The Cuban government is enacting new rules that restrict imports on consumer goods sent by mail or brought to Cuba by air travelers.
The restrictions imposed Monday mean greater hardship for a struggling private sector that has depended on suitcases full of goods from family members and friends to counter severe shortages.
The rules increase duties on popular items such as televisions and further limit the number of items such as pants or underwear that an air traveller can carry to Cuba. They also increase duties on the weight of mailed packages.
Cuba says the restrictions are meant to stop black market abuses. The rules also protect the state monopoly on selling imported goods.
Some information in this report was provided by AP and Reuters.