Raúl Castro's liberalizing measure regarding the buying and selling of cars will have a very limited effect

Cuba has officially authorized the free importation of vehicles. The country is known for the cars it has managed to maintain for over 50 years. The Cuban government has lifted a ban on vehicle imports that had been in place for fifty years, as part of the economic reforms initiated by President Raúl Castro, according to the official newspaper Granma.

The decision made by the council of ministers, at the request of Castro, authorizes the sale of imported motorcycles, cars, vans, trucks, and minibuses, new or used, for Cubans and foreign residents in Cuba. The regulations state that "prices should be similar to those typically found in the private market," which has been open since September 2011. According to Granma, the liberalization of vehicle imports will occur "gradually," and the proceeds from sales will contribute to the creation of a "special fund for the development of public transportation," which faces numerous challenges on the island.

The reform could facilitate the arrival of new vehicles in Cuba, which until now have been coming in limited numbers and benefiting only a handful of Cubans with special permissions. However, this official optimism contrasts with the reality that the average salary in Cuba is $20 per month, which continues to restrict access to cars to an elite group close to the communist regime.

Source: ABC.es