[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22763-22764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09509]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9108]


The State Department's Sec.  515.582 List

AGENCY: Department of State.

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

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SUMMARY: On February 13, 2015, the Department of State published a list 
of goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs that 
are eligible for importation into the United States, pursuant to Sec.  
515.582 of the Department of the Treasury's Cuban Assets Control 
Regulations, 31 CFR part 515 (``CACR''). The State Department is 
issuing a Federal Register notice to this effect.

DATES: Effective Date: February 13, 2015.

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 (www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi).

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) amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations 
(CACR), 31 CFR part 515, to implement the President's December 17, 
2014, policy announcement on Cuba. Sec.  515.582 of the CACR was added 
to authorize commercial imports of certain goods and services produced 
by independent Cuban entrepreneurs, as determined by the State 
Department as set forth on the State Department's Sec.  515.582 List. 
The State Department's Sec.  515.582 List was published February 13, 
2015 on its Web site (http://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi) and went into 
effect immediately upon publication. Per Sec.  515.582 of the CACR, the 
State Department is issuing a Federal Register notice to this effect. 
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, 
Sec.  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 Sec.  515.582 
List, below.

Goods

    The goods whose import is authorized by Sec.  515.582 are goods 
produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs, as demonstrated by 
documentary evidence, that are imported into the United States directly 
from Cuba, 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
 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 XI: Textile and Textile Articles
    [cir] Chapters 51-52
 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

[[Page 22764]]

    [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

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction engaging in import transactions 
involving goods produced by an independent Cuban entrepreneur pursuant 
to Sec.  515.582 must 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.
    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 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 a copy of 
its February 13, 2015, Sec.  515.582 List in the Federal Register.

    Dated: April 16, 2015.
Charles H. Rivkin,
Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-09509 Filed 4-22-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-07-P