Cuba and EU warn US after new sanctions against Cuba, US firms already target of suits

Reading time 2 min Christian Fernsby ▼ | May 4, 2019

Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, denounced the new measures imposed by the US Government against the island and highlighted Washington's international isolation.

LatAm Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca

The "rejection of Tittles III and IV of the act is broad and worldwide. Only some US citizens do not understand it. In Cuba there is no fear," the official tweeted in reference to the activation of Title III and IV of the Helms-Burton Act.

This section allows US citizens to sue in US courts justice people and entities, even from third countries, for investing in Cuban territory in nationalized properties after the triumph of the Revolution on January 1, 1959.

In this regard, Malmierca underscored the criticisms made by the high representative of Foreign Policy and Defense of the European Union, Federica Mogherini, who warned Washington about the consequences of their punitive measures.

Mogherini announced that the bloc will use "all appropriate measures," which includes presenting the case to the World Trade Organization.

The Cuban official of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment questioned the first demands in the neighboring nation that affect the Carnival Cruise Lines company.

Some have already demanded ports in Miami, we will see what they reach but as President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, "Cuban parade will not be stopped,"´ Malmierca pointed out.

ExxonMobil is filing a lawsuit against two Cuban companies as a result of Donald Trump's government's decision to apply the application of Title III of the controversial Helms-Burton Act.

Two legal news services, Law360 and Courthouse News, reported that the company filed law suits in federal court in Washington DC against Cimex Corporation SA, a Cuban state-owned business group; and the Cuba-Petroleum Union (Cupet).

The claim was filed on the same day the Trump administration activated the aforementioned legislative norm, which allows US nationals and companies to sue those who 'traffic' with 'US properties' in Cuba.

Carnival Cruise Lines is the first target of lawsuits following the activation in the United States of Title III of the controversial Helms-Burton Law against Cuba.

Several media reported this Thursday, that in a federal court in Miami, two legal actions were filed against the company Carnival Cruise Lines, based in the state of Florida, after the administration of Donald Trump authorized the realization of such procedures. ■