Cuban government raises tariffs for beer imports
HAVANA, Apr 26. As of this Wednesday, the Cuban Government decided to apply an increase in tariffs on the import of malt beer, a measure that is not considered “isolated”, but part of the “projections to correct distortions”.
Following Joint Resolution 2, published in the Extraordinary Official Gazette No. 25, of April 24, 2024, the Finance and Prices and Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment portfolios approved a 20% increase in tariff rates. for those who import this drink to the island.
On the other hand, it will be 10% for those who do so from a Most Favored Nation (MFN), a category that includes commercial partners benefited in a particular way by the Cuban authorities.
On its official website, the Ministry of Finance and Prices argues that this “projection should contribute to stimulating and protecting national production,” as well as “the increase in the productive capacity installed in the country, following international practice.”
At the end of January of this year, the package of measures announced in December 2023 in Parliament included the increase in tariff rates on the import of tobacco, cigars, rum and other alcoholic beverages.
“The measure is aimed at protecting national production in these areas,” argued a brief note from Cubadebate at the time.
In that case, it was a joint resolution of the ministers of Finance and Prices and Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Vladimir Regueiro and Ricardo Cabrisas, respectively, which established the increase in tariff rates on the importation of tobacco, cigars, rums and other alcoholic beverages.
On that date, a growth of 30% was dictated for the import of tobacco, cigars, rum and other alcoholic beverages, which will only be 15% when these products come from countries with the most favored national treatment, based on agreements. signed bilateral agreements.
That resolution also established the bonus in the payment of customs tax on imports of raw materials, inputs and intermediate goods destined for local production processes.
Of this set, the focus is on food production and agricultural production, consisting of the reduction of their tax rate by 50%.
“This projection must contribute to stimulating and protecting national production and increasing the installed productive capacity in the country, by international practice,” says the Ministry of Finance and Prices on its official website.
