It is reported that PayPal, as well as debit or credit cards issued by banks in the United States or their subsidiaries, are not accepted in Cuba.

Cuba does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.

The cost of registering domain names is three times higher than the average for the Americas region, costing approximately USD 950, which is a potential restriction to engaging in digital trade.

Resolution No. 54/2018 and Resolution No. 42/2020 provide a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that also applies to online transactions. Resolution No. 54/2018 sets out the principles that govern consumer protection in Section 5, the rights afforded to consumers in Section 6, and the general obligations imposed upon suppliers of goods and services in Section 10. Section 3 further states that the protection granted to consumers who engage in electronic commerce is equivalent to the protection offered in other forms of commercial activity. Additionally, Art. 1 of Resolution No. 42/2020 provides that its purpose is to establish provisions relating to electronic commerce, including those concerning consumer rights. Chapter IV is expressly dedicated to the rights of consumers and the obligations of suppliers.

Cuba has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Cuba has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Cuba has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

According to the Ministry of Communications, a process is implemented that requires a homologation certificate issued after control in testing laboratories in Cuba for ICT goods. Although there is no legal framework establishing the procedures for testing, control and certification of these goods, the Ministry requires companies to pass certain tests to obtain a homologation certificate for each product or service of telecommunication and computer equipment. There are two accredited laboratories in Cuba. The first one performs tropicalisation tests. The second one handles the testing of equipment connected to telecommunications networks that use the spectrum. Through this certification process, the Ministry of Communications regulates and controls the technical and operating specifications of the systems, equipment, and devices to be used in telecommunications and computer networks in order to guarantee the interconnection between public networks, as well as the interoperability of services.

Art. 19 (e) of Resolution No. 179/08 requires that Internet access service providers must ensure that software with cryptographic systems or encrypted file transfer is not used.

Art. 21.8 of Resolution No. 99/2019 stipulates that applicants for an operating licence for private data networks must provide information concerning the cryptographic protocols and algorithms used to protect communications, which must have been authorised by the competent authority. Art. 27.l further requires holders to obtain approval for the use of any supported application or service that employs cryptographic methods for protecting transmitted information, with holder referring to the person authorised by the Ministry of Communications to provide private data transmission services through a private telecommunications network. Art. 2 defines a private data network as a telecommunications network whose infrastructure is installed within a single locality or across multiple geographically distinct localities interconnected by telecommunications links for the purpose of meeting the data service needs of its holder.

Although Law 118 on foreign investment does not restrict investments in the online commerce sector, the state company CIMEX, with its company Tuenvio.cu, is the only platform that offers online purchases in Cuba.

Art. 12 of Decree-Law No. 22/2020 establishes a quantitative limitation on non-commercial imports by providing that the total value of the goods contained in each consignment may not exceed USD 200.

In June 2020, Cimex Corporation notified all users of the "tuenvio.cu" e-commerce platform via email about new regulations for online purchases. According to these updated regulations, users of the Tuenvio.cu platform, which facilitates e-commerce in Cuba, is limited to one purchase per day for food and toiletries combos. These restrictions were outlined in Cimex's online shopping guide, which is available on the Tuenvio.cu platform, ensuring customers were aware of the daily purchase limits.

There are no formal licensing requirements in Cuba in the electronic commerce sector. However, Cuba has only one online trading platform called Tuenvio.cu, which is managed by the state-owned company CIMEX. This, indirectly, represents a restriction that excludes foreign companies that want to seek licenses to manage an electronic commerce platform.

According to Art. 8 of Decree-Law 370, the Ministry of Communications issues licenses to providers of services related to the computerisation of Cuba so that they can project, install, maintain and market computer programs and applications according to the conditions set forth in the law.