Poster
09-15-2003, 04:33 PM
Although it is illegal for Americans to patronize government run Cuban companies, technology has once again superceded law. By logging on to a website, Cuban dissidents can easily purchase goods and services for friends and family still living on the island. The problem with this concept is that it allows the Castro regime to continue bringing in American dollars despite a decades old trade embargo.
“ICC processes customers' online orders in Canada and contracts out delivery of goods and services to the major government-owned companies in Cuba, Ruberto said. Delivery takes three to five days in Havana, 10 to 15 days in the provinces.”
The FTC says that Americans who visit these sites are in fact violating the law, if they are sending anything other than the items it deems legal. Two of the available contraband items are insurance and legal services, which are strictly forbidden purchases.
“Under Treasury and Commerce Department regulations, people may send money and a range of items to Cuba as long as they use U.S.-licensed shipping companies and stay within remittance limits, said Griffin. Remittance limits are $300 cash per household per quarter and $200 per month of authorized goods, he said .”
At this point, no one expects the FTC to begin enforcing the trade embargo, since these sites have been up and running for years already. It is unlikely that they will be shut down either, based on the political power of Cuban exiles here in the states, who support the sites.
To learn more go to: http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6776195.htm
“ICC processes customers' online orders in Canada and contracts out delivery of goods and services to the major government-owned companies in Cuba, Ruberto said. Delivery takes three to five days in Havana, 10 to 15 days in the provinces.”
The FTC says that Americans who visit these sites are in fact violating the law, if they are sending anything other than the items it deems legal. Two of the available contraband items are insurance and legal services, which are strictly forbidden purchases.
“Under Treasury and Commerce Department regulations, people may send money and a range of items to Cuba as long as they use U.S.-licensed shipping companies and stay within remittance limits, said Griffin. Remittance limits are $300 cash per household per quarter and $200 per month of authorized goods, he said .”
At this point, no one expects the FTC to begin enforcing the trade embargo, since these sites have been up and running for years already. It is unlikely that they will be shut down either, based on the political power of Cuban exiles here in the states, who support the sites.
To learn more go to: http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/6776195.htm