Cuban government allows importation of higher power boat engines.

The Cuban government authorized the importation of more powerful engines for maritime vessels by individuals, whether Cuban or foreign, as long as they reside permanently in the national territory.

Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Minister of Transport of Cuba (MITRANS), reported through his social media that the measure was adopted "based on requests from residents of coastal communities in Cuba, traditionally dedicated to fishing."

"It was decided to increase the power of the engines to be imported by individuals to 60 horsepower (hp), with the aim of ensuring navigation safety, human life at sea, and the improvement of the vessels used in non-state commercial fishing activities," said the head of MITRANS.

Resolution 130/2024, which establishes the requirements and procedures for the importation process of the aforementioned motors, was published this Tuesday in the extraordinary edition number 41 of the Official Gazette of Cuba.

The regulation states that "Cuban and foreign natural persons who are permanent residents in the national territory, interested in importing marine engines, as provided in section One, must complete the process at the Port Captaincy where the vessel is registered."

“The authority authorized to issue the permit, the deadlines, and the conditions for said importation is the head of the National Department of Port Captaincy,” states the resolution.

In this regard, "Cuban nationals and foreign residents permanent in the national territory are required to present, at the time of customs clearance, the import permit issued by the Port Authority; as well as, according to current legislation, to comply with the value limit established for non-commercial imports."

With the entry into force of Resolution 130/2024, the previous regulation (Resolution 100/2022) is repealed, which authorized this type of import for marine engines with a power not exceeding 10 horsepower (hp), and which was adopted at a time when daily reports were made of Cuban emigrants arriving on the shores of the United States aboard small motorboats.

Rodríguez Dávila announced this Monday new measures related to the marketing of vehicles in the country, including a price reduction in the sale of cars to individuals.

With the aim of "facilitating greater access to new means of transportation for society as a whole, and raising funds intended to sustain and develop public passenger transport and transportation infrastructure," the measure provides for an adjustment of the prices of vehicles for sale to individuals.

According to the minister, “the import and marketing of vehicles in convertible currencies is maintained, adjusting the sale prices - so that they will not vary whether the buyer is a legal entity or an individual.”

For individuals, who previously paid more for the vehicles they purchased compared to legal entities (micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives, foreign firms, and state-owned companies, among others), the prices will be lower than the current ones.

Tariffs, customs services, and taxes will be paid in convertible currencies, as previously established in earlier regulations that allow Customs to collect between 20,000 and 56,000 dollars for each car imported from the United States.

"The balance corresponding to the taxes and duties collected as a result of this policy will be part of a fund managed by the Ministry of Transportation dedicated to the recovery and development of public transport and its infrastructure," said the minister in charge.