundreds of house-restaurants, or paladares, have come to rely on the mules to supply them. |
"I pay $130 towards my ticket and the agency arranges it all," says Eduardo. | "I pay $130 towards my ticket and the agency arranges it all," says Eduardo. |
The short flight to Cuba would normally cost over $500. | The short flight to Cuba would normally cost over $500. |
"I carry 20 kg of luggage for them and I have other clients of my own who request things I can bring in my hand luggage," he says. | "I carry 20 kg of luggage for them and I have other clients of my own who request things I can bring in my hand luggage," he says. |
But Eduardo is sure things will change now that food imports are again subject to duty, by value and weight. | But Eduardo is sure things will change now that food imports are again subject to duty, by value and weight. |
"We won't bring food any more. It weighs too much, it won't be profitable," he says, describing cash and clothes as more viable. | "We won't bring food any more. It weighs too much, it won't be profitable," he says, describing cash and clothes as more viable. |
Cuba's new, private restaurateurs are worried. | Cuba's new, private restaurateurs are worried. |
There is no wholesale market and the stock in state-run shops is severely limited, uninspiring and unreliable - largely down to the trade embargo imposed on Communist Cuba by the US. | There is no wholesale market and the stock in state-run shops is severely limited, uninspiring and unreliable - largely down to the trade embargo imposed on Communist Cuba by the US. |
So the "mules" have been filling-in the food gaps. | So the "mules" have been filling-in the food gaps. |
"It's a way of life here. People live off things sent from abroad ... people are very worried," explains Mexican restaurant owner, Angela Hernandez. | "It's a way of life here. People live off things sent from abroad ... people are very worried," explains Mexican restaurant owner, Angela Hernandez. |
The spices she needs are not available here, so she orders them from Mexico and Miami. | The spices she needs are not available here, so she orders them from Mexico and Miami. |
"I have spices in stock for now but I need to figure out how I'll get them when they run low - or drop the dishes from the menu." | "I have spices in stock for now but I need to figure out how I'll get them when they run low - or drop the dishes from the menu." |
'Embargo-busters' | 'Embargo-busters' |
Another paladar boss restocked his kitchen just before the rules changed. | Another paladar boss restocked his kitchen just before the rules changed. |
"We bought spicy sauces, cheese - things you can't get here, or that disappear very quickly," said Miguel Angel Morales, at La Moneda Cubana in the tourist heart of Old Havana. | "We bought spicy sauces, cheese - things you can't get here, or that disappear very quickly," said Miguel Angel Morales, at La Moneda Cubana in the tourist heart of Old Havana. |
"I brought a lot more than usual: sweetener, fine salt - things that last," Mr Morales said, adding that his sister delivered all the goods, from Miami. | "I brought a lot more than usual: sweetener, fine salt - things that last," Mr Morales said, adding that his sister delivered all the goods, from Miami. |
"I'm panicking!" admitted Tomas Erasmo, a former chef to Fidel Castro who recently opened his own stylish paladar. | "I'm panicking!" admitted Tomas Erasmo, a former chef to Fidel Castro who recently opened his own stylish paladar. |
He has travelled abroad regularly to buy items impossible to find here, like the dried mushrooms rehydrating in his kitchen. | He has travelled abroad regularly to buy items impossible to find here, like the dried mushrooms rehydrating in his kitchen. |
Still, the chef believes the broader population will be harder hit than the restaurant-trade by the rule change. | Still, the chef believes the broader population will be harder hit than the restaurant-trade by the rule change. |
"Some people have been using the import system for commerce, breaking the rules, and the state is losing out on sales so yes, I think the mules should be taxed," the chef says. | "Some people have been using the import system for commerce, breaking the rules, and the state is losing out on sales so yes, I think the mules should be taxed," the chef says. |
But he describes those mules as embargo-busters, taking hard-to-find food to people across the island, door-to-door. | But he describes those mules as embargo-busters, taking hard-to-find food to people across the island, door-to-door. |
It's not legal, and while Mr Erasmo doesn't buy it, many others do, drawn by lower prices and infinitely better choice than in state-run stores. | It's not legal, and while Mr Erasmo doesn't buy it, many others do, drawn by lower prices and infinitely better choice than in state-run stores. |
'Lifeline' | 'Lifeline' |
For others, the tax-free imports still serve their initial, humanitarian purpose. | For others, the tax-free imports still serve their initial, humanitarian purpose. |
"People bring in food for their families too," Mr Erasmo argues. | "People bring in food for their families too," Mr Erasmo argues. |
"They have needs, and until the state can resolve that problem I think we should be flexible." | "They have needs, and until the state can resolve that problem I think we should be flexible." |
At Havana Airport's Terminal 2, just before the rule-change, most passengers agreed. | At Havana Airport's Terminal 2, just before the rule-change, most passengers agreed. |
They poured through the arrivals gate, trolleys piled high with luggage, many carrying plastic-wrapped holdalls, clearly marked: "FOOD." | They poured through the arrivals gate, trolleys piled high with luggage, many carrying plastic-wrapped holdalls, clearly marked: "FOOD." |
"I brought things you can't find here, like this big rich cake," said Blanca, a Cuban emigree arriving to visit her mother. | "I brought things you can't find here, like this big rich cake," said Blanca, a Cuban emigree arriving to visit her mother. |
"They should know who's coming to see family and who comes often, and to sell," she complained. | "They should know who's coming to see family and who comes often, and to sell," she complained. |
"Eduardo" the mule is confident the business supply-route will be resolved, eventually, albeit at higher prices. | "Eduardo" the mule is confident the business supply-route will be resolved, eventually, albeit at higher prices. |
But some families feel they've lost a lifeline. | But some families feel they've lost a lifeline. |
Delia, who was visiting relatives in Havana for the first time in 12 years, said: "Maybe some people are doing business, but we're bringing food for our families. | Delia, who was visiting relatives in Havana for the first time in 12 years, said: "Maybe some people are doing business, but we're bringing food for our families. |
"And with the problems they face here, that's a big help." | "And with the problems they face here, that's a big help." |