An Influx of Cuban Cigars is in America’s Future

By Victoria Hines

The Obama Administration took another step towards normalization between Cuba and the U.S. by releasing regulations authorizing American entrepreneurs to pursue arrangements with Cuban government owned companies. This policy announcement is representative of the administration’s larger scheme to depart from the 1960 U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, which poses an interesting dilemma for the U.S. cigar industry. Americans can now bring back $100 worth of Cuban cigars back to the U.S. But, will this policy adversely impact U.S. cigar companies? The U.S. cigar industry has recently suggested that they are not fearful of the influx of competition from their Cuban counterparts. Rather, they are convinced their superior quality will prevail over the mysticism Americans associate with the Cuban cigar.