What is the CRAs stance on the Cuban embargo?

It seems to me that the majority of the big name cigar producers would lose a great deal of money if the Cuban embargo is lifted. The Cubans would surely steal a portion of the market share that is now fully owned by the companies that support the CRA. So, it seems feasible the cigar companies in the CRA should in no way support lifting the Cuban embargo.

Now, there is a great many people here supporting the CRA, and there is a great many people here wanting to legally aquire Cuban cigars.

So, is it possible by supporting the CRA, we are also lobbying to keep the embargo in place?

i've read that most manufactures look forward to be able to use cuban tobacco in their blends.

If the embargo is lifted, I believe many cigar producers (the good ones) from South America will have the opportunity to expand.

Right now, there are many hypes about Cuban cigars. Even non smokers will not turn down a Cuban cigar. When the embargo is lifted, there will be rush like madness to obtain and smoke those Cubans by regular smokers and new smokers. Cubans will be expensive, quality is inferior to others, and hard to find. The new smokers will be swayed to try something else. Here where top cigar producers like Padrons, Fuentes, and Pepin will have the chance to gain new customers.

From another point of view, I believe big families like the Fuents, Don Pepin, and the Padrons will try to obtain farms and build new factories in Cuba, hence expand their business.

Just my .02

It is now that you showed up, ya flamer

Frank

Who knows; but I would answer your quesion a firmatively. CRA's website only focuses is on American cigar smokers' rights to enjoy cigars. Nothing there about Cuba or Cuban cigars.

"CRA's MISSION

Cigar Rights of America (CRA) was founded on the principle of fighting for the freedom to enjoy cigars.

CRA is a consumer-based, non-profit public advocacy organization that works at the local, state, and federal level of government to protect the freedoms of cigar enthusiasts.

Together, with our constituency of nationwide members, we focus our fight for freedom in these core areas:

Oppose Restrictive Smoking Bans Government Regulation of Cigars

Oppose Taxation of Cigars Policy Measures Relating to Cigar"

Here is a list of a majority of the CRA Board of Directors:

Carlito Fuente

Owner, A. Fuente Cigars

Carlos Fuente

Owner, A. Fuente Cigars

Robert Levin

Owner, Ashton Distributors

Litto Gomez

Owner, La Flor Dominicana

Rocky Patel

Owner, Rocky Patel Cigars

Jorge Padron

Owner, Padron Cigar Company

Dan Carr

President, General Cigar

These guys and their companies don't need any competition from Cuban cigars...

The demands on Cuban Cigars will be too high. The Cuban government will need new investors to inject money into the industry. No one will be better fit than the families from Cuban origin. They have the money, experience, and their names.

I, respectfully, disagree that Cuba will require capital for its cigar industry from Cuban origon families that are in the NC business. The rest of the world is already available to help.

The real value to Cuba's tobacco is the "value added" in turning it into boxes of cigars.

Look to the typical American to trie a few machine mades and that's it. If they weren't smoking cigars before hand, they probably won't afterwards. The cigars require aging and an experienced palate.

Check into what: LEW ROTHMAN has to say on the subject...

Frank

The only new market it opens up is Americans who want Cuban cigars that don't already just import them illegally. Worldwide cigar stores that cater to shipping to the USA could see their demand drop off the cliff and supplies to them will divert to US stores and the situation will equalize quickly. It could still be business as usual for those online stores in tax advantaged countries.

If there was a shortage of Cuban cigars, Cuba already has access to enough money to expand factories and farms.

The counterfeiters could score some huge gains initially.

The other issue is the impact on cigar smoking in general. I’m sure most on this board have enjoyed a Cuban more than once. I brought a box back from a vacation to Jamaica a few years ago. I was all puffed up and full of myself when I invited my friends over to enjoy a few sticks, and guess what … we all agreed they were pretty good smokes, but nothing spectacular. Just as good, or better, cigars coming out of South America.

There would probably be a spike in sales because people would want to get their hands on something that had been forbidden, but ultimately common sense would prevail and the sale of South American cigars would probably benefit when smokers decided to go with $5 - $8 sticks instead of $20 - $25 Cubans.

Me, I've long dreamed of being able to vacation on that island without having to go through another country first.

Frank from south of Boston

Sorry to stray from cigar talk. Say, if I am ever able to snag a PSD4, would it be comparable to any legal smokes??

Frank

Only if the legal smokes are rolled on the inner thighs of virgins

If the embargo ends quality will go to crap, there is no way they could keep up with demand and the prices will probably go up.

There can only be so much demand for $8-15 cigars in a world that is rapidly moving to tax or ban tobacco out of existence.

Frank