Since 2022, US$191+ Million U.S. Exports To Cuba's Re-Emerging Private Sector- Including US$128 Million In Vehicles
/ECONOMIC EYE ON CUBA©
RE-EMERGING PRIVATE SECTOR EXPORTS- On 17 December 2014, the Obama-Biden Administration (2009-2017) announced commercial, economic, financial, political, and social changes to the bilateral relationship with the government of the Republic of Cuba and with Republic of Cuba nationals. On 20 July 2015, the government of the United States and the government of the Republic of Cuba re-established diplomatic relations.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, and United States Department of State expanded the variety of products and services authorized for export to the Republic of Cuba and the variety of products and services authorized for import from the Republic of Cuba. These expansions included some exports and imports through third countries. The focus of the expansions was to benefit Republic of Cuba nationals and to benefit the re-emerging private sector in the Republic of Cuba.
The Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021) did not demonstrably interfere with product exports and product imports, but did interfere with service exports and service imports.
The Trump-Vance Administration (2025-2029) has not interfered with product exports and product imports initiated by the Obama-Biden Administration and the Biden-Harris Administration (2021-2025), but has interrupted some service exports.
The Obama-Biden Administration and Biden-Harris Administration focused upon products (durable, non-durable, consumable) to individuals and entities not affiliated with the government of the Republic of Cuba. The government of the Republic of Cuba initially prohibited some imports. From 2015 to 2017, the government of the Republic of Cuba authorized: One United States company with two hotel management contracts, although only one hotel management contract was operational prior to 2020 when the OFAC license was rescinded; multiple United States airlines servicing United States-Republic of Cuba routes; cruise lines operating itineraries from the United States to the Republic of Cuba until the OFAC license was rescinded in 2019; one company with a power generation equipment contract, reported to have been completed; and two United States companies operating agricultural equipment distribution centers.
Since 2022, when the first BIS license was issued for the export of vehicles to Republic of Cuba nationals and to private companies in the Republic of Cuba, the cumulative export value of the initiatives in place during the Obama-Biden Administration, Trump-Pence Administration, Biden-Harris Administration, and Trump-Vance Administration exceeds US$191 million of which electric and gasoline-powered new and used vehicles, bicycles, trucks, motorcycles and mopeds, and parts, exceeds US$128 million (January 2025 through July 2025: US$50,288,310.00; year 2024: US$67,241,234.00; year 2023: US$10,546,419.00; year 2022: US$89,848.00 by the end of 2025 and purchases (equipment and products) for use by the re-emerging private sector in the Republic of Cuba driving the growth.
The following data is a guide with approximate values for non-agricultural commodity and food product exports from the United States to the Republic of Cuba. Primarily products (including vehicles) used for the benefit of the re-emerging private sector in the Republic of Cuba and Republic of Cuba nationals.
Year Approximate U.S. Dollar Value
2015 US$4,836,627.00
2016 US$7,644,628.00
2017 US$11,137,712.00
2018 US$32,690,672.00
2019 US$21,144,294.00
2020 US$10,326,641.00
2021 US$5,204,355.00
2022 US$11,812,859.00
2023 US$30,334,066.00
2024 US$85,615,889.00
2025 US$63,891,338.00 (through July)
Total US$284,639,081.00
