Havana, Cuba.- Cuban Minister of Finance and Prices Meisi Bolaños on Wednesday further explained the recently announced measures to sell goods in freely convertible currencies, and noted that customs and tariff norms for their import will remain unchanged.

On the Mesa Redonda television program, Bolaños and other officials clarified doubts and concerns raised by the population regarding the measures on the sales of electrical appliances and car parts, announced on the same program on Tuesday. The minister assured that prices have been set according to international and regional trends.

She pointed out that the profit margin of the index based pricing is very low.

We have made efforts to reduce expenses in logistics and to work to set prices that will favor consumption and be affordable.

Regarding why the 10% tax on the US dollar is maintained in Cuba’s banking system, Central Bank Minister-President Irma Martinez Castrillon explained that this only applies to US dollars in cash, and is not the case with electronic transactions.

The tax was imposed in 2004 due to the tightening of the United States blockade and financial persecution, a situation that still persists.

It is not a closed issue, we analyze it constantly, but it is maintained for the time being, she added.

For her part, Cimex First Vice President Iset Maritza Vazquez referred to concerns about the possibilities of receiving remittances through magnetic stripe cards.

She commented that talks have been held with remittance-sending companies so that in the future, they can also be received in freely convertible currencies.

In another part of the program, the General Director of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, Vivian Herrera, informed that import companies will import products of the same type as those being sold in Cuban shops, but they will be very specific products.

Domestic Trade Minister Betsy Diaz said that the electrical appliances and car parts will be commercialized in specific shopping chains, in selected departments, and there will be controls to maintain stable prices.

At the beginning of the program, Vice President of the Republic Salvador Valdes assured that a group of measures are being studied to boost the economy and benefit the people.