81 FR 31290 - Updated List of Goods and Services Produced by Independent Cuban Entrepreneurs Authorized for Importation

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 96 (May 18, 2016)

On April 22, 2016, the Department of State published on its Web site an updated list of goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs whose importation into the United States is authorized by the Department of the Treasury's Cuban Assets Control Regulations (``CACR''). This list updates the version of the list published on February 13, 2015. These changes allow for more engagement with Cuba's private sector through new business opportunities.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31290-31292]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11730]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9568]


Updated List of Goods and Services Produced by Independent Cuban 
Entrepreneurs Authorized for Importation

AGENCY: Department of State.

    Subagency: Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

ACTION: Notice, publication of updated list of goods and services 
produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs authorized for importation 
into the United States.

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[[Page 31291]]

SUMMARY: On April 22, 2016, the Department of State published on its 
Web site an updated list of goods and services produced by independent 
Cuban entrepreneurs whose importation into the United States is 
authorized by the Department of the Treasury's Cuban Assets Control 
Regulations (``CACR''). This list updates the version of the list 
published on February 13, 2015. These changes allow for more engagement 
with Cuba's private sector through new business opportunities.

DATES: April 22, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Economic Sanctions Policy 
and Implementation, tel.: 202-647-7489; Office of the Coordinator for 
Cuban Affairs, tel.: 202-647-9273, Department of State, Washington, DC 
20520 (not toll-free numbers).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Availability

    This document and additional information concerning the List are 
available from the Department of State's Web site (http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/515582/237471.htm). Additional 
information about the President's new course on Cuba is also on the Web 
site (www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/cu/cuba/).

Background

    On January 16, 2015, the Department of the Treasury's Office of 
Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published a final rule in the Federal 
Register (80 FR 2291, Jan. 16, 2015) amending the Cuban Assets Control 
Regulations (CACR), 31 CFR part 515, to implement the President's 
December 17, 2014, policy announcement on Cuba. Section 515.582 of the 
CACR was added to authorize persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to 
engage in all transactions, including payments, necessary to import 
certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs 
as determined by the State Department as set forth on the State 
Department's Section 515.582 List. Empowering the Cuban people and 
Cuban civil society is central to the Administration's approach to 
Cuba, which seeks to create new opportunities for Cuba's nascent 
private sector. The State Department's Section 515.582 List was first 
published February 13, 2015 on its Web site and went into effect 
immediately upon publication.
    On April 22, 2016, the State Department updated the Section 515.582 
List, authorizing persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to import coffee 
and additional textiles and textile articles produced by independent 
Cuban entrepreneurs, in addition to the items previously authorized. 
The updated List also removes the requirement that imports of 
authorized goods need to be made directly from Cuba. These changes 
allow for more engagement with Cuba's private sector through new 
business opportunities.
    The List published on the State Department's Web site on April 22, 
2016, replaces in full the version of the List published on February 
13, 2015. The List is as follows, and may be updated by the State 
Department periodically.

U.S. Department of State

Section 515.582 List

Goods and Services Eligible for Importation

    In accordance with the policy changes announced by the President on 
December 17, 2014, to further engage and empower the Cuban people, 
Section 515.582 of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR part 
515--the CACR) authorizes the importation into the United States of 
certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs 
as determined by the State Department as set forth on the Section 
515.582 List, below.

Goods

    The goods whose import is authorized by Section 515.582 are goods 
produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs, as demonstrated by 
documentary evidence, that are imported into the United States, except 
for goods specified in the following sections/chapters of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS):

 Section I: Live Animals; Animal Products
    [cir] All chapters
 Section II: Vegetable Products
    [cir] All chapters, except Chapter 9 heading 0901 (coffee)

    **Please note that exporters will be required to prove that they 
have met all sanitary and phytosanitary standards, including food 
safety.

 Section III: Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and their 
Cleavage Products; Prepared Edible Fats; Animal or Vegetable Waxes
    [cir] All chapters
 Section IV: Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits, and 
Vinegar; Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes
    [cir] All chapters
 Section V: Mineral Products
    [cir] All chapters
 Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries
    [cir] Chapters 28-32; 35-36, 38
 Section XV: Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal
    [cir] Chapters 72-81
 Section XVI: Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical 
Equipment; Parts Thereof; Sound Recorders and Reproducers, Television 
Image and Sound Recorders and Reproducers, and Parts and Accessories of 
Such Articles
    [cir] All chapters
 Section XVII: Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated 
Transportation Equipment
    [cir] All chapters
 Section XIX: Arms and Ammunition; Parts and Accessories 
Thereof
    [cir] All chapters

This list does not supersede or excuse compliance with any additional 
requirements in U.S. law or regulation, including the relevant duties 
as set forth on the HTS.
    For travelers importing authorized goods into the United States 
pursuant to Sec.  515.582 as accompanied baggage, the $400 monetary 
limit set forth in Sec.  515.560(c)(3) does not apply to such goods, 
but goods may be subject to applicable duties, fees, and taxes.

Services

    The authorized services pursuant to 31 CFR 515.582 are services 
supplied by an independent Cuban entrepreneur in Cuba, as demonstrated 
by documentary evidence. Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging 
in import transactions involving services supplied by an independent 
Cuban entrepreneur pursuant to Sec.  515.582 are required to obtain 
documentary evidence that demonstrates the entrepreneur's independent 
status, such as a copy of a license to be self-employed issued by the 
Cuban government or, in the case of an entity, evidence that 
demonstrates that the entrepreneur is a private entity that is not 
owned or controlled by the Cuban government. Supply of services must 
comply with other applicable state and federal laws.

    Note 1:  All payments in settlement of transactions authorized 
by Sec.  515.582 should reference this section in order to avoid 
having them rejected.


    Note 2:  The authorization in Sec.  515.582 of the CACR does not 
supersede or excuse compliance with U.S. laws or regulations or any 
other additional requirements.


    Note 3:  The Department of State, in consultation with other 
federal agencies, reserves the right to update this document 
periodically. Any subsequent updates will take effect when published 
on the Web page of the Bureau of Economic and Business

[[Page 31292]]

Affairs' Office of Sanctions Policy and Implementation (http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi). Updates will also be published in the 
Federal Register. For further information, please contact the State 
Department at 202-647-7489.


    Note 4:  For provisions relating to recordkeeping and reports, 
see 31 CFR 501.601 and 501.602 and 19 CFR part 163.

    With this notice, the Department of State is publishing its April 
22, 2016, Section 515.582 List.

Charles H. Rivkin,
Assistant Secretary, Economic and Business Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-11730 Filed 5-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-AE-P