Distillers Export guides / Latin America and the Caribbean
Exporting spirits to Latin America and the Caribbean
Import rules, duty and licences for whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy and bulk spirit in 50 countries. Researched October 2026.
Research guide, not legal advice. Each country links to its full regulations page with sources; check duty with a customs broker before you ship.
Overview
Exporting spirits to Latin America and the Caribbean involves navigating diverse tariff regimes and regulatory controls. While commercial trade is broadly legal, market access ranges from state-controlled monopolies to duty-free ports. Exporters must account for regional common external tariffs, local dry zones, and distinct territorial licensing procedures.
- Cuba restricts spirit imports exclusively to state-owned enterprises like ALIMPORT, whereas local dry areas exist within Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and Honduras.
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Saint Martin, and Sint Maarten set customs duties at 0%, while Chile and Peru apply standard MFN tariffs of only 6%.
- Belize levies steep CARICOM duties ranging from 40% to 110%, while Barbados reaches up to 60% and Bolivia applies 40% on imported spirits.
- Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay apply a harmonized 20% Common External Tariff on CIF value for third-country distilled spirits.
- CARICOM states such as Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Suriname apply Common External Tariff rates generally ranging from 20% to 40% on extra-regional imports.
- French territories like Guadeloupe and Martinique require importers to hold an EU EORI number, while Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands require federal and territorial dealer permits.
Country by country
| Country | Status | Import duty on spirits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anguilla | legal | Customs duties on distilled spirits (HS 2208) are levied primarily on a CIF ad valorem basis (generally 20% to 25%, depending on tariff line item under the Integrated… | Producers Duty-free |
| Antigua and Barbuda | legal | 20% to 40% ad valorem on CIF value under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) (typically 40% for most spirits under HS 2208 from non-CARICOM countries; 0% for… | Producers Duty-free |
| Argentina | legal | 20% ad valorem CIF under the Mercosur Common External Tariff (AEC) for most headings in HS 2208, plus a 3% Statistical Tax (Tasa de Estadística). | Producers Duty-free |
| Aruba | legal | Specific import duties and customs tariffs classified under HS Heading 2208 pursuant to the Landsverordening tarief van invoerrechten; spirits are primarily taxed via… | Producers Duty-free |
| Bahamas | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 (whiskies, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs) enter at 0% (Free) customs duty under the Tariff Act, but are subject to a specific excise duty assessed upon… | Producers Duty-free |
| Barbados | legal | Standard external tariffs on spirits under HS 2208 follow CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) rules or specific national protective rates (up to 60% ad valorem or… | Producers Duty-free |
| Belize | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) rates ranging from 40% to 110% ad valorem on CIF value, depending on classification and alcohol… | Producers Duty-free |
| Bolivia, Plurinational State of | legal | 40% ad valorem Gravamen Arancelario (GA) on CIF value for distilled spirits under HS Heading 2208 (e.g., whisky, rum, vodka, gin, liqueurs). | Duty-free |
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba | legal | 0% (nihil). Under the Douane- en Accijnswet BES, the customs import duty (invoerrecht) tariff is set at 0% for all goods across Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. | Producers Duty-free |
| Brazil | legal | Generally 20% ad valorem on CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight) under Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM) heading 2208 (0% for qualifying Mercosur/ALADI origin;… | Producers Duty-free |
| Cayman Islands | legal | Under Schedule 1 of the Customs Tariff Act (2026 Revision), spirits are taxed on a specific per-litre basis rather than ad valorem: standard spirits (rum, whisky, gin,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Chile | legal | Standard MFN customs duty is 6% ad valorem calculated on CIF value. Products originating from countries with Free Trade Agreements with Chile (e.g., US, EU, UK, Canada,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Colombia | legal | 15% ad valorem MFN tariff (Andean Community NANDINA common external tariff for HS 2208); 0% under Free Trade Agreements with the United States, European Union, UK, CAN,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Costa Rica | legal | Standard MFN customs tariff (Derechos Arancelarios a la Importación - DAI) for HS 2208 is 15% ad valorem; originating spirits from trade agreement partners (including… | Producers Duty-free |
| Cuba | legal | Ad valorem customs duties under the Cuban Customs Tariff (HS 2208) are assessed on the CIF value (general Cuban tariff range is 0% to 30%, averaging 10%–15% MFN; exact… | Producers Duty-free |
| Curaçao | legal | Assessed under HS heading 2208 of the Landsverordening tarief van invoerrechten (Customs Tariff Ordinance, updated via the 2024 tax revision bill); exact current tariff… | Producers Duty-free |
| Dominica | legal | Governed by the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) (List C exceptions apply to HS 2208) on CIF value. Goods of certified CARICOM origin enter at 0% customs duty. In… | Producers Duty-free |
| Dominican Republic | legal | 20% ad valorem on CIF value (Most Favored Nation rate for HS 2208); 0% duty under CAFTA-DR (United States) and the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. | Producers Duty-free |
| Ecuador | legal / dry areas exist | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to ad valorem duties (typically 20% to 35% depending on specific sub-tariff line) or mixed/compound tariffs, a 0.5% FODINFA surcharge… | Producers Duty-free |
| El Salvador | legal | Standard external tariff (MFN) is 20% to 30% ad valorem on CIF value for spirits under HS 2208 (0% duty for qualifying origin goods under CAFTA-DR and applicable FTAs). | Producers Duty-free |
| Falkland Islands (Malvinas) | legal | Under the Customs Ordinance 2003 and the 2026 Customs Resolution, local tariff code 2207 (Spirits, s. 124) is charged a specific duty of £17.42 per litre (increased from… | Producers Duty-free |
| French Guiana | dry areas exist | EU Common Customs Tariff applies to third-country imports: 0% for most spirits categories (HS 2208 like rum, vodka, gin, whisky); consignments originating from mainland… | Producers |
| Grenada | legal | 40% ad valorem under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) on CIF value for extra-regional imports of distilled spirits (HS 2208); 0% duty on qualifying intra-CARICOM… | Producers Duty-free |
| Guadeloupe | legal | 0% for imports from mainland France and EU member states. For non-EU imports, the EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) under HS code 2208 generally applies a 0% customs duty… | Producers Duty-free |
| Guatemala | legal / dry areas exist | Standard MFN import duty (Derechos Arancelarios a la Importación - DAI) on spirits (HS heading 2208) under the Central American Tariff System (SAC) ranges from 15% to… | Producers Duty-free |
| Guyana | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 (whisky, rum, gin, vodka, liqueurs) attract the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), typically 20% to 30% ad valorem based on CIF value, depending… | Producers Duty-free |
| Haiti | legal | Standard customs tariff rate is generally 15% to 20% ad valorem on the CIF value for HS 2208. Shipments are also subject to a 5% Verification Fee on CIF, a 2%… | Producers Duty-free |
| Honduras | dry areas exist | Base MFN tariff (Derecho Arancelario a la Importación - DAI) on spirits under SAC heading 2208 is generally 15% to 20% on CIF value; 0% preferential duty applies to… | Producers Duty-free |
| Jamaica | legal | Under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (HS 2208), the standard customs import duty on distilled spirits is generally 30% to 40% of the CIF value (for example, 40% on… | Producers Duty-free |
| Martinique | legal | Spirits (HS 2208) entering from mainland France or other EU Member States are exempt from EU customs duties (though subject to local indirect taxes). Non-EU imports are… | Producers Duty-free |
| Mexico | legal | Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff is generally 20% ad valorem under Chapter 2208 of the General Import and Export Tax Law (LIGIE). Preferential duty is 0% for originating… | Producers Duty-free |
| Montserrat | legal | Customs duties apply under the Customs Duties and Consumption Tax Act (Cap. 17.05) based on the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET). Distilled spirits under HS 2208 are… | |
| Nicaragua | legal | Import Customs Duties (DAI) under Central American Tariff System (SAC) heading 2208: Rum (2208.40) 40% CIF; Gin (2208.50) 15% CIF; Vodka (2208.60) 10% to 15% CIF; Whisky… | Producers Duty-free |
| Panama | legal | Assessed ad valorem on the CIF value. Standard MFN customs duty (DAI) on spirits (HS 2208) is generally 15% (with up to 0–40% across tariff lines depending on… | Producers Duty-free |
| Paraguay | legal | 20% ad valorem (CIF) under Mercosur Common External Tariff (AEC) for HS 2208; 0% for originating Mercosur trade with compliant certificate of origin. | Producers Duty-free |
| Peru | legal / dry areas exist | Standard MFN customs ad valorem duty is 6% CIF for distilled spirits under HS 2208 (whiskies 2208.30, rum 2208.40, gin 2208.50, vodka 2208.60, liqueurs 2208.70,… | Producers Duty-free |
| Puerto Rico | legal | Spirits imported from non-U.S. origins are subject to U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS Heading 2208) customs duties administered by U.S. CBP (generally ranging… | Producers Duty-free |
| Saint Barthélemy | legal | 0% customs tariff. Saint-Barthélemy operates as a duty-free port; however, all goods imported into the island are subject to the local dock duty (Droit de quai) at a… | Producers Duty-free |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are assessed under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) using specific duty rates (per proof gallon or per litre) or ad valorem duty rates… | Producers Duty-free |
| Saint Lucia | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), typically ranging between 20% and 30% ad valorem on CIF value (0% for originating goods… | Producers Duty-free |
| Saint Martin (French part) | legal | 0% (exempt under Saint-Martin's 'port franc' / free port status; EU Common Customs Tariff duties and dock dues / octroi de mer are not levied on imports into… | Producers Duty-free |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 are subject to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), typically ranging from 20% to 40% ad valorem or equivalent specific rates per proof/liquid… | Producers |
| Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | legal | 0% (Free port status; no customs duty is levied on spirits under HS 2208; only carrier and terminal cargo handling fees apply) | Producers |
| Suriname | legal | Standard customs tariff under the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET) / Wet Tarief van Invoerrechten is 40% (or up to 45%–50% for high-proof spirits/luxury items) ad… | Producers Duty-free |
| Trinidad and Tobago | legal | Spirits under HS 2208 imported from non-CARICOM countries are subject to the CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET), historically levied as specific volume duties or ad… | Producers Duty-free |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | legal | Specific customs duty of USD 42.38 per gallon on spirits (HS 2208, including rum, whisky, gin, vodka, and brandy), plus a 5% Customs Processing Fee | Producers Duty-free |
| Uruguay | legal | 20% Common External Tariff (Arancel Externo Común - AEC) on CIF customs value for non-MERCOSUR imports under HS Heading 2208; 0% for originating goods from MERCOSUR… | Producers Duty-free |
| Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | legal | 20% to 35% ad valorem calculated on CIF value under Chapter 22 (HS 2208) of the Venezuelan Customs Tariff (Arancel de Aduanas), plus a 1% customs service fee (tasa… | |
| Virgin Islands, British | legal | Spirits (HS 2208) are assessed under Schedule 4 of the Customs Management and Duties Act 2010. Standard rates apply either as specific duties (historically approximately… | Producers |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | legal | Customs duties on foreign goods originating outside the United States and brought into the USVI are administered under local customs law by U.S. CBP, generally assessed… | Producers Duty-free |
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