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South Florida Leaders Demand End to Luxury Goods Exports to Cuba

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, February 18th 2026 at 7:47 GMT by 7News Miami
      Locales: UNITED STATES, CUBA

MIAMI, FL - February 18, 2026 - A growing chorus of South Florida political leaders are intensifying pressure on the Biden administration to revoke licenses allowing U.S. companies to export luxury goods to Cuba, arguing that these sales exacerbate the ongoing humanitarian crisis on the island. The demand comes as Cuba grapples with a severe and prolonged fuel shortage, leaving citizens struggling to access essential services, commute to work, and afford basic necessities.

Yesterday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava led a press conference alongside Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo, all united in their condemnation of the practice. The leaders framed the continued allowance of luxury goods exports as morally reprehensible, given the dire circumstances faced by the Cuban people.

"It's an outrage that while the Cuban people are suffering from a severe fuel shortage, and they can't even get to work, and they're struggling to feed their families, that U.S. companies are allowed to export luxury goods into Cuba and enrich the regime," Congressman Diaz-Balart stated emphatically. He explained that the hard currency generated from these sales doesn't trickle down to benefit ordinary Cubans, but instead bolsters the resources available to the Cuban government, enabling it to maintain its control and suppress dissent.

Mayor Suarez echoed this sentiment, adding, "It's just not right that we're allowing companies to profit off the suffering of the Cuban people." He emphasized the disconnect between the hardship endured by the Cuban population and the profits reaped by American businesses, questioning the ethical implications of such a policy.

The current licensing system, established under various iterations of U.S.-Cuba policy, allows companies to apply for permissions to export a range of goods, including those considered luxury items like high-end vehicles, yachts, premium alcohol, and designer clothing. Proponents of the system historically argue it fosters people-to-people exchange and provides some level of economic opportunity within Cuba. However, critics contend this argument is deeply flawed, pointing to evidence that the vast majority of benefits accrue to those connected to the Cuban government.

Mayor Bovo directly appealed to the Biden administration and the Treasury Department. "This is a call to the Biden administration, it is a call to the Treasury Department to reconsider these licenses, and to end them," he urged. The mayors are circulating a formal letter outlining their concerns and requesting immediate action.

The debate over U.S. policy toward Cuba has been a contentious issue for decades. While the Obama administration made significant strides toward normalization, including easing some trade restrictions, those measures were largely reversed under the Trump administration, which reimposed strict sanctions. The Biden administration has taken a more nuanced approach, maintaining many of the Trump-era sanctions while also exploring limited avenues for engagement.

However, the current fuel crisis has reignited the debate, with many arguing that the existing policy is failing to achieve its intended goals and is instead contributing to the suffering of the Cuban people. The fuel shortage, triggered by a combination of factors including Venezuela's reduced oil shipments and the U.S. embargo, has caused widespread transportation disruptions, electricity blackouts, and shortages of essential goods. Hospitals, schools, and businesses have all been severely impacted.

The South Florida leaders are not advocating for a complete embargo, but rather a targeted suspension of licenses for luxury goods. They believe this would send a clear message to the Cuban government and reduce the flow of revenue that props up the regime. They also hope it would create space for policies that directly benefit the Cuban people, such as increased humanitarian aid and support for independent civil society organizations.

The call for change is gaining traction, with several human rights groups and Cuban-American organizations expressing their support. Many believe that the time for incremental adjustments is over and that bold action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Cuba and empower the Cuban people to determine their own future. The leaders plan to continue to lobby the Biden administration and raise awareness about the issue in the coming weeks, hoping to build momentum for a policy shift.