A recent Cigar Aficionado article from writer James Suckling says that the U.S. may already be the biggest market for (illegal) Cuban cigars. “It’s only going to get bigger when Cuban cigars are legally available in cigar shops across the country,” Suckling writes.

In the 60’s, after the successful Communist overthrow of the Cuban government, Fidel Castro began seizing privately-owned assets, including farms, land, and businesses. He also expropriated assets and trademarks belonging to the Cuban cigar and tobacco industry, and declared them state property. Through the years, those original Cuban cigar families sold their trademark rights to companies outside the U.S.

As part of the agreement to sell their trademarks, many of the Cuban cigar families stipulated that once the U.S. could resume selling Cuban versions of their brands, they will be due additional fair compensation.

The U.S. market may very well be the largest market for Cuban cigars once the embargo falls away. If that happens, U.S. trademark-holders must have fair access to Cuban tobacco leaf in order to compete in the world market, and accordingly, Cuba’s government will need to operate as a more free and open market economy for that to be a reality. Then, and only then, will the original Cuban cigar families finally receive justice, fifty years in the waiting.